Heavy Construction Strongly Opposes Adopting a Permanent Standard
Members of the Safety and Health Code Board,
The Richmond Area Municipal Contractors Association (RAMCA) represents companies in heavy construction and their associate partners who provide products and services to the industry. For 55 years, RAMCA has worked cooperatively on a broad range of important issues relating to the infrastructure needs of the Commonwealth. RAMCA provides a forum designed to improve the business practices and the construction environment in which our employees work. The health and safety of our employees is our highest priority. On behalf of RAMCA, I oppose adopting a Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention: SARS-CoV-2 Virus that Causes COVID-19, 16VAC25-220.
Further, I am firmly opposed to any amendment to include other flus, viruses, cold or other communicable diseases in any permanent standard. There is no one-size fits all plan to combat a wide variety of infectious illnesses.
The ETS is burdensome, obsolete, difficult to enforce, costly in time and money, and lacks the flexibility to adapt to current science and innovation. I am strongly opposed to the adoption of these as a Permanent Standard for what is a temporary health emergency.
The construction industry remains committed to the safety of our workers and the citizens of the Commonwealth. I welcome the opportunity to work with all stakeholders to develop any necessary policies regarding the health and safety of workers in the construction industry.
Thank you for the opportunity to publicly comment.
Best Regards,
Vanessa L Patterson
Vanessa L. Patterson
Executive Director
“Digging and Building in Central Virginia for 55 Years”
1 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Virginia
2 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Virginia
3 2019 United States Census Bureau