Oregon OSHA has finalized a rulemaking to address the risks of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace. The rule applies “to all employees working in places of employment subject to Oregon OSHA’s jurisdiction” and includes requirements that apply to
all workplaces.
Additional, more stringent requirements apply to workplaces where there is “exceptional risk” of exposure to COVID-19.
The Rule takes effect on
November 16, 2020 and addresses physical distancing at work, masks and face coverings, cleaning and sanitation, posting of a COVID-19 Hazards Poster, and notifying employees who may have been exposed.
Read the Final Rule
4 Key Deadlines for Oregon Employers
The rule sets four fast-approaching deadlines that employers must meet. Details on each item below are found in the text of the rule.
By
November 23, 2020, employers who operate or otherwise control buildings where their employees work must ensure the rule's sanitation requirements are met and must post signs in areas where masks, face coverings, or face shields are required.
By December 7, 2020, employers must:
- Conduct exposure risk assessments detailed in the rule
- Establish and implement an infection control plan
By December 21, 2020, employers must:
- Provide employee information and training in line with the requirements in section (i) of the rule.
By January 6, 2021, employers must:
- Optimize the amount of outside air circulated through the existing HVAC system(s).
COVID-19 Exposure Risk Assessment
The text of the Final Rule lays out detailed steps employers should take to perform and record exposure risk assessments. If an employer has multiple facilities that are substantially similar, the rule states, its risk assessment may be developed by facilities type rather than site-by-site. In any case, site-specific information that affects employee exposure risk must be included in the assessment.
A risk assessment template is included as a link in the final rule, in Microsoft Word format.
COVID-19 Employee Training in Oregon
Training must cover general knowledge about COVID-19
as well as employer-specific information detailed below. Employee training must be completed by December 21, 2020.
Under the new rule, employee training must cover the following
general knowledge about COVID-19.
- Physical distancing requirements as they apply to the employee’s workplace and job function(s).
- Mask, face covering, or face shield requirements as they apply to the employee’s workplace and job-function(s)
- Characteristics and methods of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19)
- Symptoms of COVID-19
- Ability of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 persons to transmit SARS-CoV-2
- Safe and healthy work practice and control measures
Employers must provide additional, site-specific training to supplement the general knowledge elements above.
Site specific elements of the training must include:
- COVID-19 reporting procedures that apply in the specific workplace
- How the employer will handle COVID-19 infection notifications to employees
- Training on medical removal
The rule also states that Oregon OSHA will provide materials
COVID-19 Safety Awareness Online Training
The
COVID-19 Employee Safety Awareness Online Course will help you satisfy your state's employee training requirements concerning the novel coronavirus. Employees must know how to protect themselves and their co-workers from exposure to COVID-19 to keep your operations safe and healthy.
The online course prepares employees to:
- Recognize signs, symptoms, and risk factors for COVID-19
- Describe how the COVID-19 disease is transmitted
- Follow recommended hygiene and work protocols to prevent exposure
- Properly use and care for PPE and face coverings, when required
Find more resources to help your facility protect employees from COVID-19 at
Lion.com/COVID19
Employers may need to provide additional training on site-specific COVID-19 procedures to achieve full compliance.