OSHA backs off business vaccine mandate

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said on Wednesday it will abide by a court order that it “take no steps to implement or enforce” a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for workers at companies with more than 100 employees. “While OSHA remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the [mandate] pending future developments in the litigation,” said a statement on the agency’s website.

What would the mandate do? Businesses would have had until Jan. 4 to require their indoor workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or get tested weekly. Violators could face fines of up to $14,000 per offense. Companies across the country sued to stop the mandate, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put it on hold while the lawsuits play out. OSHA requested the courts consolidate the cases against it, and the 6th Circuit was randomly selected to hear the litigation going forward under a special rule governing cases against federal agencies.

Dig deeper: Read more about President Joe Biden’s business vaccine mandate from Steve West in Liberties.