Today, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association CEO Joel Dandrea issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court issuing a stay of the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for large businesses requiring workers, at U.S. companies with at least 100 employees, be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly: 

“SC&RA celebrates this victory against federal overreach. For months we have been working with 25 other associations, as part of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, to fight the Occupational Safety and Health Administration emergency temporary standard. It has been our position that the construction industry is low-risk for COVID-19, and that this ETS would exacerbate workforce shortages and create extraordinary burdens on the employer and employee in regards to obligations for vaccinations and testing and recordability of adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine. The cost of paid time off for vaccinations and adverse reactions were additional concerns with this ETS.

Our members lift and move the world and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the U.S. crane, rigging, and specialized transportation industry and its workers as Essential Critical Infrastructure. We will continue to fight for the ability of our members to do business without unnecessary government interference, like the OSHA vaccine mandate. The victory at the Supreme Court today will allow our members to focus on the vital and critical work they perform every day, in every community, across this country.”