Final Virginia Workplace Safety Standards for COVID-19 Pandemic

The Commonwealth of Virginia has published the first-in-the-nation enforceable workplace safety standards for the COVID-19 pandemic. You can download the final text of the VA Standard related to COVID here.  The standards are expected to go into effect July 27th.

These safety rules will protect Virginia workers by mandating appropriate personal protective equipment, sanitation, social distancing, infectious disease preparedness and response plans, record keeping, training, and hazard communications in workplaces across the Commonwealth. The actions come in the absence of federal guidelines.

The standards require all employers to mandate social distancing measures and face coverings for employees in customer-facing positions and when social distancing is not possible, provide frequent access to hand washing or hand sanitizer, and regularly clean high-contact surfaces. In addition, new standards require all employees be notified within 24 hours if a coworker tests positive for the virus. Employees who are known or suspected to be positive for COVID-19 cannot return to work for 10 days or until they receive two consecutive negative tests.

These temporary emergency standards will remain in effect for six months and can be made permanent through the process defined in state law.

The emergency temporary standards, infectious disease preparedness and response plan templates, and training guidance are posted on the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry website.