Overview
The COVID-19 emergency has highlighted the risks that any infectious disease, particularly one that is airborne, can create for a wide variety of workplaces. As a result of both the immediate and long-term risks highlighted by the current public and occupational health crisis, Oregon OSHA is responding to the request that the state adopts an enforceable workplace health rule on an emergency basis this summer, to be replaced by a permanent rule. This high-level timeline treats these as two essentially different projects, in both nature and scope, recognizing that an ongoing infectious disease rule would not be as closely tailored to the current crisis as would a temporary rule. It also assumes health care (and related activities) and the general workplace would require distinct (although interrelated) sets of requirements.
In both cases, Oregon OSHA plans to rely upon as much collaboration and consultation with experts and with stakeholders as the timeframes involved and other circumstances allow. In the case of the temporary rule(s), this will primarily be through targeted virtual forums and the circulation of a draft prior to a decision on adoption. In the case of the permanent rule(s), Oregon OSHA will be empaneling two rulemaking advisory committees in addition to employing targeted virtual forums and circulation of preproposal drafts.
Documents
Meeting minutes from March 15, 2023
Employers need NOT submit their exposure risk assessment, infection control plans, employee training information, etc. to the Agency in advance for review or approval.
- Model Policy for Notification of Employees when COVID-19 Exposure Occurs
- HVAC Certification Documentation
- Exposure Risk Assessment Form
- Infection Control Plan
* The following Risk Assessments and Infectious Control Plans are provided as examples, and may not reflect every situation or all hazards in your workplace. These sample programs should only be used as reference sources and not as a replacement of conducting a Hazard Assessment or Infection Control Plan specific to your workers and workplace.
Clarifying the Relationship between Oregon OSHA’s Temporary COVID-19 Rulemaking and other Ongoing Oregon OSHA Rulemaking Activities
Potential Oregon OSHA Rulemaking Timeline (updated Oct. 5)
Initial Background Paper on Oregon OSHA Infectious Disease Rulemaking
Initial Background Paper on Oregon OSHA Infectious Disease Health Care Rulemaking
Decision-making Framework on COVID-19 Temporary Rulemaking