OSHA Could Look to Virginia's COVID-19 Safety Rule for Nationwide Standard

Industry experts have praised Virginia’s Jan. 27 COVID-19 worker safety rule.

Virginia’s safety rule that protects workers from COVID-19 is seen as a superior model for regulation across the United States, says Bloomberg Law.

On Jan. 27, the state became the first to enact a permanent rule on the matter. Virginia’s rule arrived less than one week after President Biden’s executive order that instructed OSHA to decide on whether a national COVID-19 rule is necessary. Industry managers and attorneys believe that the contents of Virginia’s rule should be applied to other states.

“My thought is that the federal standard will be like the Virginia rule,” said Travis Vance, a partner at a North Carolina law firm. “California’s standard has a lot of difficult things to comply with. I think a lot of employers would be taken aback at the resources they would have to pour into complying.”

The Virginia standard classifies workplaces into high, medium and low risk. High risk workplaces include health care facilities, while medium risk workplaces include transportation, schools and retail. Office buildings are considered low risk workplaces.

A characteristic of Virginia’s rule that makes it a possible template for a national rule is its adaptability. The rule is written so that any CDC guidance changes will be incorporated into a revised version of the rule.

About the Author

Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.

Product Showcase

  • Full Line of Defense Against Combustible Dust Nilfisk

    Nilfisk provides a comprehensive range of industrial vacuums meticulously crafted to adhere to NFPA 652 housekeeping standards, essential for gathering combustible dust in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E, F & G environments or non-classified settings. Our pneumatic vacuums are meticulously engineered to fulfill safety criteria for deployment in hazardous surroundings. Leveraging advanced filtration technology, Nilfisk ensures the secure capture of combustible materials scattered throughout your facility, ranging from fuels, solvents, and metal dust to flour, sugar, and pharmaceutical powders. Read More

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. Read More

  • Preventative Heat Safety

    Dehydration and heat exposure impair physical and cognitive performance. Proper hydration boosts heat stress resilience, but hydration needs are highly individualized and hard to predict across a workforce. Connected Hydration® empowers industrial athletes to stay safe through behavioral interventions, informed by sports science, and equips safety teams with critical insights to anticipate high-risk situations and adapt to evolving environmental factors. Curious about applying the latest in sports science based hydration strategies for industrial athletes? Stop by booth #1112 at AIHA or schedule a free demo today at https://epcr.cc/demo. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars