The Battle for an Emergency Temporary Standard to Address COVID-19

Over two million Americans have tested positive for coronavirus and more than 120,000 have died from COVID-19, and these numbers are growing daily. The debate over how to protect workers from COVID-19 centers around two competing approaches: standards and guidance. OSHA has issued numerous guidance documents explaining steps employers should take to protect workers from COVID-19. However, many public health and labor groups urged OSHA to go beyond guidance and issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS). Unlike an OSHA standard, an ETS would go into effect immediately. OSHA would then have to develop a more permanent standard within six months.