Officials for two industry associations chimed in with sharp approval yesterday for the decision to reject a lawsuit they said would otherwise compel the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an “emergency temporary standard” for infectious diseases and COVID-19. In a joint statement issued by Associated Builders and Contractors vice president of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development, Greg Sizemore, and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) CEO, Jerry Howard, both applauded the decision issued by D.C. Circuit Court affirming that OSHA’s comprehensive response to COVID-19 eliminates the need for such measures. The lawsuit was issued by American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

“The government is learning new information about COVID-19 and how best to mitigate related hazards on an almost daily and sometimes even hourly basis, which is why a static, intransigent rule would not be an appropriate response,” the joint statement said. Alternatively, OSHA’s resources “are better deployed by developing timely and situational-specific guidance documents, which can be adjusted and adapted as the agency and public health authorities better understand the pandemic,” officials said.

Both organizations reported that they’re instead working to identify and implement new protocols on jobsites to protect construction employees amid the outbreak.