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OSHA suspends work on COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Posted On: Nov. 17, 2021 11:18 AM CST

vaccine mandate

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has suspended activities related to its emergency temporary standard mandating COVID-19 vaccines or regular testing for millions of workers, to comply with a federal appeals court ruling on Friday.

According to a note on the U.S. Department of Labor website, “While OSHA remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS pending future developments in the litigation.”

On Friday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans reaffirmed its prior temporary injunction against implementation of the mandate, which is due to go in full effect in January following a comment period, ruling that the mandate was “overbroad.”

The mandate requires that employers with 100 or more workers enforce COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements on their workforces.

On Tuesday, a judicial panel consolidated 34 other lawsuits challenging the mandate.