As we enter the 15th week of Virginia’s State of Emergency related to containing the spread of COVID-19, RAMCA’s businesses are doing everything in their power to protect their employees and customers from exposure to the coronavirus by following the guidance issued by OSHA and the CDC. These existing safety standards already provide reasonable guidance and enforcement for businesses. The last thing business owners need during this critical time is additional one-size-fits-all, static government regulations and red tape.
The current approach is working—and no more standards are needed. To the contrary, mandatory one-size-fits-all standards such as the ones proposed to the Board could harm workers. It could quickly become outdated and constrain employers from pursuing the adaptable, innovative, data-driven, and effective approach to protecting worker health and safety that is proving crucial during this pandemic.