Commotion: New OSHA Vaccine Guidelines
The Claim
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reversed their decision to hold employers liable for adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccines.
News posted on
Emerging story
In late May, confusion over OSHA’s COVID-19 vaccine guidelines for employers created conflicting reports of their intentions. Users went to social media to share their take on the guidelines. Some became suspicious that the new guidelines were intended to protect businesses and force vaccinations.
Misbar’s Analysis
On April 18 OSHA changed their guidelines to reflect that if a business makes it mandatory for employees to be vaccinated against COVID then they must report any vaccine related side effects to the agency. They clarified again on May 21st, which caused the commotion. These changes prompted businesses to “suggest” rather than require vaccines for employees, which was the intended outcome. OSHA states in their updated regulation, “OSHA does not wish to have any appearance of discouraging workers from receiving COVID-19 vaccination.”
It is a misunderstanding to state that OSHA reversed a decision in order to “force” vaccines. OSHA’s new stance is simply that if an employer requires employees to get the vaccine they must also report any side effects, and that if they don’t require the vaccine they do not have to record the side-effects. Contrary to many users' comments, requiring the vaccine creates more liability for the employer.
OSHA, or the United States’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is responsible for assuring safe and health-conscious working conditions for employees. Unlike the headline, “OSHA turns blind eye to vaccine injury,” the truth of the matter is far less malicious.
