OAR 437-004-1115
COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing
(1) Scope and Application:
(a) This rule applies to all employer-provided labor housing and other employer-provided housing, whether such housing is otherwise currently covered by OAR 437-004-1120 (Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities) “Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities” or by 29 CFR 1910.142 and OAR 437-002-0142 (Labor Camps) “Labor Camps.” To the degree an actual conflict exists between the two rules, this rule takes precedence. To the degree that this rule does not address an issue, or no actual conflict exists, the requirements of the preexisting rule also apply.
The requirements of this rule apply to all labor housing sites owned, operated, or allowed to operate on property under the jurisdiction of any state or municipal authority unless such housing is provided by someone other than the employer specifically to respond to a public health emergency.
The requirements of this rule supersede those of Subsections (3)(b), (3)(c) and (3)(f) of OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks) (COVID-19 Requirements for All Workplaces), unless otherwise referenced. All other provisions of OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks) apply.
(b) These rules apply to any place, or area of land, where there are living areas, manufactured or prefabricated homes or dwellings, or other housing provided by a farmer, farm labor contractor, agricultural employer, or other person in connection with the recruitment of workers of an agricultural employer as defined in OAR 437-004-0001 (Application). These rules also apply to any such housing provided by an employer or other person in connection with the employment of workers in any non-agricultural business activity.
(c) These rules apply to any type of labor housing and related facilities together with the tract of land established or to be established, operated or maintained for housing workers with or without families, whether or not rent is paid or collected.
(d) Manufactured dwellings and homes must comply with specifications for construction of sleeping places, unless they comply with ORS 446.155 (Sanitation and safety requirements) to 446.185 (Minimum safety standards for equipment, material and installations) and OAR 918-500-0020(2), which have the requirements and specifications for sanitation and safety design for manufactured dwellings.
(e) These rules apply to housing given to, rented, leased to, or otherwise provided to employees for use while employed and provided or allowed either by the employer, a representative of the employer, or a housing operator.
(f) These rules, unless otherwise stated, apply to all occupants of the labor housing and facilities.
(g) These rules apply to all labor housing sites owned, operated, or allowed to operate on property under the jurisdiction of any state or municipal authority unless such housing is provided by someone other than the employer specifically to respond to a public health emergency.
(h) Violations relating to the occupants’ personal housekeeping practices in facilities that are not common use will not result in citations to the employer.
(i) For the purposes of OAR 437-004-1120 (Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities), labor contractors as defined in ORS 658.405 (Definitions for ORS 658.405 to 658.511) are employers.
(j) Charging occupants for required services. Operators must not charge for services required by these rules: OAR 437-004-1120 (Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities), OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks), and OAR 437-004-1115 (COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing). This prohibits pay-per-use toilets, pay-per-use bathing facilities, payment for use of air purifiers, or any other method of paying for individual service requirements.
(k) This rule does not apply to:
(A) Hotels or motels that provide similar housing commercially to the public on the same terms as they do to workers. This includes hotels or motels that have been temporarily closed due to the current COVID-19 public health emergency, but that restore their operations on a limited basis to allow employers to house workers in the facility, provided that the following conditions are met.
(i) The hotel or motel facility must be licensed and meet the other requirements in OAR 333, Division 29, Travelers’ Accommodation.
(ii) The rooms provided must maintain the configuration typically offered to travelers (while this does not preclude changing the arrangement of beds, it does preclude the addition of bunk beds or other measures to increase the occupancy of the room).
(iii) Room assignment must ensure privacy and separation for families and to unrelated occupants of different genders.
(iv) The occupied rooms must continue to receive regular services for cleaning and for the laundry of linens used by guests.
(v) The rooms must not be modified to include kitchen facilities not already part of the room as previously available to guests. Note: Because such facilities are exempt from this rule, the presence of a preexisting kitchenette or other food preparation facility does not trigger the square footage requirements of the rule.
(B) Accommodations subject to licensing such as manufactured dwelling parks, organizational camps, travelers’ accommodations or recreation vehicle parks and open to the general public on the same terms.
(C) Manufactured homes or dwellings being moved regularly from place to place, because of the work, when at parks or camps meant for parking mobile vehicles and open to the general public on the same terms.
(2) Definitions.
(a) Air purifier – means a HEPA-filter equipped device that is designed for and capable of removing aerosols (including airborne droplets and solid particles) from the air through physical or chemical means and that is capable of improving the indoor air quality in areas where such purifiers are properly operated.
(b) High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter – means a filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient in removing monodisperse particles of 0.3 micrometers (µm) in diameter.
(c) Common area – means building lobbies, reception areas, waiting rooms, restrooms, break rooms, eating areas, smoking areas, locker rooms, bathing areas, transit lounges, conference rooms, or other locations indoors or outdoors that multiple individuals may use or congregate that employers operate or control.
(d) High-touch surface – means equipment or surfaces that are handled frequently throughout the day by multiple individuals. High-touch surfaces can include, but are not limited to, countertops, tabletops, credit card terminals, doorknobs, door handles, digital kiosks, touch-screen enabled devices, light switches, handrails, elevator control panels, and steering wheels in work vehicles.
(e) Household – means a group of persons who lived in the same residence prior to arriving at the employer-provided housing. Households may have unrelated individuals or families living together or may be a family unit.
(f) Shared equipment – means devices or tools that are used by multiple employees or other individuals including, but not limited to, computers, phones, and work vehicles.
(3) Ventilation.
Ensure that existing ventilation systems are optimized in accordance with subsection OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks)(3)(f). Additionally, employers must increase air circulation and ventilation by opening windows and doors in labor housing when doing so is safe for the occupants in regards to weather conditions (hot or cold), pesticide application, and other potential hazards. Fans should be used indoors only when windows or doors are open to the outdoors in order to circulate indoor and outdoor air. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety risk to employees.
(4) Masks, Face Coverings, and Face Shields.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, all persons at the labor housing must use a mask, face covering, or face shield in accordance with the Oregon Health Authority’s Statewide Mask, Face Covering, Face Shield Guidance. Facial coverings must be used in accordance with the provisions of this rule below. The following specific modifications apply within housing facilities regarding the use of facial coverings:
(a) All persons entering the housing facility, including all common areas, must wear a mask, face shield, or face covering In accordance with Oregon Health Authority Statewide Mask, Face Covering, Face Shield Guidance, except:
(A) During mealtimes when eating or drinking;
(B) When sleeping in their bed or cot;
(C) When engaged in an activity that makes the wearing of a mask, face covering, or face shield not feasible, such as during teeth brushing or bathing;
(D) In a housing unit or area occupied solely by members of the same family or household; or
(E) When the person is less than five years of age.
(b) Operators must ensure that all occupants of employer-provided labor housing have access to or are in possession of adequate masks, face shields, or face coverings – including enough masks, face shields, or face coverings to allow employees to “double mask” -- without cost to the occupants.
(5) Physical distancing monitor.
Operators must identify one or more individuals who will be responsible for identifying appropriate physical distancing and sanitation measures and ensuring that such measures are implemented. Affected employers must abide by the physical distancing rule in OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks)(3)(a).
(6) Physical distancing measures.
To ensure appropriate physical distancing, labor housing facilities must implement appropriate physical distancing measures as required by this rule for property under their control. Operators must ensure:
(a) Operators of employer-provided labor housing must select either the “Air Purification Method”, or the “Additional Capacity Reduction Method” described below.
(A) Air Purification Method:
(i) Operators must ensure at least six-foot distancing from center point of a single-occupant bed.
(ii) Sleeping Rooms:
(I) Individuals in each sleeping room using double bunk beds where all occupants in the room are part of the same household or are related must have at least 40 square feet of floor space per occupant; or
(II) Use of both beds in a double bunk bed must not be allowed for individuals who are neither related nor part of the same household. In each sleeping room where one or more persons are neither related to nor part of the same household as one or more other occupants, all occupants must be provided at least 50 square feet of floor space per occupant.
(iii) Operators must provide air purifiers for each room where people sleep, whether in dedicated sleeping rooms or in rooms where occupants cook, sleep, and live. Air Purifiers must meet the following requirements:
(I) Must have a Change Air Delivery Rate (CADR) sufficient enough to provide four Air Changes per Hour (ACH).
(II) Must not produce ozone either as a byproduct or as the primary method of cleaning the air.
(B) Additional Capacity Reduction Method:
(i) Beds and cots must be spaced at least six feet apart between frames in all directions, and arranged so that occupants in the beds alternate from head to toe.
(ii) Sleeping Rooms:
(I) Individuals in each sleeping room not using double bunk beds where all occupants in the room are members of the same household or are related must be provided at least 50 square feet of floor space per occupant; or
(II) Individuals in each sleeping room using double bunk beds where all occupants in the room are members of the same household or are related must be provided at least 40 square feet of floor space per occupant; or
(III) Use of both beds in a double bunk bed must not be allowed for individuals who are neither related nor part of the same household. In each sleeping room where one or more persons are neither related to nor part of the same household as one or more other occupants, all occupants must be provided at least 100 square feet of floor space per occupant.
(b) Arrange tables and chairs in dining areas, so at least six feet of physical distance is maintained between persons. Restrict tables and chairs, or equivalent seating, to accommodate six feet of physical distancing.
(c) Use appropriate physical distancing during mealtimes and encourage occupants to eat meals outside if it is safe to do so.
(d) Limit non-essential visitors in common use areas, except for authorized persons.
(7) Cleaning and Sanitation.
Labor housing facilities must regularly clean or sanitize all common areas, shared equipment, and high-touch surfaces as defined by this rule that are under its the operator’s control and that are used by employees or the public. At least daily, the following facilities must be sanitized in the described manner when used or other otherwise occupied.
(a) Bathing facilities. All common use bathing, hand washing, and laundry facilities must be clean, sanitary and operating properly. Sanitize all high-contact surfaces in common-use facilities, including (but not limited to) door handles, controls, and adjustable shower heads daily (if housing occupants are assigned this task, it must be treated as a work assignment rather than a voluntary action).
(b) Hand washing facilities. In common use facilities, do not use a single common towel. If you provide paper towels, there must be a container for their disposal. Sanitize all high-contact surfaces in common-use facilities, including (but not limited to) door handles, controls and paper towel dispensers daily (if housing occupants are assigned this task, it must be treated as a work assignment rather than a voluntary action).
(c) Toilet facilities.
(A) Provide at least one toilet for every 15 occupants or fraction thereof for each gender in the labor housing. Toilets must assure privacy. When equipped, exhaust fans are to be left on continuously.
(B) Clean and sanitize common use toilet facilities at least daily or more often when needed to maintain sanitation (if housing occupants are assigned this task, it must be treated as a work assignment rather than a voluntary action).
(C) When in use, service portable and chemical toilets at least weekly or often enough to keep them from becoming a health hazard. Clean portable toilets, chemical toilets and privies at least daily. Sanitize such common use facilities daily (if housing occupants are assigned this task, it must be treated as a work assignment rather than a voluntary action).
(d) Mattresses or pads. Fumigate mattresses or pads, used uncovered, or treat with an effective insecticide before each season’s occupancy and whenever the pad is assigned to a new user. If you provide covers, clean them before each season’s occupancy and whenever the cover is assigned to a new user.
(e) Clean the facilities and equipment before each occupancy. Ensure that high-touch areas in common use facilities are sanitized at least daily (if housing occupants are assigned this task, it must be treated as a work assignment rather than a voluntary action).
(f) Nothing would prohibit workers from sanitizing these areas more frequently than would otherwise be required if the worker chooses to do so.
(g) Cleaning supplies.
(A) Housing operators must provide adequate cleaning materials at no cost, allowing occupants to clean and sanitize their living areas regularly. Occupants should be encouraged to clean their personal living areas as much as possible, including bed or bunk frames, and storage facilities, such as wall cabinets or shelves.
(B) Operators should avoid entering occupant’s rooms or living quarters unless it is necessary.
(8) COVID-19 response plan.
(a) In order to identify individuals known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19, all housing providers covered by this rule must take the following steps:
(A) Suspect COVID-19 cases should be encouraged to seek advice by telephone or similar mobile devices from a healthcare provider to determine whether further in-person medical evaluation is needed;
(B) Suspect COVID-19 cases must be isolated with sleeping, eating, and bathroom accommodations that are separate from non-isolating occupants. COVID-19 infected individuals must be isolated from others, have adequate hygiene facilities, and be taken care of by only one person in the household. If such isolation is not possible, the employer must follow the Oregon Health Authority Isolation and Quarantine Guidance; and
(C) If able, occupants known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19 must clean and disinfect their own sleeping, eating, or bathroom accommodations after each use.
(b) Confirmed COVID-19 infected persons must be isolated and only housed with other confirmed cases and must have separate bathroom, cooking and eating facilities from people who have not been diagnosed with COVID-19. Sick people should be isolated from others, have adequate hygiene facilities, and be taken care of by only one person in the household. If such isolation is not possible, follow guidance provided by the Oregon Health Authority or the local public health authority to make appropriate arrangements.
(A) If able, occupants confirmed to have COVID-19 must clean and disinfect their own sleeping, eating, or bathroom accommodations after each use.
(B) The operator must ensure that food and water is provided and monitor the safety of occupants in isolation at the operator’s facility or ensure that these services are provided if isolated at another facility.
(c) Occupants who are not suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 should not use any bed, bathroom, or common area previously used by an individual suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 until it is thoroughly cleaned following the Oregon Health Authority or Local Health Authority’s guidance provided to the operator for cleaning and sanitation after a suspected or confirmed case.
(d) Instruct occupants that if they are sick or have COVID-19 symptoms, they must alert their housing operator as soon as possible.
(9) Non-employer provided transportation for labor housing.
Employers must ensure, at a minimum, the following disease prevention measures, are implemented in accordance with OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks) subsection 3(b)(F)(ii). For employees who commute to and from the worksite with individuals outside their household, employers must advise them on the risks presented by close contact and encourage them to employ practices similar to those described in OAR 437-001-0744 (Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks) subsection 3(b)(F)(ii).
Source:
Rule 437-004-1115 — COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=437-004-1115.