The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has withdrawn the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard on vaccine mandates as an enforceable emergency temporary standard. OSHA remains committed to pursuing a proposed rule through the formal process. Both MCAA and the UA continue to strongly encourage the vaccination of workers against COVID-19.
Last week the MCAA presented one of the most exciting Safety Directors’ Conferences ever. The first in-person conference in two years brought together safety professionals from around the country for world-class education on best practices and safety and health issues specific to the mechanical industry. Participants also heard keynotes on safety leadership from Capt. Richard Phillips, Olympian Vince Poscente, and longtime safety advocate Regina McMichael during the January 18 – 20, 2022, event in sunny Florida.
The latest innovations from over 20 exhibitors were on display, including those from MCAA Manufacturer/Supplier Council members MILWAUKEE TOOL, Tyfoom, Emerson, DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, and Victaulic, which unveiled its new QuickVicTM System, a solution with exciting safety implications. Other exhibitors, like Little Giant Ladder, also showed off their latest solutions.
MCAA thanks CNA and MILWAUKEE TOOL for sponsoring the event, and all the safety professionals who attended.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on the MCAA/CNA MICROLEARNING SAFETY VIDEO SERIES: Refraining from Distracted Driving. This video will teach your workers how refraining from distracted driving can help prevent motor vehicle collisions.
Your workers will learn:
Together with our partners in safety, CNA, MCAA developed the video, which is part of the MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series, a series of easy-to-watch safety videos that are under 3-minutes long.
All the videos in this series are available in our Resource Center any time.
Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
Today the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a decision regarding the highly controversial OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 vaccination.
SCOTUS granted the application for the stay blocking enforcement and progress of the ETS.
Regarding this nationwide stay of OSHA’s ETS for COVID-19 vaccination, SCOTUS holds that challengers to the rule are “likely to succeed on the merits” of their claims because the rule is broad enough to qualify as a “public health” mandate rather than an occupational standard.
They went on to say, “OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress.”
The full decision can be read here.
MCAA will be closely monitoring SCOTUS and OSHA developments related to this issue and will communicate updates as they occur. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
Today is the first day the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) can begin enforcement of the planning and record keeping mandates in its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on vaccine mandates.
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments of the appeal on January 7, 2022, but has not reached a determination. Multiple Justices expressed doubt over OSHA’s claim on a “clear” basis for the vaccine ETS. While the Supreme Court could issue a decision at any time, we do anticipate it happening before February 10, 2022, the compliance deadline for testing.
In the meantime, MCAA has provided you with all the tools to help your company comply today.
Additionally, to support the planning and record keeping deadline, TYFOOM, a member of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC), created an automated, simple, and easy process to reach all employees on a regular basis with an ETS survey.
January 10, 2022: all requirements except testing
February 9, 2022: Vaccines or Testing
MCAA will be closely monitoring SCOTUS and OSHA developments related to this issue and will communicate updates as they occur. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on the MCAA/CNA MICROLEARNING SAFETY VIDEO SERIES: Worker Personal Health. This video will teach your workers simple personal health practices that can help reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Your workers will learn:
Together with our partners in safety, CNA, MCAA developed the video, which is part of the MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series, a series of easy-to-watch safety videos that are under 3-minutes long.
Watch for highlights of the other videos in this series in the coming weeks. They are also available in our Resource Center any time.
Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
MCAA and long-time partner in safety CNA bring you the prestigious MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards Program. The annual awards honor MCAA member companies’ successful safety programs and innovative safety initiatives because nothing is more important than the health and safety of our workers. Take a moment to celebrate your company’s successes in 2021 – apply today!
To be eligible to win, a company needs to apply by January 11, 2022, describing:
Companies will be divided into five categories by number of hours worked, and a winner will be chosen in each category. Each winner will receive national recognition and an award for display. The award will be presented at the Awards of Excellence Breakfast on Wednesday, March 16 in front of more than 1,000 people just before pro football hall of famer Cris Carter delivers the keynote presentation at MCAA’s national convention in San Diego, CA.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management, Raffi Elchemmas, at raffi@mcaa.org.
There have been many requests from MCAA members for a simple and easy way to track & report the Emergency Testing Standard (ETS) from OSHA for both the vaccine requirements and weekly testing.
TYFOOM, a member of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC), created an automated, simple, and easy process to reach all employees on a regular basis with an ETS survey (examples attached).
For more information, please contact Tyfoom at customercare@tyfoom.com or call 801.717.1231 and mention that you are an MCAA member to obtain a 10% member discount.
As a reminder, unless ruled on by the Supreme Court, the most current OSHA compliance deadlines are:
If you have any questions, please contact MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management, Raffi Elchemmas, at raffi@mcaa.org.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) will begin enforcement of its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on vaccine mandates in early 2022 barring an emergency stay from the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). MCAA’s Safety Bulletin on the ETS, the MCAA Model COVID-19 Mandatory-Vaccination Policy, and NEW MCAA Model COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing and Face Covering Policy outline what needs to be done to be compliant with the ETS.
It is important for all MCAA members to begin making every possible attempt to comply with the standard, and carefully document every part of every attempt made to comply.
MCAA offers three items, available via the buttons below, that may be useful to you:
January 10, 2022: all requirements except testing
February 9, 2022: testing
OSHA “will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard.”
OSHA released the following statement:
“To account for any uncertainty created by the stay, OSHA is exercising enforcement discretion with respect to the compliance dates of the ETS. To provide employers with sufficient time to come into compliance, OSHA will not issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS before January 10 and will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard. OSHA will work closely with the regulated community to provide compliance assistance.”
MCAA will be closely monitoring SCOTUS and OSHA developments related to this issue and will communicate updates as they occur. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals dissolved the stay of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on vaccine mandates and testing on December 17, 2021. An emergency stay application has since been filed with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and OSHA has announced new compliance deadlines for implementation and enforcement of the ETS.
The court order does not mention deadline extensions, it simply grants “the Government’s motion and DISSOLVE[S] the stay issued by the Fifth Circuit.” MCAA has filed a request with OSHA to extend enforcement deadlines so all employers can have time to develop the appropriate plans.
January 10, 2022: all requirements except testing
February 9, 2022: testing
OSHA “will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard.”
OSHA released the following statement:
“To account for any uncertainty created by the stay, OSHA is exercising enforcement discretion with respect to the compliance dates of the ETS. To provide employers with sufficient time to come into compliance, OSHA will not issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS before January 10 and will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard. OSHA will work closely with the regulated community to provide compliance assistance.”
Unless SCOTUS acts, MCAA members with over 100 workers must require them to be vaccinated or tested weekly by the new compliance deadlines.
MCAA’s Safety Bulletin on the ETS and the MCAA Model COVID-19 Mandatory-Vaccination Policy outline what needs to be done to be compliant with the ETS.
MCAA will be closely monitoring SCOTUS and OSHA developments related to this issue and will communicate updates as they occur. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on the MCAA/CNA MICROLEARNING SAFETY VIDEO SERIES: Proper Material Staging. This video will teach your pipefitters, plumbers, sprinklerfitters, welders, service technicians and fabrication shop workers how to protect themselves from the musculoskeletal injuries that occur when materials are improperly staged.
Your workers will learn about:
Together with our partners in safety, CNA, MCAA developed the video, which is part of the MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series, a series of easy-to-watch safety videos that are under 3-minutes long.
Watch for highlights of the other videos in this series in the coming weeks. They are also available in our Resource Center any time.
Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
Safety and health professionals are registering for MCAA’s 19th annual Safety Directors’ Conference in record numbers. Don’t miss out! Join them at Disney World in Orlando, FL, January 18 – 20, 2022, to:
You won’t want to miss it! Check out the video and explore the event brochure to learn more. Better yet, click the register button and sign up today! We look forward to seeing you there!
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia has issued a nationwide injunction blocking the federal contractor vaccine mandate. This injunction prevents the U.S. government from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on federal contractors, temporarily shutting down the vaccine requirement by the current administration. It is likely that the government will appeal.
MCAA will keep you informed as we are in the process of putting together further communications. A copy of the order is attached.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s GHS (globally harmonized system) Pictograms and Hazards Poster. This poster will teach your workers to recognize the pictograms used on chemical labels and understand the hazards associated with each.
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Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?
Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
MCAA is ‘ALL IN’ for our 19th annual Safety Directors’ Conference at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, January 18-20, 2022. This conference brings together hundreds of occupational safety and health professionals, MCAA’s student chapters, MCAA local affiliate executives, United Association safety instructors, principals, owners, and others who have safety and health responsibility.
Registration is OPEN NOW! Click the button below to learn more and to register.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Electrical Hazard Safety Training Video and its materials. This video will teach your fitters and plumbers to recognize electrical hazards and perform their jobs safely.
Your workers will learn about:
The video comes with a pocket guide that highlights key training points, a training documentation sheet, a 20-question multiple choice test, and a test answer key.
Video | Pocket Guide | Documentation Sheet | Test | Answer Key
Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 on November 5, 2021. While the standard has been temporarily stayed by the Fifth Circuit, MCAA wants to help mechanical construction, service, and fabrication shop employers prepare in the unlikely event the stay is temporarily lifted and OSHA decides to initiative enforcement. To that end, we’ve prepared this Safety Bulletin offering a quick overview of potential impacts and a Model COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy. Both are now available free to members as a benefit of membership.
MCAA is closely monitoring the daily changes and legal challenges to the ETS and while we don’t believe the stay will be lifted anytime soon, we want you to be prepared just in case.
If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health and Risk Management.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on the MCAA/CNA MICROLEARNING SAFETY VIDEO SERIES: Safe Lifting Technique to Help Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries. This video will teach your pipefitters, plumbers, sprinklerfitters, welders, service technicians and fabrication shop workers how to protect themselves from the musculoskeletal injuries that occur when materials are improperly lifted and moved by hand.
Your workers will learn:
Together with our partners in safety, CNA, MCAA developed the video, which is part of the MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series, a series of easy-to-watch safety videos that are under 3-minutes long.
Watch for highlights of the other videos in this series in the coming weeks. They are also available in our Resource Center any time.
Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.
MCAA is ‘ALL IN’ for our 19th Annual Safety Directors’ Conference at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, January 18-20, 2022. This conference brings together hundreds of occupational safety and health professionals, MCAA local affiliate executives, United Association safety instructors, principals, owners, and others who have safety and health responsibility.
The conference includes:
20 Knowledgable Speakers
Several Hands-On Workshops
Team Building at EPCOT
PLUS The 2021 Safety Professional of the Year will be announced
We can’t wait to go ALL IN in 2022!
On November 6, 2021, the attorneys general in ten states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa) sued the Biden administration over the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 that would have been effective immediately. As anticipated, the ETS has been stayed by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. MCAA members won’t have to worry about enforcement until the courts hear, and rule on, the lawsuits.
