ALEXANDRIA, VA – The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Michele Stanley issued the following statement regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announcement of an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that phases in a vaccine mandate for companies with over 100 employees.

“The aggregates industry, since being deemed essential by the federal government during the pandemic, has aggressively worked to address COVID-19 in the workplace. NSSGA strongly supports the overall goal of vaccinating Americans against COVID-19 and have launched a national vaccination campaign in concert with our member companies. Our member companies have also taken action to encourage vaccinations, including providing time off to get the shot; giving additional vacation days; and offering cash rewards and other incentives, valued in the thousands of dollars, to employees and their family members who get vaccinated. However, NSSGA is opposed to today’s actions by the Department of Labor to issue a hasty rule that unfairly shifts the burden of requiring vaccinations on employers. Without addressing legitimate industry concerns through a proper rulemaking, we believe the vaccine mandate will stress an already strained workforce, making it difficult for operators to produce the essential building materials that our country desperately needs.”

CONTACT: Kerry Lynch 
(703) 526-1072, klynch@nssga.org