In follow up to the Supreme Court’s decision to block the Federal OSHA ETS vaccination or testing mandate, Oregon OSHA released a statement on their website. The statement, included below, indicates that the agency will not proceed with implementing a COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirement at this time.
On Jan. 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked enforcement of federal OSHA’s Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard. Oregon OSHA will continue to monitor federal OSHA activities and respond as needed. In light of the Supreme Court decision, however, Oregon OSHA will not move forward with adopting the same or similar standard in Oregon.
Oregon OSHA had engaged in discussions with stakeholders of such a rule adoption. It did so under the “at least as effective as” federal OSHA requirement, which was prompted by adoption of the federal standard.
Oregon OSHA maintains a COVID-19 rule that requires employers to implement protections for workers. Those protections include infection control planning, exposure risk assessments, sanitation, and notification. Those measures also require employers to follow the Oregon Health Authority’s requirement to use facial coverings indoors.