Virginia Passes First-in-the-Nation COVID-19 Safety Standard

Virginia became the first state in the country to pass a workplace safety standard specific to COVID-19 on July 15. It includes hazard assessment, communication and training requirements, depending on the types of tasks employees perform at work.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry ("DOLI") passed its Emergency Temporary Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention related to COVID-19 after months of deliberation and revision. The standard is expected to become effective on July 27, 2020. Virginia is a state-plan state for OSHA purposes, so workplace safety rules are handled as part of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health ("VOSH") Program. The new standard applies to all employers subject to VOSH jurisdiction.