COVID safety requirements continue as indoor mask mandate ends
March 14, 2022
On March 12, 2022, Washington became the 49th state to end its indoor mask mandate. But the Department of Labor and Industries reminds employers that the pandemic remains a public health emergency.
And that means employers must continue to monitor COVID-19 in the workplace.
Ongoing health and safety requirements
According to a Safety & Health Bulletin issued by L&I on March 11, 2022, at a minimum, all employers will need to:
- Keep workers with suspect or confirmed cases of COVID-19 from working around others.
- Provide handwashing facilities and clean and sanitize surfaces regularly.
- 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
- Report COVID-19 outbreaks of 10 or more to L&I.
- Address COVID-19 in the employer’s written Accident Prevention Program or equivalent safety program.
- Allow workers to wear masks if they want to.
Additional guidance and templates
For additional guidance, review L&I’s “Updated masking rules for Washington state businesses and workers.” L&I will be updating its “Sample COVID-19 Plan for Small Employers” this week.
Visit the BIAW Covid Resources page for the latest news and information.