On July 15, 2020, the Virginia Department of Labor and
Industry's Safety and Health Codes Board approved an
Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 to be enforced by the
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program (VOSH). Virginia is
the first state to adopt a specific standard intended to protect
workers and "to control, prevent, and mitigate the spread of
[COVID-19]" in the workplace.
The emergency standard includes an extensive list of
requirements that all employers within VOSH's jurisdiction must
follow, regardless of the level of exposure to COVID-19, and
additional requirements for employers based on exposure level. The
emergency standard goes into effect on July 27, 2020. The standard
will expire after six months or "upon expiration of the
Governor's State of Emergency," but the Board will be
considering the adoption of a permanent standard during this same
time period.
