National COSH on Court Ruling to Block COVID-19 Safety Rules “Shameful and Grossly Irresponsible”

National COSH on Court Ruling to Block COVID-19 Safety Rules “Shameful and Grossly Irresponsible”

The following statement is from Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health:

“The Fifth Circuit ruling that blocks OSHA’s new COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is wrong on the facts, wrong on the law, and absolutely wrong when it comes to protecting workers’ lives. While we believe this standard can be improved, there is no sound legal reason – none – to block it from taking effect at a time when COVID-19 is still a deadly threat in America’s workplaces. 

“It’s shameful and outrageous to see anyone put politics ahead of public health.  The judges who wrote this decision have probably been able to work safely from home throughout this pandemic. They should go right now to a poultry plant, a nursing home, a warehouse or another workplace where COVID-19 is still spreading, to see the real-life impact of their grossly irresponsible ruling.”