The comment period for the COVID-19 vaccination emergency temporary standard (ETS) has been extended to Jan. 19, 2022.
OSHA extended the comment period by 45 days, allowing additional time for stakeholders to review and gather information before making comments.
Comments should be identified as Docket No. OSHA-2021-0007 and can be filed electronically at regulations.gov, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
The Federal e-Rulemaking Portal is the only way to submit comments on this rule, according to a Department of Labor news release.
OSHA issued the ETS Nov. 5, 2021, requiring employers with 100 or more employees to develop and enforce mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies unless they adopt a policy requiring employees to either get vaccinated or undergo regular COVID-19 testing and wear a face covering at work.
The ETS was then stayed by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit after more than 30 petitions for review were filed against it.
Certain deadlines set in the ETS for Dec. 6, 2021, may be pushed back due to the stay, but OSHA and some legal experts are recommending employers continue to prepare to meet the requirements.
