On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI’s) Safety and Health Codes Board (Board) convened and voted to recommend revoking the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 permanent workplace safety standard. This action comes after newly-elected Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 6 directing the Board to convene an emergency meeting to consider
workplace safety protocols
It continues: Virginia updates its permanent COVID-19 workplace safety standard
By Betty S.W. Graumlich & Noah Oberlander on
On August 26, 2021, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI’s) Safety and Health Codes Board (Board) voted 8 to 5 to update and continue its COVID-19 permanent workplace safety standard. That vote came despite the fact that the bulk of COVID-19 business requirements issued by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ended on May…
Virginia set to enact permanent COVID-19 workplace safety standard
On January 13, 2021, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI’s) Safety and Health Codes Board voted 9-4 to approve a permanent COVID-19 workplace safety standard, setting the stage for Virginia to become the first state in the nation to do so. In July 2020, DOLI’s Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program (VOSH) adopted…
What comes next: Reopening the workplace after COVID-19
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. businesses remain shuttered or operating at reduced levels. While the ultimate decision to allow employees to return to “in-person” work will likely involve a staggered, multi-faceted, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction approach, on April 16, 2020, the federal government nevertheless announced a three-phase plan for “reopening America,” including guidance for state and local officials.
In the first phase, businesses are encouraged to continue remote work, returning to “in-person” work in phases. For businesses that do reopen “in-person” operations, common areas should remain closed and strict social distancing protocols should be enforced. Non-essential travel should remain limited. Special accommodations are recommended for workers who are at high risk. In the second phase, business should continue to encourage remote work and, for “in-person” operations, keep common areas closed. Moderate social distancing protocols should be enforced and businesses can resume non-essential business travel. Special accommodations for high risk workers should continue. During the third phase, in states and regions with no evidence of a rebound of COVID-19 cases, employers can resume unrestricted “in-person” staffing of worksites.
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