Another AGC Win – New Federal Coronavirus Emergency Temporary Standard will NOT Apply to Construction

On June 9, 2021, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh announced that the long-anticipated federal COVID-19 ETS will NOT apply to construction. This represents a significant change from early reports that the new standard would apply to a broad range of industries, including construction. AGC of America led a broad coalition effort to question the need for the standard, considering the widespread adoption of coronavirus vaccines and the fact the construction industry has been operating, safely, since the start of the pandemic.

The fact the final standard only applies to healthcare settings is a significant victory for our association and this industry. It reflects the strong working relationship and trust that exists between our staff and federal safety officials – particularly thanks to our safety team of Kevin Cannon and Nazia Shah. This victory is also thanks to the tireless work member firms are doing to protect their workers throughout the pandemic.

The announcement comes just a few weeks after AGC successfully convinced OSHA to suspend enforcement of the agency’s recordkeeping regulations related to adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, whether required or recommended. Rest assured that we will continue to monitor the development of future OSHA COVID-19 guidance specific to the construction industry and provide updates accordingly.