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Jul 19 2021
Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON ALERT: Wildfire smoke regs issued, effective immediately

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) issued emergency regulations on July 16, 2021, requiring employers to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke. The rules took effect immediately, but enforcement of new obligations to implement exposure controls and provide respiratory protection is delayed until July 23, 2021. Enforcement of training requirements is delayed until August…

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Jul 12 2021
Safety and HealthWashington

ALERT: Washington heat illness rules expand as of July 13, 2021

Expanded requirements for protecting Washington workers from outdoor heat exposure take effect on July 13, 2021. Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced the changes on July 9, 2021, stating that these emergency rules are necessary immediately to enhance protections against heat illness for outdoor workers. Washington already has outdoor heat exposure rules for…

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Jul 09 2021
OregonSafety and Health

ALERT: Oregon heat illness rule applies now

On July 8, 2021, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) issued a temporary rule intended to prevent heat illness in workers on hot-weather days. The new Oregon heat illness prevention rule applies to all Oregon employers, including employers in the agriculture industry. Among other requirements, the new rule may require additional paid…

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Jul 01 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: Governor Inslee announces reopening on June 30

Governor Jay Inslee lifted many of the restrictions that applied to individuals and businesses in Washington during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, effective June 30, 2021. The remaining restrictions are posted on the governor’s webpage for COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers. With the exception of the changes discussed below, employers must continue to comply…

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Jul 01 2021
Labor RelationsSafety and HealthWage and Hour

Supreme Court bolsters employers’ right to exclude union organizers

On June 23, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court helped to protect employers’ property rights by striking down a California regulation that required agricultural employers to grant union organizers access to their property for one hour before work, one hour at mealtimes, and one hour after work for up to 120 days per year. Agricultural workers…

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Jul 01 2021
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: Workplace mask and distancing rules lifted

Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order rescinding mask, distancing, and other COVID-19-related restrictions for the general public in Oregon, effective Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Also on June 30, Oregon OSHA published its revised Rule Addressing Covid-19 Workplace Risks, which eliminates the requirements for workplace masks and distancing (regardless of employees’ vaccination status), with certain…

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Jun 17 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: Industry-specific COVID-19 requirements lifted

As of June 11, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee has removed Washington’s industry-specific COVID-19 (coronavirus) requirements for certain industries, including manufacturing, construction, outdoor maintenance, and several recreation industries. Employers in these industries are now only required to follow the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) general COVID-19 workplace safety requirements. L&I’s general requirements were recently updated…

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Jun 17 2021
COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

CALIFORNIA: Cal/OSHA proposes changes to COVID-19 rules

June 17, 2021, the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) approved revisions to Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) for non-health care workplaces. (We summarized the original ETS here and reported on the related FAQs here.) The OSHSB will now send the proposal to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for final review….

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Jun 17 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWage and Hour

OSHA issues COVID-19 workplace rule for health care employers

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released an emergency temporary rule to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) for employers that provide health care services. The new rule applies to most employers that provide health care services or health care support services. OSHA has published a helpful guide for employers to determine…

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Jun 03 2021
COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

CALIFORNIA: Santa Clara County says to check vaccination status

On May 18, 2021, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department issued an order that requires businesses in the county to check all workers’ COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccination status. The order took effect on May 19, 2021. For anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated, you must check back at least every 14 days to see if they’re…

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Jun 03 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: Worker housing rules updated for vaccinated occupants

On May 28, 2021, Washington's Departments of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Health updated the existing COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety rules for temporary worker housing (TWH) in the agriculture industry to lift certain restrictions for fully vaccinated workers. These revisions coincide with updated agriculture workplace requirements issued by Governor Jay Inslee, adding exceptions for fully vaccinated employees. Both…

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Jun 03 2021
COVID-19Safety and Health

Q&A: Understand vaccine exceptions to quarantine requirements

Question: If our state is “reopened” for business, do we still have to comply with quarantine requirements after an employee is exposed to someone with COVID-19 (coronavirus)? What if the employee is fully vaccinated? Answer: The lifting of restrictions on businesses’ ability to operate is separate from your obligation as an employer to comply with…

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