COVID-19 & Construction

As of Sept. 14,  2022, employers must comply with L&I’s Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID-19. Gov. Inslee has announced he plans to end the COVID-19 state of emergency by Oct. 31, 2022.

BIAW will update this page when L&I provides updated guidance.

Ongoing health and safety requirements for all industries

According to L&I’s latest guidance as of Sept. 14, 2022, all employers need to:

  • Keep workers known or suspected to have COVID-19 from working around others by following appropriate isolation guidance as outlined by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
  • Provide hand washing facilities and supplies, and regularly clean and sanitize surfaces.
  • Educate workers about COVID-19 prevention in the language they understand best.
  • Provide written notice of potential COVID-19 exposure within one business day to all workers, and the employers of subcontracted workers, who were at the same work site as a person who tested positive (without disclosing the person’s identity).
  • Report COVID-19 outbreaks to L&I within one business day when they involve 10 or more workers at a workplace or job site with more than 50 workers.
  • Address COVID-19 notification, reporting, and prevention measures in the employer’s workplace-specific, written Accident Prevention Program or equivalent safety program.
  • Allow workers to voluntarily wear masks (respirators, medical procedure masks, or cloth face coverings) and personal protective equipment (PPE) as long as it doesn’t create a safety or security issue.

Additional guidance and templates

For additional guidance, review the entire L&I Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID-19 web page.

Free at-home tests in Washington

Washington state offers free at-home tests via the sayyescovidhometest.org website each month.

Updated: 9/22/2022