On July 27, 2020, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry published and adopted Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), 16 VAC 25-220, a set of workplace safety requirements for Virginia employers in order to control, prevent, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
With the adoption of the ETS, Virginia became the first state in the nation to mandate workplace safety rules for employers. Virginia’s ETS is detailed and has many onerous obligations for contractors operating in Virginia. If other states follow Virginia’s lead, roofing contractors across the country will need to overhaul safety protocols and employment practices to comply with any new COVID-19 workplace safety rules.