[TL-Directors] New OSHA COVID-19 temporary rule

[NIELSEN Buzzy * SLO]

Directors,

The Oregon Occupational Health & Safety Division (OSHA) recently issued a new temporary COVID-19 rule<https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf> that applies to all employers. Many of these rules have likely already been implemented at your organization, so don't feel daunted by the seemingly long list of provisions! I've attached a document that breaks down the requirements and their timelines, with references to the applicable sections of the rule.

Here are a few items of note as you review this document:


  *   The section titled "Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks"<https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A183%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C40%2C693%2C0%5D> (pages 3-18 of the PDF) includes all of the generally-applicable requirements of the new rule.
  *   Libraries are not considered "exceptional risk workplaces", so you are not subject to the provisions in section (4) of the rules (pages 18-23).
  *   Most of the provisions on pages 3-18 apply to all workplaces, regardless of size. However, the requirements for having a written risk assessment and a written infection control plan apply only to workplaces with 10+ employees. This table<https://osha.oregon.gov/rules/advisory/infectiousdisease/Documents/Overview-Table-for-Oregon-OSHA-COVID-19-Temporary-Rule.pdf> gives a good overview of which employers are subject to what.
  *   If you are a department of a larger organization (e.g. city, county, school, university, nonprofit), all of the employees for the organization count. For instance, if you're a city library with 3 employees, but the city itself has 30 employees, it would need to have a written risk assessment and infection control plan.
  *   Colleges and universities are also subject to Appendix A-15: Institutions of Higher Education (Public or Private)<https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A183%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C40%2C693%2C0%5D>.
  *   K-12 schools are also subject to Appendix A-13: K-12 Educational Institutions (Public or Private)<https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A183%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C40%2C693%2C0%5D>.
  *   Public and county law libraries are not subject to any of the appendices. You nonetheless might consider reviewing Appendix A-2: Retail Stores<https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A183%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C40%2C693%2C0%5D> for further ideas to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

If you are a department of a larger organization, we encourage you to work with your administration to implement any necessary changes, if you haven't already done so. If you are an independent district, Special Districts Association of Oregon<https://www.sdao.com/> has been compiling information<https://www.sdao.com/osha-temporary-rule-summary> to assist you in implementing these rules.

The OSHA COVID-19 page<https://osha.oregon.gov/covid19/> has a number of additional resources that you may find helpful, including a model policy<https://osha.oregon.gov/Documents/Model-COVID-19-Notification-Policy.pdf> for notifying employees if there's a workplace exposure, the poster<https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/5504.pdf> you are required to have up in your workrooms, and more.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I'll try to answer them as best I can! You can also contact OSHA<https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/contactus.aspx> for issues specific to your workplace.

Stay safe, stay healthy,

Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI
Program Manager, Library Support & Development Services
NEW! buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3486 | www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
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