On January 12, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed new emergency Health & Safety rules to implement the Governor’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery proclamation. The rules are effective immediately and remain in effect until May 12, 2021.
The new rules prohibit employees from performing work if a business activity is prohibited by an emergency proclamation.
It also requires employers to comply with any conditions for reopening operations as required by emergency proclamations.
The rulemaking order supports the Governor’s proclamation to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and conduct a phased reopening
on a regional basis. Employee exposures to COVID-19 is one of many factors that determine a region’s reopening phase. The order also explains that the rule is intended to enforce workplace safety laws and reiterates that employers that violate
COVID-19 protocols are subject to penalties under the safe workplace standards.