Struggling to comply with new OSHA ETS? Ease the administrative burden with TrackMy VeriVax.
On November 5th, 2021 The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring all covered employers to mandate COVID-19 vaccination or start weekly testing for all employees as of January 4, 2022.
Who does this impact?
This mandate impacts any organization with 100 or more active employees. This ETS does not apply to federal contractors covered under the protections of the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force COVID-19 Workplace safety guidelines, or employees in settings covered by the Healthcare ETS. These groups are required to prove vaccination status as part of those separate rule makings.
How can employers meet the requirements of the Vaccine Mandate?
It is recommended that employers take the initial step to notify workers of the ETS and provide the necessary education to follow organization’s policies and procedures. We also advise including a link to CDC’s Key Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines as part of the education. While policies can vary by employer, the below outlines the minimum requirements to meet the scope of the mandate.
Employers must determine employee vaccination status, and develop, implement and enforce a mandatory vaccine policy by December 5, 2021. This includes a requirement to obtain acceptable proof of vaccination, maintain records of each employee’s vaccination status, and maintain a roster of each employee’s vaccination status. Acceptable proof of vaccination status includes the following:
- the record of immunization from a health care provider or Pharmacy
- a copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card
- a copy of medical records documenting the vaccination
- a copy of immunization records from a public health, state, or tribal immunization information system; or a copy of any other official documentation that contains the type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s).
*A signed and dated employee attestation is acceptable in instances when an employee is unable to produce proof of vaccination.
Employees who are not fully vaccinated must be tested with a COVID-19 test that is:
- cleared, approved, or authorized, including in an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g. a viral test);
- administered in accordance with the authorized instructions; and
- not both self-administered and self-read unless observed by the employer or an authorized telehealth proctor.
The ETS states that the employer must make available, for examination and copying, the individual COVID-19 vaccine documentation and any COVID-19 test results required by the ETS for a particular employee to that employee and to anyone having written authorized consent of that employee by the end of the next business day after a request.
How can TrackMy Solutions provide peace of mind?
The TrackMy VeriVax platform provides a comprehensive solution to meet the full scope of the OSHA COVID-19 ETS. Let us help you:
- Simplify ETS Compliance: The TrackMy solution is aligned with current regulatory requirements – including verified vaccination data collection, COVID test tracking and a full suite of required reporting. Let TrackMy provide the platform, allowing your team to focus on policy and communication with your employees.
- Reduce Reporting Fraud and Associated Liability: TrackMy’s ability to verify vaccinations against state immunization information systems, reduces the risk of fraud while also easing the research burden on employees who have lost their vaccination records.
- Increase Vaccination Rates: Mandates, when supported by robust vaccination verification and testing, produces the highest levels of vaccination which results in a safer workplace and community.