DOLI – Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Reminder: Workplace Standards Pertaining to Water Supply and Sanitization

Due to recent winter weather, the City of Richmond and related counties in the Richmond Metro area encountered disruptions in their water supply. This event impacted water provisions and resulted in advisories. Official updates indicate that the City and local counties are working to abate the situation and we understand some water flow has been restored. During this temporary situation, it is important to be mindful of VOSH requirements related to water and sanitization.

The Department of Labor and Industry requires that employers provide potable water in the workplace for drinking, washing, and other personal needs. The water must be readily accessible, and employers cannot require employees to pay for it. 1910.141(b)(1)(i) requires that potable water shall be provided in all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food preparation or processing premises, and bathrooms. This applies to the construction industry as well, per 16VAC25-160-10, the construction industry sanitation standard.

Here are some other requirements for drinking water in the workplace:

Water dispensers: Dispensers must be designed to maintain sanitary conditions, be closable, and have a tap. Water shall not be dipped from containers. Any container used to distribute drinking water shall be clearly marked as to the nature of its contents
Containers: Open containers like barrels, pails, or tanks are prohibited.
Drinking cups: Shared drinking cups are prohibited. The water shall be dispensed in single use drinking cups or personal bottles or containers. The use of the common drinking cup is prohibited.
Temperature: Water should be cool.
Quantity: There should be enough water to meet the needs of each employee.
Refilling: Drinking water containers should be refilled daily or more often as needed.
Cleaning: Drinking water containers should be regularly cleaned and kept covered.

RICHMOND – The Department of Labor and Industry has launched a new emphasis initiative aimed at preventing workforce fatalities across Virginia. The initiative, carried out through the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program, is designed to address the alarming rise in workforce fatalities. The initiative will run from January 2025 to July 2025. Throughout this period, VOSH will publish information to increase awareness and drive more focus on the top contributory hazards that yield workforce fatalities. Although VOSH works each day to prevent these tragic events, over the next several weeks, VOSH personnel will be driving awareness across Virginia and will begin with a heightened focus on work that is being conducted from heights that require fall protection. Should a VOSH Compliance Officer observe this type of work being performed, it is probable an inspection will be conducted. We kindly urge employers and employees alike to implement measures to ensure the safety of all elevated work and adhere to the applicable VOSH standards. VOSH is committed to preventing these serious and avoidable tragedies.

“Over the past few months, VOSH has conducted investigations into several preventable incidents related to a number of occupational hazards and our first focus area will be on fall hazards. These incidents can be mitigated through collaboration between employers and employees to establish and adhere to fall protection safety practices”, said Charles Stiff, CSP, Deputy Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. “Ultimately, protecting our workforce is a value and as a value, it is everyone’s responsibility to uphold safe work practices and conditions. We believe Virginia’s workforce can work injury-free and it is imperative that our workforce returns home safely each day.”

Falls are one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in the construction industry. In the last two years, falls accounted for more than 30% of workplace fatalities across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

VOSH strongly encourages employers and employees to engage in a Safety Stand Down to STOP and TALK about fall protection. This initiative aims to ensure that every employee has the best opportunity to return home to their loved ones in the same condition as when they started their workday.

What is a Safety Stand Down?

It is a voluntary event where employers can provide the workforce information and awareness to work injury-free by conducting: (more…)

RICHMOND – NIBCO of Virginia, located in Stuarts Draft, has received recertification as a Virginia STAR Worksite under the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). This is the site’s third recertification since 2014.

“We commend the dedication of the staff and management at NIBCO of Virginia for prioritizing workers’ safety and health,” said Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) Commissioner Gary Pan. “This achievement demonstrates their commitment toward keeping workers safe.”

NIBCO of Virginia facility in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, is one of 37 current participants in the STAR program of public/private sector worksites to achieve and retain this recognition. The approximately 304,000-square-foot facility is the world’s largest producer of pure copper fittings for plumbing, heating, cooling, irrigation, and drainage applications. Currently, there are 460 full-time employees (27 salaried/ 433 hourly), with two contract workers at the site. The plant is one of two NIBCO VPP STAR sites in Virginia and one of five in the United States.

The Virginia VPP recognizes and promotes exceptional safety and health management systems for Virginia’s employers in all industries. In VPP, the participant’s management, workers, and VOSH establish a cooperative relationship that encourages continuous improvement in worksite safety performance.

Acceptance into Virginia’s VPP is confirmation and recognition that an employer has achieved safety and health excellence well above their industry peers. The VOSH VPP administers the Virginia STAR, Virginia Challenge, VADOC Challenge, Virginia BEST, and Virginia BUILT programs. For more information about this program or the other services we offer, visit our website at https://www.doli.virginia.gov/voluntary-protection-program/.

The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program is financed in part by a grant from the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), under §23(g) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The Virginia State Plan is funded by a grant of federal funds, which constitutes 50% of the State Plan budget excluding any state overmatch funds. Zero percent, or $0.00 of the State Plan budget, is financed through nongovernmental sources.

RICHMOND – NAES Southampton Power Station in Franklin, Virginia, has received recertification as a Virginia STAR Worksite under the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). This is the site’s fifth recertification since 2004.

“We commend the dedication of the staff and management at the NAES Southampton Power Station for prioritizing workers’ safety and health,” said Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) Commissioner Gary Pan. “This achievement demonstrates their commitment toward keeping workers safe.”

NAES Southampton Power Station is one of 35 current participants in Virginia’s VPP STAR Program. The location is owned by Dominion Energy, Inc., operated by NAES Corporation, and has been in continuous commercial operation since 1992. The facility is located on approximately 30 acres and employs 30 workers in Franklin, Virginia. The station produces enough electricity to power approximately 51,000 homes, using biomass as a fuel in the form of wood chips, grindings, and slash as its primary fuel.

RICHMOND – Beginning July 1, 2024, the Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) will increase protections for youth employees as a result of actions from the Virginia General Assembly.

Legislation signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin will protect children in the workplace by increasing penalties for violations of Virginia’s child labor laws. DOLI will also convene a work group to coordinate educational and outreach efforts to inform Virginians of child labor laws.

“Youth employees are the key to the future of Virginia’s workforce and it’s paramount these workers have access to safe and healthy workplaces.” said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. “These efforts will keep Virginia as the top place in the nation to live and work, for individuals of all ages.”

The minimum penalty for a violation of child labor laws will increase to $500, with a maximum of $2,500 per violation in most cases. For violations involving the serious injury or fatality of a child, the maximum penalty increases to $25,000. Business owners and parents of youth employees can find more information about Virginia’s child labor laws on DOLI’s website at: www.doli.virginia.gov.

“Last year, there were more than 10,000 youth employees between the ages of 14-15 years old in the Commonwealth,” said DOLI Commissioner Gary Pan. “I thank Delegate Seibold and the General Assembly for passing this legislation to increase workplace safety for all Virginians.”

Additionally, DOLI will be implementing several other legislative changes starting July 1, 2024. These changes will help DOLI fulfill its mission of making Virginia a better place in which to live, work, and conduct business:

DOLI, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, will provide an optional workplace poster outlining state and federal resources available to veterans.
DOLI will assist companies in complying with the Virginia NESHAP Act through training, guidance, and other outreach activities.

About the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

DOLI is an executive branch agency, under the Virginia Secretary of Labor, overseeing the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program, Division of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety, and Division of Labor and Employment Laws. DOLI strives to make Virginia a better place in which to live, work, and conduct business.

Richmond, VA – This month, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) is relocating its Headquarters office from downtown Richmond to Brookfield Place (6606 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230).

“This change represents an important milestone for DOLI.” said Gary G. Pan, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. “The new offices provide a modern and collaborative workspace that aligns with the Agency’s strategic goals and offers a more comfortable setting for DOLI staff and customers alike.”

DOLI staff contact information, such as email addresses and phone numbers, will not be impacted by the relocation. DOLI’s regional and field offices will continue to operate as normal.

For more information regarding DOLI services, please visit: www.doli.virginia.gov.

About the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

DOLI is an executive branch agency, under the Virginia Secretary of Labor, overseeing the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program, Division of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety, and Division of Labor and Employment Law. DOLI strives to make Virginia a better place in which to live, work, and conduct business.

Effective March 13, 2024, 16VAC15-60, sometimes referred to as the “Training Wage” regulation, has been adopted as a final regulation. This regulation, previously enacted as an emergency regulation, expired effective April 30, 2023. Under the regulation, employers in the Commonwealth may temporarily exempt an employee from the Virginia minimum wage (pursuant to § 40.1-28.10 Code of Virginia) and pay a lower training wage while they are participating in an established training program. DOLI’s Labor & Employment Law Division has provided a summary of the regulation and DOLI’s interpretation:

General Rules: The training wage regulation may be implemented by both private and public sector employers in the Commonwealth. To receive the training wage, an employee must be enrolled in an established on-the-job training program for a period not to exceed 90 days. The training wage rate shall be the greater of either the federal minimum wage or 75% of the Virginia minimum wage. (75% of the current Virginia minimum wage is $9.00 per hour.)

Eligible Employees: An employee may only be paid the training wage if there is a reasonable expectation that there will be regular, permanent employment for the trainee upon successful completion of the training program. Seasonal employees and temporary employees are not eligible. The trainee must also have no previous similar or related experience to the occupation for which they are being trained. An employer also cannot hire or utilize an employee being paid the training wage as a means to displace any other workers, such as by reducing hours of other employees, replacing an employee with a trainee, or replacing an approved registered apprenticeship program with trainees.

Training Programs: The training wage may only be offered to trainees in programs which meet certain requirements. The program must involve either formal instruction or on-the-job training which grants the trainee limited responsibilities, performed under supervision. The training program must also describe, in writing, the nature and extent of the instruction and supervision provided. Furthermore, the occupation for which the trainee is receiving training must require a sufficient degree of technical skill to necessitate a learning period. Training programs cannot be solely for the purpose of acquiring manual dexterity and high production speed in repetitive operations. For example, a bakery employing a baking trainee who is learning to use a multitude of equipment and develop the technical skills to produce various goods may pay this trainee the training wage. However, a bakery may not pay the training wage to a bakery clerk trainee who is tasked with using a cash register and preparing customer orders and whose training only entails learning how to quickly assemble and ring up orders.

About the Agency:

It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry to make Virginia a better place in which to live, work, and conduct business. DOLI’s Labor and Employment Law Division administers and enforces the laws of the Commonwealth that govern employee pay, the employment of children, and certain other statutes that relate to the workplace, including the training wage regulation. Additional information about coverage and requirements under the new regulation can be obtained by contacting the Division’s Payment of Wage Unit at (804) 786-2706 or at laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is excited to announce the 2024 VOSH Safety and Health Conference, in partnership with the Voluntary Protection Program Participants’ Association (VPPPA) Region III. This year’s conference will provide opportunities to hear from industry experts, expand your safety knowledge and network with safety professionals.

The conference will be held from June 10-13, 2024 at The Founders Inn and Spa (5641 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23464).

Click here to learn more and register for the conference! We look forward to seeing you there.

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) has been awarded a State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grant by the U.S. Department of Labor to expand the Virginia Registered Apprenticeship program by creating opportunities for innovation, engagement and accessibility in Virginia.

Virginia Registered Apprenticeship assists employers with developing highly skilled workers through the utilization of the occupation-specific apprenticeship training model. The program enables individuals to acquire new skills and expand their industry knowledge while earning a paycheck.

“An apprenticeship is more than just a job. It creates a powerful pathway to a successful career where you can get paid to learn skills and gain experience without incurring substantial educational debt,” said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. “This grant will help us boost career pathways for hard working Virginians.’

“Virginia Registered Apprenticeship has always served as a vital tool to providing Virginia workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to compete in this competitive economy,” said DOLI Commissioner Gary Pan. “These funds will allow Registered Apprenticeship to expand this mission to emerging industries and develop the next generation of Virginia’s workforce.”

The awarded funds of $927,372, titled Project HIRED (Highlight, Include, Recruit, Engage, Deliver), will allow Virginia to focus on expanding usage of the apprenticeship model in clean energy, early childhood education, teacher education, and other occupations in the emerging industries. Project HIRED invites individuals with disabilities, military-associated, justice-impacted, low-income, and other marginalized individuals to participate with apprenticeship employer/sponsors in a Registered Apprenticeship program.

About the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

DOLI is an executive branch agency, under the Virginia Secretary of Labor, overseeing the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program, Division of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety, Division of Labor and Employment Laws, and Virginia Registered Apprenticeship program. DOLI strives to make Virginia a better place in which to work, live, and conduct business.

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Are you looking for a career where you can positively contribute to the safety of working Virginians? DOLI is hiring motivated career-oriented professionals.