Virginia approves permanent COVID-19 Safety and Health Standard
On Jan. 12, 2021, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board (Board) voted 9-4 to approve a permanent safety and health standard (Permanent Standard) requiring employers to take steps to protect workers form Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
On July 15, 2020, the Board approved temporary workplace safety regulations related to COVID-19 (Temporary Standard), making Virginia the first state in the country to do so. The Temporary Standard expires on Jan. 26, 2021, and though the effective date of the Permanent Standard is not yet known, it should be after Jan. 26. Some of the provisions of the Permanent Standard, including the training requirements, will not take effect until 60 days after the effective date.