26 Oct 2021
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Press Contacts:
Melissa Moriarty, melissa@nationalcosh.org, 603.505.7135,
Roger Kerson, roger@nationalcosh.org, 734.645.0535
Advisory: Thursday October 28, 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT
COVID-19: New OSHA rules, new risks,
new strategies for workers
Jordan Barab, former senior OSHA official, to join frontline workers
in discussion on soon-to-be released workplace vaccine and testing standard
LOS ANGELES – The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) will host a media briefing on Thursday, October 28 at 2 pm ET about a pending workplace COVID-19 vaccine and testing standard, soon to be released by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is now under final review at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is expected to be released shortly. It will cover tens of millions of U.S. private sector workers.
The October 28 livestream, beginning at 2 pm ET/11 am PT, will highlight frontline workers who will describe their working conditions at their current workplaces. Former deputy assistant secretary of labor Jordan Barab, a senior OSHA official from 2001 through 2009, will also spotlight how the ETS will work, how it will be enforced, and how workers will be affected.
Who:
Jordan Barab, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, OSHA and former senior labor policy advisor to the House Committee on Education and Labor
Jessica E. Martinez, Co-Executive Director, National COSH
Anne Barden, dietary aide and cook at Trinity Hill Care Center, Hartford CT, and member of SEIU District 1199 New England
Marielena, a poultry plant employee and member of Western North Carolina Workers’ Center (Note: Marielena is a pseudonym, to protect this workers’ privacy.)
Retail sector worker and member of United for Respect
What: Media briefing on OSHA’s pending vaccine and testing standard, and stories from workers who will discuss current conditions and safety protocols in key industries.
When: Thursday, October 28, 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET
Where: Reporters and news organizations can register and join using the link here
The event, live-streamed via Zoom, is open to the public and news media.
“With the new rule comes new risks and opportunities for workers who are still struggling to stay safe,” said Jessica E. Martinez, co-executive director of National COSH. “We are showcasing workers’ stories to bring to light what workers are seeing and experiencing in their workplaces. Any time we talk about occupational health and safety, workers need to be front and center and lead the conversation.”
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National COSH links the efforts of local worker health and safety coalitions in communities across the United States, advocating for elimination of preventable hazards in the workplace. For more information, please visit NationalCOSH.org. Follow us at @NationalCOSH on Facebook, @NationalCOSH on Twitter and @NationalCOSH on Instagram.
COSH Nacional vincula los esfuerzos de las coaliciones locales de salud y seguridad de lxs trabajadorxs en las comunidades de los Estados Unidos, abogando por la eliminación de peligros prevenibles en el trabajo. Para obtener más información, visite nationalcosh.org. Síganos en @NationalCOSH en Facebook, @NationalCOSH en Twitter y @NationalCOSH en Instagram.