Final Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 16VAC25-220 | Legal Announcements

Final Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 16VAC25-220 16VAC25-220-10. Purpose, scope, and applicability. A. This standard is designed to establish requirements for employers to control, prevent, and mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to and among employees and employers. B. This standard is adopted in accordance with subdivision 6 a of § 40.1-22 of the Code of Virginia and shall apply to every employer, employee, and place of employment in the Commonwealth of Virginia within the jurisdiction of the VOSH program as described in 16VAC25-60-20 and 16VAC25-60-30. C. This standard is designed to supplement and enhance existing VOSH laws, rules, regulations, and standards applicable directly or indirectly to SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease-related hazards such as, but not limited to, those dealing with personal protective equipment, respiratory protective equipment, sanitation, access to employee exposure and medical records, occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories, hazard communication, § 40.1-51.1 A of the Code of Virginia, etc. Should this standard confl ict with an existing VOSH rule, regulation, or standard, the more stringent requirement from an occupational safety and health hazard prevention standpoint shall apply. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this standard, no enforcement action shall be brought against an employer or institution for failure to provide PPE required by this standard if such PPE is not readily available on commercially reasonable terms and the employer or institution makes a good faith effort to acquire or provide such PPE as is readily available on commercially reasonable terms. The Department of Labor and Industry shall consult with the Virginia Department of Health as to the ready availability of PPE on commercially reasonable terms and, in the event there are limited supplies of PPE, whether such supplies are being allocated to high risk or very high risk workplaces. D. Application of this standard to a place of employment will be based on the exposure risk level presented by SARS-CoV-2 virus-related and COVID-19 disease-related hazards present or job tasks undertaken by employees at the place of employment as defi ned in this standard (i.e., very high, high, medium, and lower risk levels). 1. It is recognized that various hazards or job tasks at the same place of employment can be designated as very high, high, medium, or lower exposure risk for purposes of application of the requirements of this standard. It is further recognized that various required job tasks prohibit an employee from being able to observe physical distancing from other persons. 2. Factors that shall be considered in determining exposure risk level include, but are not limited to: a. The job tasks being undertaken, the work environment (e.g., indoors or outdoors), the known or suspected presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the presence of a person known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the number of employees and other persons in relation to the size of the work area, the working distance between employees and other employees or persons, and the duration and frequency of employee exposure through contact inside of six feet with other employees or persons (e.g., including shift work exceeding eight hours per day); and b. The type of hazards encountered, including exposure to respiratory droplets and potential exposure to the airborne transmission of SARSCoV- 2 virus; contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, such as tools, workstations, or break room tables, and shared spaces such as shared workstations, break rooms, locker rooms, and entrances and exits to the facility; shared work vehicles; and industries or places of employment where employer sponsored shared transportation is a common practice, such as ride-share vans or shuttle vehicles, car-pools, and public transportation, etc. E. To the extent that an employer actually complies with a recommendation contained in CDC guidelines, whether mandatory or non-mandatory, to mitigate SARSCoV- 2 virus and COVID-19 disease related hazards or job tasks addressed by this standard, and provided that the CDC recommendation provides equivalent or greater protection than provided by a provision of this standard, the employer’s actions shall be considered in compliance with this standard. An employer’s actual compliance with a recommendation contained in CDC guidelines, whether mandatory or non-mandatory, to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 related hazards or job tasks addressed by a provision of this standard shall be considered evidence of good faith in any enforcement proceeding related to this standard. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry shall consult with the State Health Commissioner for advice and technical aid before making a determination related to compliance with CDC guidelines. F. A public or private institution of higher education that has received certifi cation from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia that the institution’s reopening plans are in compliance with guidance documents, whether mandatory or non-mandatory, developed by the Governor’s Offi ce in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health shall be considered in compliance with this standard, provided the institution operates in compliance with its certifi ed reopening plans and the certifi ed reopening plans provide equivalent or greater levels of employee protection than this standard. G. A public school division or private school that submits its plans to the Virginia Department of Education to move to Phase II and Phase III that are aligned with CDC guidance for reopening of schools that provide equivalent or greater levels of employee protection than a provision of this standard and that operate in compliance with the public school division’s or private school’s submitted plans shall be considered in compliance with this standard. An institution’s actual compliance with recommendations contained in CDC guidelines or the Virginia Department of Education guidance, whether mandatory or non-mandatory, to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 related hazards or job tasks addressed by a provision of this standard shall be considered evidence of good faith in any enforcement proceeding related to this standard. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry shall consult with the State Health Commissioner for advice and technical aid before making a determination related to compliance with CDC guidelines. H. Nothing in the standard shall be construed to require employers to conduct contact tracing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease. 16VAC25-220-20. Effective dates. A. Adoption process. 1. This standard shall take effect upon review by the Governor, and if no revisions are requested, fi ling with the Registrar of Regulations and publication in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Richmond, Virginia. 2. If the Governor’s review results in one or more requested revisions to the standard, the Safety and Health Codes Board shall reconvene to approve, amend, or reject the requested revisions. 3. If the Safety and Health Codes Board approves the requested revisions to the standard as submitted, the standard shall take effect upon fi ling with the Registrar of Regulations and publication in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Richmond, Virginia. 4. Should the Governor fail to review the standard under subdivision A 1 of this section within 30 days of its approval by the Safety and Health Codes Board, the board will not need to reconvene to take further action, and the standard shall take effect upon fi ling with the Registrar of Regulations and publication in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Richmond, Virginia. 5. The Governor reviewed the standard under subdivision A 1 of this section and the effective date is January 27, 2021. B. The requirements for 16VAC25-220-70 shall take effect on March 26, 2021. The training requirements in 16VAC25-220-80 shall take effect on March 26, 2021. C. Within 14 days of the expiration of the Governor’s COVID-19 State of Emergency and Commissioner of Health’s COVID-19 Declaration of Public Emergency, the Safety and Health Codes Board shall notice a regular, special, or emergency meeting/conduct a regular, special, or emergency meeting to determine whether there is a continued need for the standard. 16VAC25-220-30. Defi nitions. The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: “Administrative control” means any procedure that signifi cantly limits daily exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related workplace hazards and job tasks by control or manipulation of the work schedule or manner in which work is performed. The use of personal protective equipment is not considered a means of administrative control. “Airborne infection isolation room” or “AIIR,” formerly a negative pressure isolation room, means a singleoccupancy patient-care room used to isolate persons with a suspected or confi rmed airborne infectious disease. Environmental factors are controlled in AIIRs to minimize the transmission of infectious agents that are usually transmitted from person to person by droplet nuclei associated with coughing or aerosolization of contaminated fl uids. AIIRs provide (i) negative pressure in the room so that air fl ows under the door gap into the room, (ii) an air fl ow rate of six to 12 air changes per hour (ACH) (six ACH for existing structures, 12 ACH for new construction or renovation), and (iii) direct exhaust of air from the room to the outside of the building or recirculation of air through a high effi ciency particulate air (HEPA) fi lter before returning to circulation. “Asymptomatic” means a person who does not have symptoms. “Building or facility owner” means the legal entity, including a lessee, that exercises control over management and recordkeeping functions relating to a building or facility in which activities covered by this standard take place. “CDC” means Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Cleaning” means the removal of dirt and impurities, including germs, from surfaces. Cleaning alone does not kill germs. But by removing the germs, cleaning decreases their number and therefore the risk of spreading infection. “Community transmission,” also called “community spread,” means people have been infected with SARSCoV- 2 in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. The level of community transmission is classifi ed by the CDC as: 1. “No to minimal” where there is evidence of isolated cases or limited community transmission, case investigations are underway, and no evidence of exposure in large communal settings; 2. “Moderate” where there is sustained community transmission with high likelihood or confi rmed exposure within communal settings and potential for rapid increase in cases; 3. “Substantial, controlled” where there is large scale, controlled community transmission, including communal settings (e.g., schools, workplaces, etc.); or 4. “Substantial, uncontrolled” where there is large scale, uncontrolled community transmission, including communal settings (e.g., schools, workplaces, etc.). “COVID-19” means Coronavirus Disease 2019, which is primarily a respiratory disease, caused by the SARSCoV- 2 virus. “Disinfecting” means using chemicals approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 virus, for example EPA-registered disinfectants, or non-EPA-registered disinfectants that otherwise meet the EPA criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2 virus, to kill germs on surfaces. The process of disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but killing germs remaining on a surface after cleaning further reduces any risk of spreading infection. “Duration and frequency of employee exposure” means how long (“duration”) and how often (“frequency”) an employee is potentially exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease. Generally, the greater the frequency or length of time of the exposure, the greater the probability is for potential infection to occur. Frequency of exposure is generally more signifi cant for acute acting agents or situations, while duration of exposure is generally more signifi cant for chronic acting agents or situations. An example of an acute SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease situation could involve a customer, patient, or other person not wearing a face covering or personal protective equipment or coughing or sneezing directly into the face of an employee. An example of a chronic situation could involve a job task that requires an employee to interact either for an extended period of time inside six feet with a smaller static group of other employees or persons or for an extended period of time inside six feet with a larger group of other employees or persons in succession but for periods of shorter duration. “Economic feasibility” means the employer is fi nancially able to undertake the measures necessary to comply with one or more requirements in this standard. The cost of corrective measures to be taken will not usually be considered as a factor in determining whether a violation of this standard has occurred. If an employer’s level of compliance lags signifi cantly behind that of its industry, an employer’s claim of economic infeasibility will not support a VOSH decision to decline to take enforcement action. “Elimination” means a method of exposure control that removes the employee completely from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related workplace hazards and job tasks. “Employee” means an employee of an employer who is employed in a business of his employer. Reference to the term “employee” in this standard also includes, but is not limited to, temporary employees and other joint employment relationships, persons in supervisory or management positions with the employer, etc., in accordance with Virginia occupational safety and health laws, standards, regulations, and court rulings. “Engineering control” means the use of substitution, isolation, ventilation, and equipment modifi cation to reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related workplace hazards and job tasks. “Exposure risk level” means the level of possibility that an employee could be exposed to the hazards associated with SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 disease. The exposure risk level assessment should address all risks and all modes of transmission, including airborne transmission, as well as transmission by asymptomatic and presymptomatic individuals. Risk levels should be based on the risk factors present that increase risk exposure to COVID-19 and are present during the course of employment regardless of location. Hazards and job tasks have been divided into four risk exposure levels: very high, high, medium, and lower: “Very high” exposure risk hazards or job tasks are those in places of employment with high potential for employee exposure to known or suspected sources of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g., laboratory samples) or persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including, but not limited to, during specifi c medical, postmortem, or laboratory procedures: 1. Aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., intubation, cough induction procedures, bronchoscopies, some dental procedures and exams, or invasive specimen collection) on a patient or person known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 2. Collecting or handling specimens from a patient or person known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g., manipulating cultures from patients known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus); and 3. Performing an autopsy that involves aerosol-generating procedures on the body of a person known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the time of their death. “High” exposure risk hazards or job tasks are those in places of employment with high potential for employee exposure inside six feet with known or suspected sources of SARS-CoV-2, or with persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that are not otherwise classifi ed as very high exposure risk, including, but not limited to: 1. Health care (physical and mental health) delivery and support services provided to a patient known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including fi eld hospitals (e.g., doctors, nurses, cleaners, and other hospital staff who must enter patient rooms or areas); 2. Health care (physical and mental) delivery, care, and support services, wellness services, non-medical support services, physical assistance, etc., provided to a patient, resident, or other person known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus involving skilled nursing services, outpatient medical services, clinical services, drug treatment programs, medical outreach services, mental health services, home health care, nursing home care, assisted living care, memory care support and services, hospice care, rehabilitation services, primary and specialty medical care, dental care, COVID-19 testing services, blood donation services, and chiropractic services; 3. First responder services provided to a patient, resident, or other person known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 4. Medical transport services (loading, transporting, unloading, etc.) provided to patients known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g., ground or air emergency transport, staff, operators, drivers, pilots, etc.); 5. Mortuary services involved in preparing (e.g., for burial or cremation) the bodies of persons who are known or suspected to be infected with the SARSCoV- 2 virus at the time of their death; and 6. Correctional facilities, jails detention centers, and juvenile detention centers. “Medium” exposure risk hazards or job tasks are those not otherwise classifi ed as very high or high exposure risk in places of employment that require more than minimal occupational contact inside six feet with other employees, other persons, or the general public who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but who are not known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Medium exposure risk hazards or job tasks may include, but are not limited to, operations and services in: 1. Poultry, meat, and seafood processing; agricultural and hand labor; commercial transportation of passengers by air, land, and water; on campus educational settings in schools, colleges, and universities; daycare and afterschool settings; restaurants and bars; grocery stores, convenience stores, and food banks; drug stores and pharmacies; manufacturing settings; indoor and outdoor construction settings; work performed in customer premises, such as homes or businesses; retail stores; call centers; package processing settings; veterinary settings; personal care, personal grooming, salon, and spa settings; venues for sports, entertainment, movies, theaters, and other forms of mass gatherings; homeless shelters; fi tness, gym, and exercise facilities; airports, and train and bus stations; etc.; and 2. Situations not involving exposure to known or suspected sources of SARS-CoV-2: hospitals, other health care (physical and mental) delivery and support services in a non-hospital setting, wellness services, physical assistance, etc.; skilled nursing facilities; outpatient medical facilities; clinics, drug treatment programs, and medical outreach services; non-medical support services; mental health facilities; home health care, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, memory care facilities, and hospice care; rehabilitation centers, doctors’ offi ces, dentists’ offi ces, and chiropractors’ offi ces; fi rst responders services provided by police, fi re, paramedic and emergency medical services providers, medical transport; contact tracers; correctional facilities, jails, detentions centers, and juvenile detention centers, etc. “Lower” exposure risk hazards or job tasks are those not otherwise classifi ed as very high, high, or medium exposure risk that do not require contact inside six feet with persons known to be, or suspected of being, or who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Employees in this category have minimal occupational contact with other employees, other persons, or the general public, such as in an offi ce building setting, or are able to achieve minimal occupational contact with others through the implementation of engineering, administrative and work practice controls, such as, but not limited to: 1. Installation of fl oor to ceiling physical barriers constructed of impermeable material and not subject to unintentional displacement (e.g., such as clear plastic walls at convenience stores behind which only one employee is working at any one time); 2. Telecommuting; 3. Staggered work shifts that allow employees to maintain physical distancing from other employees, other persons, and the general public; 4. Delivering services remotely by phone, audio, video, mail, package delivery, curbside pickup or delivery, etc., that allows employees to maintain physical distancing from other employees, other persons, and the general public; and 5. Mandatory physical distancing of employees from other employees, other persons, and the general public. Employee use of face coverings for contact inside six feet of coworkers, customers, or other persons is not an acceptable administrative or work practice control to achieve minimal occupational contact. “Face covering” means an item made of two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric that fi ts snugly against the sides of the face without any gaps, completely covering the nose and mouth and fi tting securely under the chin. Neck gaiters made of two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric, or folded to make two such layers are considered acceptable face coverings. Face coverings shall not have exhalation valves or vents, which allow virus particles to escape, and shall not be made of material that makes it hard to breathe, such as vinyl. A face covering is not a surgical/medical procedure mask or respirator. A face covering is not subject to testing and approval by a state or government agency, so it is not considered a form of personal protective equipment or respiratory protection equipment under VOSH laws, rules, regulations, and standards. “Face shield” means a form of personal protective equipment made of transparent, impermeable materials primarily used for eye protection from droplets or splashes for the person wearing it. A face shield is not a substitute for a face covering, surgical/medical procedure mask, or respirator. “Feasible” as used in this standard includes both technical and economic feasibility. “Filtering facepiece respirator” means a negative pressure air purifying particulate respirator with a fi lter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece composed of the fi ltering medium. Filtering facepiece respirators are certifi ed for use by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). “Hand sanitizer” means an alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60% alcohol, unless otherwise provided for in this standard. “HIPAA” means Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. “Known to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus” means a person, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, who has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and the employer knew or with reasonable diligence should have known that the person has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. “May be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus” means any person not currently known or suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Minimal occupational contact” means no or very limited, brief, and infrequent contact with employees or other persons at the place of employment. Examples include, but are not limited to, remote work (i.e., those working from home); employees with no more than brief contact with others inside six feet (e.g., passing another person in a hallway that does not allow physical distancing of six feet); health care employees providing only telemedicine services; a long distance truck driver. “Occupational exposure” means the state of being actually or potentially exposed to contact with SARSCoV- 2 virus or COVID-19 disease related hazards at the work location or while engaged in work activities at another location. “Personal protective equipment” means equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, biological, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment for actual or potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 exposure may include, but is not limited to, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, surgical/medical procedure masks, impermeable gowns or coveralls, face shields, vests, and full body suits. “Physical distancing” also called “social distancing” means a person keeping space between himself and other persons while conducting work-related activities inside and outside of the physical establishment by staying at least six feet from other persons. Physical separation of an employee from other employees or persons by a permanent, solid fl oor to ceiling wall (e.g., an offi ce setting) constitutes one form of physical distancing from an employee or other person stationed on the other side of the wall, provided that six feet of travel distance is maintained from others around the edges or sides of the wall as well. “Respirator” means a protective device that covers the nose and mouth or the entire face or head to guard the wearer against hazardous atmospheres. Respirators are certifi ed for use by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Respirators may be (i) tightfi tting, which means either a half mask that covers the mouth and nose or a full face piece that covers the face from the hairline to below the chin or (ii) loose-fi tting, such as hoods or helmets that cover the head completely. There are two major classes of respirators: 1. Air-purifying, which remove contaminants from the air; and 2. Atmosphere-supplying, which provide clean, breathable air from an uncontaminated source. As a general rule, atmosphere-supplying respirators are used for more hazardous exposures. “Respirator user” means an employee who in the scope of their current job may be assigned to tasks that may require the use of a respirator in accordance with this standard or required by other provisions in the VOSH and OSHA standards. “SARS-CoV-2” means the novel virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surfaces. “Severely immunocompromised” means a seriously weakened immune system that lowers the body’s ability to fi ght infection and may increase the risk of getting severely sick from SARS-CoV-2, from being on chemotherapy for cancer, being within one year out from receiving a hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplant, untreated HIV infection with CD4 T lymphocyte count less than 200, combined primary immunodefi ciency disorder, and receipt of prednisone greater than 20mg per day for more than 14 days. The degree of immunocompromise is determined by the treating provider, and preventive actions are tailored to each individual and situation. “Signs of COVID-19” are medical conditions that can be objectively observed and may include fever, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, cough, vomiting, new confusion, bluish lips or face, etc. “Surgical/medical procedure mask” means a mask to be worn over the wearer’s nose and mouth that is fluid resistant and provides the wearer protection against large droplets, splashes, or sprays of bodily or other hazardous fl uids, and prevents the wearer from exposing others in the same fashion. A surgical/medical procedure mask protects others from the wearer’s respiratory emissions. A surgical/medical procedure mask has a looser fi tting face seal than a tight-fi tting respirator. A surgical/medical procedure mask does not provide the wearer with a reliable level of protection from inhaling smaller airborne particles. A surgical/medical procedure mask is considered a form of personal protective equipment, but is not considered respiratory protection equipment under VOSH laws, rules, regulations, and standards. Testing and approval is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus” means a person who has signs or symptoms of COVID-19 but has not tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and no alternative diagnosis has been made (e.g., tested positive for infl uenza). “Symptomatic” means a person is experiencing signs or symptoms attributed to COVID-19. A person may become symptomatic two to 14 days after exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Symptoms of COVID-19” are medical conditions that are subjective to the person and not observable to others and may include chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea, congestion or runny nose, or diarrhea, etc. “Technical feasibility” means the existence of technical know-how as to materials and methods available or adaptable to specifi c circumstances that can be applied to one or more requirements in this standard with a reasonable possibility that employee exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease hazards will be reduced. If an employer’s level of compliance lags signifi – cantly behind that of the employer’s industry, allegations of technical infeasibility will not be accepted. “USBC” means Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. “VDH” means Virginia Department of Health. “VOSH” means Virginia Occupational Safety and Health. “Work practice control” means a type of administrative control by which the employer modifi es the manner in which the employee performs assigned work. Such modifi cation may result in a reduction of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related workplace hazards and job tasks through such methods as changing work habits, improving sanitation and hygiene practices, or making other changes in the way the employee performs the job. 16VAC25-220-40. Mandatory requirements for all employers. A. Employers shall ensure compliance with the requirements in this section to protect employees in all exposure risk levels from workplace exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. B. Exposure assessment and determination, notifi cation requirements, and employee access to exposure and medical records. 1. Employers shall assess their workplace for hazards and job tasks that can potentially expose employees to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease. Employers shall classify each job task according to the hazards employees are potentially exposed to and ensure compliance with the applicable sections of this standard for very high, high, medium, or lower risk levels of exposure. Tasks that are similar in nature and expose employees to the same hazard may be grouped for classifi cation purposes. 2. Employers shall inform employees of the methods of and encourage employees to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 if employees suspect possible exposure or are experiencing signs or symptoms of illness. 3. Serological testing, also known as antibody testing, is a test to determine if persons have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has not been determined that persons who test positive for the presence of antibodies by serological testing are immune from infection. a. Serologic test results shall not be used to make decisions about returning employees to work who were previously classifi ed as known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. b. Serologic test results shall not be used to make decisions concerning employees who were previously classifi ed as known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus about grouping, residing in, or being admitted to congregate settings, such as schools, dormitories, etc. 4. Employers shall develop and implement policies and procedures for employees to report when they are experiencing signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and no alternative diagnosis has been made (e.g., tested positive for infl uenza). Such employees shall be designated by the employer as “suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus.” 5. Employers shall not permit employees or other persons known or suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus to report to or remain at the work site or engage in work at a customer or client location until cleared for return to work (see subsection C of this section). Nothing in this standard shall prohibit an employer from permitting an employee known or suspected to be infected with SARSCoV- 2 virus from engaging in teleworking or other form of work isolation that would not result in potentially exposing other employees to the SARSCoV- 2 virus. 6. Employers shall discuss with subcontractors and companies that provide contract or temporary employees the importance and requirement to exclude from work employees or other persons (e.g., volunteers) who are known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Subcontractor, contract, or temporary employees known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus shall not report to or be allowed to remain at the work site until cleared for return to work. Subcontractors shall not allow their employees known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus to report to or be allowed to remain at work or on a job site until cleared for return to work. 7. To the extent permitted by law, including HIPAA, employers shall establish a system to receive reports of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests by employees, subcontractors, contract employees, and temporary employees (excluding patients hospitalized on the basis of being known or suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus) present at the place of employment within two days prior to symptom onset (or positive test if the employee is asymptomatic) until 10 days after onset (or positive test). Employers shall notify: a. The employer’s own employees who may have been exposed, within 24 hours of discovery of the employees’ possible exposure, while keeping confi dential the identity of the person known to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and Virginia laws and regulations; b. In the same manner as subdivision 7 a of this subsection, other employers whose employees were present at the work site during the same time period; c. In the same manner as subdivision 7 a of this subsection, the building or facility owner. The building or facility owner will require all employer tenants to notify the owner of the occurrence of a SARS-CoV-2-positive test for any employees or residents in the building. This notifi cation will allow the owner to take the necessary steps to sanitize the common areas of the building. In addition, the building or facility owner will notify all employer tenants in the building that one or more cases have been discovered and the fl oor or work area where the case was located. The identity of the individual will be kept confi dential in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and Virginia laws and regulations; d. The Virginia Department of Health during a declaration of an emergency by the Governor pursuant to § 44-146.17 of the Code of Virginia. Every employer as defi ned by § 40.1-2 of the Code of Virginia shall report to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) when the work site has had two or more confi rmed cases of COVID-19 of its own employees present at the place of employment within a 14-day period testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus during that 14-day time period. Employers shall make such a report in a manner specifi ed by VDH, including name, date of birth, and contact information of each case, within 24 hours of becoming aware of such cases. Employers shall continue to report all cases until the local health department has closed the outbreak. After the outbreak is closed, subsequent identifi cation of two or more confi rmed cases of COVID-19 during a declared emergency shall be reported, as required by this subdivision B 7 d. The following employers are exempt from this provision because of separate outbreak reporting requirements contained in 12VAC5-90-90: any residential or day program, service, or facility licensed or operated by any agency of the Commonwealth, school, child care center, or summer camp; and e. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry within 24 hours of the discovery of three or more of its own employees present at the place of employment within a 14-day period testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus during that 14-day time period. A reported positive SARS-CoV-2 test does not need to be reported more than once and will not be used for the purpose of identifying more than one grouping of three or more cases, or more than one 14-day period. 8. Employers shall ensure employee access to the employee’s own SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related exposure and medical records in accordance with the standard applicable to its industry. Employers in the agriculture, public sector marine terminal, and public sector longshoring industries shall ensure employees’ access to the employees’ own SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related exposure and medical records in accordance with 16VAC25-90-1910.1020, Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records. C. Return to work. Employers shall develop and implement policies and procedures for employees known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus to return to work. 1. Symptomatic employees known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus are excluded from returning to work until all three of the following conditions have been met: a. The employee is fever-free (below 100.0° F) for at least 24 hours, without the use of feverreducing medications; b. Respiratory symptoms, such as cough and shortness of breath have improved; and c. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms fi rst appeared. However, a limited number of employees with severe illness may produce replication-competent virus beyond 10 days that may warrant extending duration of isolation for up to 20 days after symptom onset. Employees who are severely immunocompromised may require testing to determine when they can return to work, and the employer shall consider consultation with infection control experts. VOSH will consult with VDH when identifying severe employee illnesses that may warrant extended duration of isolation or severely immunocompromised employees required to undergo testing. 2. Employees known to be infected with SARSCoV- 2 who never develop signs or symptoms are excluded from returning to work until 10 days after the date of their fi rst positive RT-PCR test for SARSCoV- 2 RNA. 3. For purposes of this section, COVID-19 testing is considered a “medical examination” under § 40.1-28 of the Code of Virginia. Employers shall not require employees to pay for the cost of COVID-19 testing for return to work determinations. If an employer’s health insurance covers the entire cost of COVID-19 testing, use of the insurance coverage would not be considered a violation of this subdivision C 3. D. Unless otherwise provided in this standard, employers shall establish and implement policies and procedures that ensure employees observe physical distancing while on the job and during paid breaks on the employer’s property, including policies and procedures that: 1. Use verbal announcements, signage, or visual cues to promote physical distancing. 2. Decrease worksite density by limiting nonemployee access to the place of employment or restrict access to only certain workplace areas to reduce the risk of exposure. An employer’s compliance with occupancy limits contained in any applicable Virginia executive order or order of public health emergency will constitute compliance with the requirements in this subsection. E. Access to common areas, breakrooms, or lunchrooms shall be closed or controlled. If the nature of an employer’s work or the work area does not allow employees to consume meals in the employee’s workspace while observing physical distancing, an employer may designate, reconfi gure, and alternate usage of spaces where employees congregate, including lunch and break rooms, locker rooms, time clocks, etc., with controlled access, provided the following conditions are met: 1. At the entrance of the designated common area or room, employers shall clearly post the policy limiting the occupancy of the space and requirements for physical distancing, hand washing and hand sanitizing, and cleaning and disinfecting of shared surfaces. 2. Employers shall limit occupancy of the designated common area or room so that occupants can maintain physical distancing from each other. Employers shall enforce the occupancy limit. 3. Employees shall be required to clean and disinfect the immediate area in which they were located prior to leaving, or employers may provide for cleaning and disinfecting of the common area or room at regular intervals throughout the day and between shifts of employees using the same common area or room (i.e., where an employee or groups of employees have a designated lunch pe- period and the common area or room can be cleaned in between occupancies). 4. Handwashing facilities, and hand sanitizer where feasible, are available to employees. Hand sanitizers required for use to protect against SARS-CoV-2 are fl ammable and use and storage in hot environments can result in a hazard. F. When multiple employees are occupying a vehicle for work purposes, employers shall use the hierarchy of hazard controls to mitigate the hazards associated with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 to prevent employee exposures in the following order: 1. Eliminate the need for employees to share work vehicles and arrange for alternative means for additional employees to travel to work sites. 2. Provide access to fresh air ventilation (e.g., windows). Do not recirculate cabin air. 3. When physical distancing cannot be maintained, establish procedures to maximize separation between employees during travel (e.g., setting occupancy limits, sitting in alternate seats, etc.). 4. When employees must share work vehicles because no other alternatives are available, employees shall be provided with respiratory protection, such as an N95 fi ltering face piece respirator. The employer shall ensure compliance with respiratory protection and personal protective equipment standards applicable to the employer’s industry. 5. Until adequate supplies of respiratory protection and/or personal protective equipment become readily available for non-medical and non-fi rst responder employers and employees, employers shall provide and employees shall wear face coverings while occupying a work vehicle with other employees or persons. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this standard, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade may exercise discretion in the enforcement of an employer’s failure to provide PPE required by this standard, if the employer demonstrates that the employer: a. Is exercising due diligence to come into compliance with such requirement; and b. Is implementing alternative methods and measures to protect employees that are satisfactory to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade after consultation with the commissioner and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. G. Where the nature of an employee’s work or the work area does not allow the employee to observe physical distancing requirements, employers shall ensure compliance with respiratory protection and personal protective equipment standards applicable to its industry. H. When it is necessary for employees solely exposed to lower risk hazards or job tasks to have brief contact with others inside six feet (e.g., passing another person in a hallway that does not allow physical distancing of six feet), a face covering is required. I. When required by this standard, face coverings shall be worn over the wearer’s nose and mouth and extend under the chin. J. Nothing in this standard shall require the use of a respirator, surgical/medical procedure mask, or face covering by any employee for whom doing so would be contrary to the employee’s health or safety because of a medical condition; however, nothing in this standard shall negate an employer’s obligations to comply with personal protective equipment and respiratory protection standards applicable to its industry. 1. Although face shields are not considered a substitute for face coverings as a method of source control and not used as a replacement for face coverings among people without medical contraindications, face shields may provide some level of protection against contact with respiratory droplets. In situations where a face covering cannot be worn due to medical contraindications, employers shall provide and employees shall wear either: a. A face shield that wraps around the sides of the wearer’s face and extends below the chin; or b. A hooded face shield. 2. To the extent feasible, employees wearing face shields in accordance with this subsection shall observe physical distancing requirements in this standard. 3. Face shield wearers shall wash their hands before and after removing the face shield and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing it. 4. Disposable face shields shall only be worn for a single use and disposed of according to manufacturer instructions. 5. Reusable face shields shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use according to manufacturer instructions. K. Requests to the Department of Labor and Industry for religious waivers from the required use of respirators, surgical/medical procedure masks, or face coverings will be handled in accordance with the requirements of applicable federal and state law, standards, regulations and the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions, after Department of Labor and Industry consultation with the Offi ce of the Attorney General. L. Sanitation and disinfecting. 1. In addition to the requirements contained in this standard, employers shall comply with the VOSH sanitation standard applicable to its industry. 2. Employees that interact with customers, the general public, contractors, and other persons shall be provided with and immediately use supplies to clean and disinfectant surfaces contacted during the interaction where there is the potential for exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus by themselves or other employees. 3. In addition to the requirements contained in this standard, employers shall comply with the VOSH hazard communication standard applicable to the employers’ industry for cleaning and disinfecting materials and hand sanitizers. 4. Areas in the place of employment where employees or other persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus accessed or worked shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to allowing other employees access to the areas. Where feasible, a period of 24 hours will be observed prior to cleaning and disinfecting. This requirement shall not apply if the areas in question have been unoccupied for seven or more days. 5. All common spaces, including bathrooms (including port-a-johns, privies, etc.), frequently touched surfaces, and doors, shall at a minimum be cleaned and disinfected at least once during or at the end of the shift. Where multiple shifts are employed, such spaces shall be cleaned and disinfected no less than once every 12 hours. 6. All shared tools, equipment, workspaces, and vehicles shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to transfer from one employee to another. 7. Employers shall ensure that cleaning and disinfecting products are readily available to employees to accomplish the required cleaning and disinfecting. In addition, employers shall ensure use of only disinfecting chemicals and products indicated in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) List N for use against SARS-CoV-2, or non-EPA-registered disinfectants that otherwise meet the EPA criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. 8. Employers shall ensure that the manufacturer’s instructions for use of all disinfecting chemicals and products are complied with (e.g., concentration, application method, contact time, PPE, etc.). 9. Employees shall have easy, frequent access and permission to use soap and water, and hand sanitizer where feasible, for the duration of work. Employees assigned to a work station where job tasks require frequent interaction inside six feet with other persons shall be provided with hand sanitizer where feasible at the employees work station. 10. Mobile crews shall be provided with hand sanitizer where feasible for the duration of work at a work site or client or customer location and shall have transportation immediately available to nearby toilet facilities and handwashing facilities that meet the requirements of VOSH laws, standards, and regulations dealing with sanitation. Hand sanitizers required for use to protect against SARS-CoV-2 are fl ammable, and use and storage in hot environments can result in a hazard. 11. It is recognized that various hazards or job tasks at the same place of employment can be designated as very high, high, medium, or lower as presenting potential exposure risk for purposes of application of the requirements of this standard. In situations other than emergencies, employers shall ensure that protective measures are put in place to prevent cross-contamination between tasks, areas, and personnel. M. Unless otherwise provided in this standard, when engineering, work practice, and administrative controls are not feasible or do not provide suffi cient protection, employers shall provide personal protective equipment to their employees and ensure the equipment’s proper use in accordance with VOSH laws, standards, and regulations applicable to personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection equipment. 16VAC25-220-50. Requirements for hazards or job tasks classifi ed as very high or high exposure risk. A. The requirements in this section for employers with hazards or job tasks classifi ed as very high or high exposure risk apply in addition to requirements contained in 16VAC25-220-40, 16VAC25-220-70, and 16VAC25- 220-80. B. Engineering controls. 1. Employers shall ensure that appropriate airhandling systems under their control: a. Are installed and maintained in accordance with the USBC and manufacturer’s instructions in healthcare facilities and other places of employment treating, caring for, or housing persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus; and b. Where feasible and within the design parameters of the system, are utilized as follows: (1) Increase total airfl ow supply to occupied spaces provided that a greater hazard is not created (e.g., airfl ow that is increased too much may make doors harder to open or may blow doors open); (2) In ground transportation settings, use natural ventilation to increase outdoor air dilution of inside air in a manner that will aid in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease transmission to employees, and when environmental conditions and transportation safety and health requirements allow; (3) Inspect fi lter housing and racks to ensure appropriate fi lter fi t and check for ways to minimize fi lter bypass; (4) Increase air fi ltration to as high as possible in a manner that will still enable the system to provide airfl ow rates as the system design requires. Ensure compliance with higher fi ltration values is allowed by the air handler manufacturer’s installation instructions and listing; (5) Generate clean-to-less-clean air movements by re-evaluating the positioning of supply and exhaust air diffusers and/ or dampers and adjusting zone supply and exhaust fl ow rates to establish measurable pressure differentials; (6) Have staff work in “clean” ventilation zones that do not include higher-risk areas such as visitor reception or exercise facilities (if open); (7) Ensure exhaust fans in restroom facilities are functional and operating continuously when the building is occupied; (8) If the system’s design can accommodate such an adjustment and is allowed by the air handler manufacturer’s installation instructions and listing, improve central air fi ltration to MERV-13 and seal edges of the fi lter to limit bypass; and (9) Check fi lters to ensure they are within service life and appropriately installed. c. Comply with USBC and applicable referenced American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards. 2. For employers not covered by subdivision 1 of this subsection, ensure that air-handling systems where installed and under their control are appropriate to address the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related hazards and job tasks that occur at the workplace: a. Are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; and b. Comply with subdivisions 1 b and 1 c of this subsection. 3. Hospitalized patients known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, where feasible and available, shall be placed in airborne infection isolation room (AIIRs). 4. Employers shall use AIIRs when available for performing aerosol-generating procedures on patients with known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 5. For postmortem activities, employers shall use autopsy suites or other similar isolation facilities when performing aerosol-generating procedures on the bodies of persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the time of their death. 6. Employers shall use special precautions associated with Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3), as defi ned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Publication No. (CDC) 21-1112 Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories” (Dec. 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference, when handling specimens from patients or persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Diagnostic laboratories that conduct routine medical testing and environmental specimen testing for COVID-19 are not required to operate at BSL-3. 7. To the extent feasible, employers shall install physical barriers, (e.g., clear plastic sneeze guards, etc.), where such barriers will aid in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease transmission. C. Administrative and work practice controls. 1. Prior to the commencement of each work shift, prescreening or surveying shall be required to verify each covered employee does not have signs or symptoms of COVID-19. 2. In health care facilities, employers shall follow existing guidelines and facility standards of practice for identifying and isolating infected persons and for protecting employees. 3. Employers shall limit non-employee access to the place of employment or restrict access to only certain workplace areas to reduce the risk of exposure. An employer’s compliance with occupancy limits contained in any applicable Virginia executive order or order of public health emergency will constitute compliance with the requirements of this subdivision C 3. 4. Employers shall post signs requesting patients and family members to immediately report signs or symptoms of respiratory illness on arrival at the health care facility and use disposable face coverings. 5. Employers shall offer enhanced medical monitoring of employees during COVID-19 outbreaks. 6. To the extent feasible, an employer shall ensure that psychological and behavioral support is available to address employee stress at no cost to the employee. 7. In health care settings, employers shall provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol to employees at fi xed work sites and to emergency responders and other personnel for decontamination in the fi eld when working away from fi xed work sites. 8. Employers shall provide face coverings to nonemployees suspected to be infected with SARSCoV- 2 virus to contain respiratory secretions until the non-employees are able to leave the site (i.e., for medical evaluation and care or to return home). 9. Where feasible, employers shall: a. Implement fl exible work site (e.g., telework). b. Implement fl exible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts). c. Increase physical distancing between employees at the work site to six feet. d. Increase physical distancing between employees and other persons to six feet. e. Implement fl exible meeting and travel options (e.g., use telephone or video conferencing instead of in person meetings; postpone nonessential travel or events; etc.). f. Deliver services remotely (e.g. phone, video, internet, etc.). g. Deliver products through curbside pick-up. D. Personal protective equipment (PPE). Employers covered by this section and not otherwise covered by the VOSH Standards for General Industry (16VAC25-90- 1910.132), shall comply with the following requirements for a SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease-related hazard assessment and personal protective equipment selection: 1. Employers shall assess the workplace to determine if SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease hazards or job tasks are present or are likely to be present that necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Employers shall provide for employee and employee representative involvement in the assessment process. If such hazards or job tasks are present or likely to be present, employers shall: a. Except as otherwise required in the standard, select and have each affected employee use the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID- 19 disease hazards identifi ed in the hazard assessment; b. Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and c. Select PPE that properly fi ts each affected employee. 2. Employers shall verify that the required SARSCoV- 2 virus and COVID-19 disease workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certifi cation that identifi es the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date of the hazard assessment, and the document as a certifi cation of hazard assessment. 3. Unless specifi cally addressed by an industry specifi c standard applicable to the employer and providing for PPE protections to employees from the SARS-COV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease (e.g., 16VAC25-175-1926, 16VAC25-190-1928, 16VAC25-100-1915, 16VAC25-120-1917, or 16VAC25-130-1918), the requirements of 16VAC25-90-1910.132 (General requirements) and 16VAC25-90-1910.134 (Respiratory protection) shall apply to all employers for that purpose. 4. Unless contraindicated by a hazard assessment and equipment selection requirements in subdivision 1 of this subsection, employees classifi ed as very high or high exposure risk shall be provided with and wear gloves, a gown, a face shield or goggles, and a respirator when in contact with or inside six feet of patients or other persons known to be or suspected of being infected with SARSCoV- 2. Gowns shall be the correct size to assure protection. 16VAC25-220-60. Requirements for hazards or job tasks classifi ed at medium exposure risk. A. The requirements in this section for employers with hazards or job tasks classifi ed as medium exposure risk apply in addition to requirements contained in 16VAC25- 220-40, 16VAC25-70, and 16VAC25-80. B. Engineering controls. 1. Employers shall ensure that air-handling systems under their control: a. Are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; and b. Where feasible and within the design parameters of the system, are utilized as follows: (1) Increase total airfl ow supply to occupied spaces provided that a greater hazard is not created (e.g., airfl ow that is increased too much may make doors harder to open or may blow doors open); (2) In ground transportation settings, use natural ventilation to increase outdoor air dilution of inside air in a manner that will aid in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease transmission to employees and when environmental conditions and transportation safety and health requirements allow; (3) Inspect fi lter housing and racks to ensure appropriate fi lter fi t and check for ways to minimize fi lter bypass; (4) Increase air fi ltration to as high as possible in a manner that will still enable the system to provide airfl ow rates as the system design requires. Ensure compliance with higher fi ltration values is allowed by the air handler manufacturer’s installation instructions and listing; (5) Generate clean-to-less-clean air movements by re-evaluating the positioning of supply and exhaust air diffusers and/ or dampers and adjusting zone supply and exhaust fl ow rates to establish measurable pressure differentials; (6) Have staff work in “clean” ventilation zones that do not include higher-risk areas such as visitor reception or exercise facilities (if open); (7) Ensure exhaust fans in restroom facilities are functional and operating continuously when the building is occupied; (8) If the system’s design can accommodate such an adjustment and is allowed by the air handler manufacturer’s installation instructions and listing, improve central air fi ltration to MERV-13 and seal edges of the fi lter to limit bypass; and (9) Check fi lters to ensure they are within service life and appropriately installed. c. Comply with USBC and applicable referenced American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards. 2. Where feasible, employers shall Install physical barriers (e.g., such as clear plastic sneeze guards, etc.), where such barriers will aid in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission. C. Administrative and work practice controls. To the extent feasible, employers shall implement the following administrative and work practice controls: 1. Prior to the commencement of each work shift, prescreening or surveying shall be required to verify each covered employee does not have signs or symptoms of COVID-19. 2. Provide face coverings to non-employees suspected to be infected with SARS-C0V-2 to contain respiratory secretions until the non-employees are able to leave the site (i.e., for medical evaluation and care or to return home). 3. Implement fl exible work site (e.g., telework). 4. Implement fl exible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts). 5. Increase physical distancing between employees at the work site to six feet. 6. Increase physical distancing between employees and other persons, including customers, to six feet (e.g., drive-through physical barriers) where such barriers will aid in mitigating the spread of SARSCoV- 2 virus transmission, etc. 7. Implement fl exible meeting and travel options (e.g., using telephone or video conferencing instead of in person meetings; postponing non-essential travel or events; etc.). 8. Deliver services remotely (e.g. phone, video, internet, etc.). 9. Deliver products through curbside pick-up or delivery. 10. Employers shall provide and require employees to wear face coverings who, because of job tasks, cannot feasibly practice physical distancing from another employee or other person if the hazard assessment has determined that personal protective equipment, such as respirators or surgical/medical procedure masks, was not required for the job task. 11. Employers shall provide and require employees in customer or other person facing jobs to wear face coverings. D. Personal protective equipment. Employers covered by this section and not otherwise covered by the VOSH Standards for General Industry (16VAC25-90-1910.132) shall comply with the requirements of this subsection for a SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease related hazard assessment and personal protective equipment selection. 1. Employers shall assess the workplace to determine if SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease hazards or job tasks are present or are likely to be present that necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Employers shall provide for employee and employee representative involvement in the assessment process. If such hazards or job tasks are present or likely to be present, employers shall: a. Except as otherwise required in the standard, select and have each affected employee use the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID- 19 disease hazards identifi ed in the hazard assessment; b. Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and c. Select PPE that properly fi ts each affected employee. 2. Employers shall verify that the required SARSCoV- 2 virus and COVID-19 disease workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certifi cation that identifi es the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date of the hazard assessment; and the document as a certifi cation of hazard assessment. 3. Unless specifi cally addressed by an industry specifi c standard applicable to the employer and providing for PPE protections to employees from the SARS-COV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease (e.g., 16VAC25-175-1926, 16VAC25-190-1928, 16VAC25-100-1915, 16VAC25-120-1917, or 16VAC25-130-1918), the requirements of 16VAC25-90-1910.132 (General requirements) and 16VAC25-90-1910.134 (Respiratory protection) shall apply to all employers for that purpose. 4. PPE ensembles for employees in the medium exposure risk category will vary by work task, the results of the employer’s hazard assessment, and the types of exposures employees have on the job. 16VAC25-220-70. Infectious disease preparedness and response plan. A. Employers with hazards or job tasks classifi ed as: 1. Very high and high shall develop and implement a written Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan; 2. Medium with 11 or more employees shall develop and implement a written Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan. B. The plan and training requirements tied to the plan shall only apply to those employees classifi ed as very high, high, and medium covered by this section. C. Employers shall designate a person to be responsible for implementing their plan. The plan shall: 1. Identify the name or title of the person responsible for administering the plan. This person shall be knowledgeable in infection control principles and practices as the principles and practices apply to the facility, service, or operation. 2. Provide for employee involvement in development and implementation of the plan. 3. Consider and address the level of SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease risk associated with various places of employment, the hazards employees are exposed to at those sites, and job tasks employees perform at those sites. Such considerations shall include: a. Where, how, and to what sources of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease might employees be exposed at work, including: (1) The general public, customers, other employees, patients, and other persons; (2) Persons known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or those at particularly high risk of COVID-19 infection (e.g., local, state, national, and international travelers who have visited locations with ongoing COVID-19 community transmission and health care employees who have had unprotected exposures to persons known or suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus); (3) Situations where employees work more than one job with different employers and encounter hazards or engage in job tasks that present a very high, high, or medium level of exposure risk; and (4) Situations where employees work during higher risk activities involving potentially large numbers of people or enclosed work areas such as at large social gatherings, weddings, funerals, parties, restaurants, bars, hotels, sporting events, concerts, parades, movie theaters, rest stops, airports, bus stations, train stations, cruise ships, river boats, airplanes, etc. b. To the extent permitted by law, including HIPAA, employees’ individual risk factors for severe disease. For example, people of any age with one or more of the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID- 19: chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant; obesity (body mass index or BMI of 30 or higher); serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; sickle cell disease; or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also, for example, people with one or more of the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19: asthma (moderate-to-severe); cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain); cystic fi brosis; hypertension or high blood pressure; immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune defi ciencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines; neurologic conditions, such as dementia; liver disease; pregnancy; pulmonary fi brosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues); smoking; thalassemia (a type of blood disorder); type 1 diabetes mellitus; etc. The risk for severe illness from COVID-19 also increases with age. c. Engineering, administrative, work practice, and personal protective equipment controls necessary to address those risks. 4. Consider and address contingency plans for situations that may arise as a result of outbreaks that impact employee safety and health, such as: a. Increased rates of employee absenteeism (an understaffed business can be at greater risk for accidents); b. The need for physical distancing, staggered work shifts, downsizing operations, delivering services remotely, and other exposure-reducing workplace control measures such as elimination and substitution, engineering controls, administrative and work practice controls, and personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators, surgical/ medical procedure masks, etc.); c. Options for conducting essential operations in a safe and healthy manner with a reduced workforce; and d. Interrupted supply chains or delayed deliveries of safety and health related products and services essential to business operations. 5. Identify infection prevention measures to be implemented: a. Promote frequent and thorough hand washing, including by providing employees, customers, visitors, the general public, and other persons to the place of employment with a place to wash their hands. If soap and running water are not immediately available, provide hand sanitizers. b. Maintain regular housekeeping practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment. c. Establish policies and procedures for managing and educating visitors about the procedures at the place of employment. 6. Provide for the prompt identifi cation and isolation of employees known or suspected to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus away from work, including procedures for employees to report when they are experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. 7. Address infectious disease preparedness and response with outside businesses, including, but not limited to, subcontractors who enter the place of employment, businesses that provide contract or temporary employees to the employer, and other persons accessing the place of employment to comply with the requirements of this standard and the employer’s plan. 8. Identify the mandatory and non-mandatory recommendations in any CDC guidelines or Commonwealth of Virginia guidance documents the employer is complying with, if any, in lieu of a provision of this standard, as provided for in 16VAC25- 220-10 E, F, and G . 16VAC25-220-80. Training. A. Employers with hazards or job tasks classifi ed as very high, high, or medium exposure risk at a place of employment shall provide training on the hazards and characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease to all employees working at the place of employment regardless of employee risk classifi cation. The training program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 disease and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards. B. The training required under subsection A of this section shall include: 1. The requirements of this standard; 2. The mandatory and non-mandatory provisions in any applicable CDC guidelines or Commonwealth of Virginia guidance documents the employer is complying with, if any, in lieu of a provision of this standard as provided for in 16VAC25-220-10 E, F, and G; 3. The characteristics and methods of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 4. The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 disease; 5. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness including underlying health conditions and advancing age; 6. Awareness of the ability of persons pre-symptomatically and asymptomatically infected with SARS-CoV-2 to transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 7. Safe and healthy work practices, including, but not limited to, physical distancing, the wearing of face coverings, disinfection procedures, disinfecting frequency, ventilation, noncontact methods of greeting, etc.; 8. Personal protective equipment (PPE): a. When PPE is required; b. What PPE is required; c. How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE; d. The limitations of PPE; e. The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of PPE; f. Strategies to extend PPE usage during periods when supplies are not available and no other options are available for protection, as long as the extended use of the PPE does not pose any increased risk of exposure. The training to extend PPE usage shall include the conditions of extended PPE use, inspection criteria of the PPE to determine whether it can or cannot be used for an extended period, and safe storage requirements for PPE used for an extended period; and g. Heat-related illness prevention including the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness associated with the use of COVID-19 PPE and face coverings; 9. The anti-discrimination provisions in 16VAC25- 220-90; and 10. The employer’s Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan, where applicable. C. Employers covered by 16VAC25-220-50 shall verify compliance with 16VAC25-220-80 A by preparing a written certifi cation record for those employees exposed to hazards or job tasks classifi ed as very high, high, or medium exposure risk levels. 1. The written certifi cation record shall contain: a. The name or other unique identifi er of the employee trained; b. The trained employee’s physical or electronic signature; c. The date of the training; and d. The name of the person who conducted the training, or for computer-based training, the name of the person or entity that prepared the training materials. 2. A physical or electronic signature is not necessary if other documentation of training completion can be provided (e.g., electronic certifi cation through a training system, security precautions that enable the employer to demonstrate that training was accessed by passwords and usernames unique to each employee, etc.). 3. If an employer relies on training conducted by another employer, the certifi cation record shall indicate the date the employer determined the prior training was adequate rather than the date of actual training. 4. The latest training or retraining certifi cation shall be maintained. D. When an employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by 16VAC25- 220-80 A, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where: 1. Changes in the workplace, SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease hazards exposed to, or job tasks performed render previous training obsolete; 2. Changes are made to the employer’s Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan; or 3. Inadequacies in an affected employee’s knowledge or use of workplace control measures indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill. E. Employers with hazards or job tasks classifi ed at lower risk shall provide written or oral information to employees exposed to such hazards or engaged in such job tasks on the hazards and characteristics of SARSCOV- 2 and the symptoms of COVID-19 and measures to minimize exposure. The Department of Labor and Industry shall develop an information sheet containing information on the items listed in subsection F of this section, which an employer may utilize to comply with this subsection. F. The information required under subsection E of this section shall include at a minimum: 1. The requirements of this standard; 2. The characteristics and methods of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 3. The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 disease; 4. The ability of persons pre-symptomatically and asymptomatically infected with SARS-CoV-2 to transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 5. Safe and healthy work practices and control measures, including but not limited to, physical distancing, the benefi ts of wearing face coverings, sanitation and disinfection practices; and 6. The anti-discrimination provisions of this standard in 16VAC25-220-90. 16VAC25-220-90. Discrimination against an employee for exercising rights under this standard is prohibited. A. No person shall discharge or in any way discriminate against an employee because the employee has exercised rights under the safety and health provisions of this standard, Title 40.1 of the Code of Virginia, and implementing regulations under 16VAC25-60-110 for themselves or others. B. No person shall discharge or in any way discriminate against an employee who voluntarily provides and wears the employee’s own personal protective equipment, including but not limited to, a respirator, face shield, gown, or gloves, provided that the PPE does not create a greater hazard to the employee or create a serious hazard for other employees. In situations where face coverings are not provided by the employer, no person shall discharge or in any way discriminate against an employee who voluntarily provides and wears the employee’s own face covering that meets the requirements of this standard, provided that the face covering does not create a greater hazard to the employee or create a serious hazard for other employees. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit an employer from establishing and enforcing legally permissible dress code or similar requirements addressing the exterior appearance of personal protective equipment or face coverings. C. No person shall discharge or in any way discriminate against an employee who raises a reasonable concern about infection control related to the SARSCoV- 2 virus and COVID-19 disease to the employer, the employer’s agent, other employees, a government agency, or to the public such as through print, online, social, or any other media. D. Nothing in this standard shall limit an employee from refusing to do work or enter a location because of a reasonable fear of illness or death. The requirements of 16VAC25-60-110 contain the applicable requirements concerning discharge or discipline of an employee who has refused to complete an assigned task because of a reasonable fear of illness or death. ????????????????????????