Infectious Disease Rulemaking

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is conducting permanent rulemaking for occupational health protections related to infectious disease. This rulemaking is in accordance with Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5092, Section 220(8) as passed in the 2021 legislative session.

See all the rulemaking activity for the agency on our L&I Rulemaking page.

Learn more about our rulemaking process and terminology.

Background

Infectious diseases are diseases caused by infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. L&I recognizes the hazard of infectious disease exposure as a significant workplace risk, especially in certain workplace settings, and during times of high community transmission, outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the risk of infectious disease exposure to employees, and there may be risk of exposure to other infectious diseases as well. It is important to not only take steps to protect employees from known infectious diseases, but also be prepared to address emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.

Infectious disease exposure leading to disease can have harmful immediate and long-term health effects to employees. Appropriate exposure controls, personal protective equipment, training, and education are needed to mitigate the risk.

Some of the issues that may be addressed in this rulemaking are:

• Workplace hazard assessment for infectious disease exposures;
• Personal protective equipment use and other strategies to mitigate exposure risk;
• Reporting;
• Communication;
• Training and education.

Meetings & Timeline

Staff Contacts

For rulemaking questions, please contact:
Carmyn.Shute@Lni.wa.gov or 360-870-4525.

For technical questions please contact:
Larissa.Lewis@Lni.wa.gov or 360-489-2169.

Get updates via email

If you would like to receive email updates regarding this proposed rulemaking project and future stakeholder meetings, please sign up for our email updates.