New guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) grant transportation construction contractors and other businesses the flexibility to adopt COVID safety protocols that fit their specific workplaces, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

"Today's OSHA announcement is a well-reasoned approach that will let the transportation construction industry continue to provide safety protections tailored to its workers as they build our roads and keep our country moving during the COVID pandemic," said ARTBA President and CEO David Bauer.

OSHA announced June 10 a new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) aimed at protecting workers from COVID-19 that applies only to the health care industry. For other sectors such as road and bridge construction, the agency updated existing guidance, enabling those sectors to continue best practices designed specifically for transportation workers.

Transportation construction workers primarily work outdoors in all kinds of weather. The new rules allow for relaxed requirements related to face coverings and other health protocols for workers who are fully vaccinated.

OSHA's decision not to create a nationwide ETS applying to all industries acknowledges the drawbacks of a "one size fits all" approach to new COVID regulations. In a series of meetings and letters since December, ARTBA has urged incoming Biden Administration officials to "consider the specific attributes and existing safety protocols of particular industries, with the objective of not undermining those protections to the detriment of their workers."

For more information, visit www.artba.org.

Today's top stories

Louisville Pump Station Receives $230M Update

Amtrak Secures $112M in Federal Funds to Upgrade 13 Projects in Northeast Corridor

Hitachi Construction Machinery Wins Silver in 2024 Anthem Award

Turner Construction Leads $675M Concourse Project

Bobcat Celebrates Season of Giving With Volunteerism, Hurricane Relief, Philanthropic Support

MassDOT Plans to Replace Cape Cod's Sagamore Bridge With Two, Three-Lane Spans

HIPOWER Unveils T4F Mobile Power Models

Illinois DOT Celebrates Completion of I-55 Interchange Near Joliet, Shorewood