A pandemic is not something anyone had planned for 2020 or 2021. With the variants of the Coronavirus popping up and different safety parameters coming to light, there are many questions that employers and employees have when it comes to working safely,
as well as vaccine safety.
Who is a frontline employee?
People have questions as to what the exact definition of a frontline employee is. In terms of city and county professionals, according to SB5115, the following are considered a part of that list:
- First responders (law enforcement, firefighters, EMT’s, paramedics, and ambulance drivers)
- Maintenance, janitorial, or food service workers
- Drivers/operators employed by a transit agency that provide transit to the general public
- Correctional officers and support staff
- Public library employees
Infectious disease outbreak reporting requirements
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries released new rules regarding reporting of infectious diseases outbreaks to the Washington state Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH). These rules apply to every employer in Washington
state during a declared public health emergency.
Any employer with 50 or more employees must report an outbreak of ten or more employees that have been confirmed to have the infectious disease. An outbreak is considered to start when two or more confirmed cases of the Coronavirus have been reported
within a 14-day period. You can report this outbreak to the DOSH at 1-800-4BE-SAFE (1-800-423-7233).
The outbreak is over when it is 28 days since the last positive result at the workplace or site. All employees that were present the same day(s) that the contagious person was must be notified via a written communication within one business day of the
employer being notified. Employee names and personal information about those who tested positive are not permissible to be released in this notice.
Vaccine mandates and regulations
When it comes to getting the vaccine, there are questions about mandates and regulations. If the vaccine has been mandated by the employer, the employer is then responsible for a claim that is made if there are adverse reactions to the vaccine. If the
vaccine is only incentivized at the place of work, adverse reactions are not allowed to be utilized in a claim.