OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week is the perfect opportunity for employers around the country to develop and implement a robust safety and health plan for their workplace. The campaign is geared toward both employers looking for a place to start, as well as employers who may already have a safety and health plan but want to gather resources and ideas on how to make their programs even better.
In 2023, employers in Virginia reported 72,600 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. That is nearly 200 incidents every single day. The table below demonstrates how work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities have affected the commonwealth as of 2023*:
*Data provided by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics and OSHA Information Systems. For questions, please contact the Department of Labor and Industry Office of Research and Analysis
These preventable work-related injuries and illnesses can be costly to businesses and employees. The National Safety Council estimates that work injury costs totaled $176.5 billion for employers nationally in 2023. This, of course, does not account for the emotional toll these losses create; however, it provides an important starting point for employers to begin to understand just how much a health and safety plan can help them save.
Diagram: Economic Effects of the VOSH Compliance Programs, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
Whether you would like resources to improve your safety and health program or help learning where to begin, OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week in combination with the resources we have available to you at the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) will provide great opportunities for Virginia’s employers to create a culture of safety and prevent work related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
How to Develop a Safety and Health Plan
If you would like to follow along with OSHA’s Safe + Sound week program, you can download their interactive worksheets at the link below:
These worksheets help provide a framework for beginning your journey to creating a strong safety and health program by giving you a step-by-step guide with action items for your team. The worksheets cover the following topics:
Build your case for a safety and health program
Write a safety and health policy
Share your safety and health policy
Define program goals
Commit to reaching your program goals
Define the resources you need
Allocate Resources
Assign roles and responsibilities for achieving program goals
Another important tool for creating a culture of safety and health is communication. For discussion topics related to safety and health, please visit our website to find important resources for starting conversations in your workplace regarding health and safety hazards:
Benefits of Creating a Strong Safety and Health Plan
Developing a strategic and effective safety and health plan has a multitude of positive outcomes for your workplace:
Investing in a safe workplace is a team effort. The best way to ensure that a safety and health plan is successful is to incorporate participation at the management and worker level. Creating a strong safety and health plan can strengthen your workplace culture and encourage communication and teamwork.
Resources and Next Steps
At DOLI we have a variety of resources to help you with your journey to a safe and healthy work environment.
DOLI provides free Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Consultation services to help small Virginia employers with less than 250 employees better understand and voluntarily comply with the VOSH standards. Our experienced consultants provide customized occupational safety and health training based on your business needs. This training can be formal or informal, and delivered right at your site. Visit our website for more information:
The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) provides employers with the opportunity to collaborate with us to create a program that meets health and safety criteria compliant with VOSH standards. There are several branches within VPP which offer recognition for companies meeting and exceeding the VOSH standards as well as process programs that give employers a detailed guide as to how to create and maintain a strong safety and health plan. Visit our website for more information:
What if you could go your whole career injury free? DOLI’s ‘What IF?’ campaign aims to demonstrate that an injury free workplace is possible through a cultural shift and developing a proactive attitude. By envisioning a workforce in Virginia that prevents work related injuries and illnesses before they happen, we are encouraging employers to embody that reality by implementing safety and health habits in their organizations.
Using these resources along with OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week guides and activities will allow your team to strengthen and develop your safety and health plan. OSHA has several standalone activities for employers and workers to participate in as part of Safe + Sound Week:
Is your team participating in Safe + Sound Week? Be sure to print your certificate on OSHA’s website and take a picture with your team. Tag us on social media for a chance to be featured on our What If? campaign page!
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 Babcock & Wilcox Company in Newport News, Virginia has received recertification as a Virginia STAR Worksite under the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).
“We commend the dedication of the staff and management at the Luminant Hopewell Power Plant for prioritizing workers’ safety and health,” said DOLI Commissioner Gary Pan. “This achievement demonstrates their commitment toward keeping workers safe.”
The Babcock & Wilcox Company in Newport News is one of 37 current participants in Virginia’s VPP STAR Program. The facility is part of the Babcock & Wilcox Controls and Electrical Division which designs Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) Control Systems for worldwide use.
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, VA – The Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) is pleased to announce the launch of a new modern electronic system streamlining the issuance of Youth Employment Certificates. The new system modernizes the three-step process to allow youth workers, their parents, and the employers to request a certificate in a matter of minutes, without delay or the need for a paper application.
“This launch represents another important milestone for DOLI.” said Gary G. Pan, DOLI Commissioner. “This system marks an achievement in modernization for the Agency and supports the Governor’s initiative to introduce the next generation of workers to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s workforce and economy.”
In Virginia, all youth workers, ages 14 and 15, are required to obtain an Employment Certificate prior to performing any work. When a youth worker receives a job offer, they can go online to initiate their certificate application. Once completed, the potential employer will verify the information and enter information about the worker’s job duties. Lastly, the worker’s parents or legal guardian will approve the employment, and the application will be forwarded to DOLI for approval.
This innovative system is part of DOLI’s ongoing commitment to improving services and accessibility for all businesses and employees, making it easier for individuals to obtain required certifications and report wage-related issues. This marks the first-time youth employment opportunities have been integrated into an online portal.
To access DOLI’s online portal, please visit: selfserviceportal.doli.virginia.gov
About the Agency:
It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) to make Virginia a better place in which to work, live, 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. Additional information about coverage and requirements can be obtained by contacting the Division of Labor and Employment Law at (804) 786-2706 or atlaborlaw@doli.virginia.gov.
RICHMOND – Sunoco, LLC has received recertification as a Virginia STAR Worksite under the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).
“We commend the dedication and determination of the staff and leadership at Sunoco for prioritizing occupational health and safety,” saidGary G. Pan, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. “This achievement demonstrates their outstanding commitment toward keeping their workers safe.”
Sunoco, LLC is one of 37 current participants in Virginia’s VPP STAR. The terminal receives petroleum products via barges into its two above-ground storage tanks for distribution to the nearby Oceana Naval Air Station. The facility is situated on 50 acres- and began operations in 1963.
Virginia Voluntary Protection Programs recognize Virginia employers, in any industry, demonstrating exceptional safety and health management systems. The programs are a collaboration between company management, employees, and VOSH staff to establish a cooperative relationship that encourages continuous improvement in worksite safety performance. VOSH VPP administers the Virginia STAR, Virginia Challenge, VADOC Challenge, Virginia BEST, and Virginia BUILT programs.
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.
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
During the 2020 Regular Session, the General Assembly reenacted the Virginia Minimum Wage Act. The new statute stated the Commissioner of Labor and Industry shall establish the adjusted state hourly minimum wage by October 1, 2024, to take effect on January 1, 2025, and then annually thereafter, if the General Assembly did not reenact scheduled increases to the minimum wage rates.
Accordingly, it is the duty of the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) to establish the adjusted state hourly minimum wage effective January 1, 2025. Pursuant to the Virginia Minimum Wage Act, the adjusted minimum wage rate shall be a sum of the current minimum wage rate ($12.00 per hour) and a percentage of the current minimum wage rate equal to the change in Consumer Price Index for all items, all urban consumers (CPI-U) for the most recent calendar year, as calculated and published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the Consumer Price Index as “a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.”
In December 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published an annual increase in CPI-U of 3.4%. Effectually, the nondiscretionary formula for adjusting the Virginia minimum wage rate is $12.00 + ($12.00 x .034). This calculation equals $12.41. This adjusted rate will be in effect from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026.
For the period of January 1, 2025, until January 1, 2026, the established adjusted state hourly minimum wage is $12.41 per hour. Employers must pay all employees covered by the Virginia Minimum Wage Act at a rate not less than the adjusted minimum wage rate.
Annual adjustments to the Virginia minimum wage rate will continue in future years by this same methodology. For questions regarding this calculation or Virginia’s minimum wage laws, please contact the Department of Labor and Industry’s Division of Labor and Employment Law at (804) 786-2706 or laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov.
DOLI sent a letter to business groups in Virginia, to provide notification of the increase, and a copy of the letter can be found here.
DOLI also provides an optional notice, which employers may post for awareness, a copy can be foundhere.
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.” saidGary 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.
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.
RICHMOND – Johns Manville 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 2009.
“We commend the dedication and determination of the staff and leadership at Johns Manville for prioritizing occupational health and safety,” saidGary G. Pan, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. “This achievement demonstrates their outstanding commitment toward keeping their workers safe.”
Johns Manville in Richmond, Virginia is one of 36 current participants in the STAR program of public/private sector worksites to achieve and retain this recognition. The Johns Manville site has 80,000 square feet of manufacturing and 20,000 square feet of warehousing and has 53 employees. They are a paper converting facility that uses primarily paper, light gauge aluminum foil, and fiberglass scrim to produce facings and vapor barriers for the residential and commercial building segments. The business started in 1946 as the Hamilton Manufacturing Company and was acquired by Johns Manville in 1973.
Virginia Voluntary Protection Programs recognize Virginia employers, in any industry, demonstrating exceptional safety and health management systems. The programs are a collaboration between company management, employees, and VOSH staff to establish a cooperative relationship that encourages continuous improvement in worksite safety performance. VOSH VPP administers the Virginia STAR, Virginia Challenge, VADOC Challenge, Virginia BEST, and Virginia BUILT programs.
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.
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.
RICHMOND – Dominion Energy Surry Power Station in Surry, 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 third recertification since 2009.
“We commend the dedication of the staff and management of Surry Power Station for prioritizing occupational health and safety,” said Gary G. Pan, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. “This achievement demonstrates their tremendous commitment toward keeping workers safe.”
Dominion Energy Surry Power Station is one of 36 current participants in the STAR program of public/private sector worksites to achieve and retain this recognition. The facility is situated on 840 acres on the James River and began production in 1972. The two nuclear-powered units on the site produce 15% of the state of Virginia’s electrical needs or enough energy for approximately 420,000 households. Virginia Voluntary Protection Programs recognize Virginia employers of all industries demonstrating exceptional safety and health management systems. The programs are a collaboration between company management, employees, and VOSH staff to establish a cooperative relationship that encourages continuous improvement in worksite safety performance. VOSH VPP administers the Virginia STAR,
Virginia Challenge, VADOC Challenge, Virginia BEST, and Virginia BUILT programs.
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.
Pursuant to Va. Code § 40.1-28.7:8, the term “low-wage employee” as applied to covenants not to compete has been calculated by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to include all employees who earn an average of less than $1,410 per week. “Low-wage employee” also includes an individual who has independently contracted with another person to perform services independent of an employment relationship and who is compensated for such services by such person at an hourly rate that is less than the median hourly wage for the Commonwealth for all occupations as reported, for the preceding year, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Any employer who enters into, enforces, or threatens to enforce a covenant not to compete with any low-wage employee as defined by the statute will be in violation of the statute, and subject to a suit for damages, attorneys’ fees, and liquidated damages, and civil monetary penalties assessed by the Commissioner.
Additionally, the section contains a posting requirement for employers which advises,
“Every employer shall post a copy of this section or a summary approved by the Department in the same location where other employee notices required by state or federal law are posted.” Posting a copy of the Code will meet the requirements for notice to employees required under the law.
For any questions about current wage rates or requirements under the law, please contact the Department’s Labor & Employment Law Division at laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov.
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