OSHA Activity, Tax Hikes, Roofing Day in DC

OSHA Withdraws COVID ETS

In January OSHA withdrew its COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in view of the Supreme Court’s stay and statement that challengers were likely to prevail.  But OSHA also says it is not withdrawing the ETS as a proposed rule, claiming the agency is “prioritizing its resources to focus on finalizing a permanent COVID-19 Healthcare Standard.”  Hopefully, this exercise in trying to pound a square peg into a round hole will redirect much of the agency’s staff from other bad proposals in its regulatory pipeline.

OSHA ANPRM on Heat Illness/Injury Prevention

TRI Alliance submitted comments to OSHA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for a federal standard on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.   It wasn’t necessary to submit a major document so much as to be engaged from the start in what will likely be a controversial rulemaking that has the potential to be very problematic for the TRI Alliance’s contractor members.  The TRI Alliance has also signed on to the Construction Industry Safety Coalition’s “anchor” comments submitted to OSHA.

Business Community Letter Opposing Tax Hikes

A coalition letter was sent to Congress to end efforts to pass the multi-trillion dollar tax hikes in the Build Back Better bill.  The BBB bill isn’t going anywhere now, but it’s not beyond this Congress to try to revive parts of it.

Roofing Day in DC

For those considering going to DC for Roofing Day activities April 5-6, please start thinking about coming in for TRI Alliance meetings on Monday (April 4).  It could still be difficult to access House and Senate buildings, so a tentative plan would be holding meetings (perhaps beginning at lunch on Monday) at the Capitol Hill Club next to the House buildings and perhaps there Tuesday before Roofing Day activities start that afternoon.  This is very preliminary and other locations may be considered for some meetings.