Dear Members of the Safety and Health Codes Board:

I am writing to ask that you rescind the COVID-19 permanent workplace standard. The guidance is outdated and does not reflect recent developments, specifically regarding vaccinations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have provided sufficient guidance for employers that is frequently updated to reflect changes in science, best practices and standards.

As a Human Resources professional, I consider helping to provide a safe workplace for our employees one of my most important responsibilities. For many years, I have relied on guidance from OSHA to assist with various elements of a workplace safety. I trust that their recommendations on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our workplaces will be of the same caliber and high standard we are accustomed to.  In addition, the CDC will continue to be our Company’s “go-to” source of information for all pandemic related planning and response activities.

Rather than continuing with unnecessary and burdensome regulations, I urge you to rely on the expertise of the CDC and OSHA to guide Virginia’s COVID-19 response.