Today, the Oregon Health Authority published new statewide guidance regarding face masks, face coverings, and face shields.
Employers can choose to no longer require face masks and physical distancing for fully vaccinated individuals or employers can continue to require masks and physical distancing in their locations for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated individuals still must comply with OHA guidance, which states that unvaccinated individuals must wear masks at work unless they are in a private, individual workplace or they are outdoors.
If an employer or business chooses to not require masks or physical distancing for fully vaccinated individuals, the business or employer must require employees, customers and other visitors to require proof of being fully vaccinated, which must then be reviewed before being allowed to not wear a mask and physically distance. Businesses and employers will also need to have a policy for reviewing the vaccination status of employees, customers and other visitors.
“Fully vaccinated individual” means an individual has received both doses of a two dose COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine and at least 14 days have passed since the individual’s final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
OHA has stated that proof of vaccination must include the individuals name and date of birth and the dates they received the vaccine, type of vaccine and location where they received the vaccine. This can be provided with the actual vaccine card, a paper copy of their vaccine card, other verification from a healthcare provider, or an electronic copy such as a photo. Business must not make copies of this information.
The guidance does not apply to adult jails and correctional facilities; youth detention and correctional facilities; shelters and transitional housing; K-12 schools; and public transportation/ transportation hubs.
All employers are still required to:
- Provide masks, face coverings or face shields for employees.
- Provide accommodations for employees, contractors, volunteers, students, customers and visitors if such accommodations are required by:
- State and federal disabilities laws, if applicable, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which protects people with disabilities from discrimination in employment and requires employers to engage in the interactive process for accommodations.
- State or federal labor laws.
- State and federal public accommodations laws that provide all persons with full and equal access to services, transportation and facilities open to the public.
- OHA public health guidance if applicable.
Persons responsible for businesses, indoor or outdoor spaces open to the public, public and private workplaces, private career schools and public and private colleges and universities should, but are not required to:
- Provide face coverings for customers and visitors who do not have one.
- Post clear signs about the mask, face covering, face shield requirements.
- Post signs about the mask, face covering, face shield requirement in languages that are commonly spoken by customers, visitors and students.
- Educate employees and contractors:
- On how to safely work and communicate with people who cannot wear masks, face coverings or face shields.
- That they may need to replace a mask or face covering with a transparent cover such as a face shield while communicating with an individual who needs to read lips or see facial expressions to communicate.
Members of Cascade can access the following updated policies here:
- Fully Vaccinated – Face Masks Required (Employee)
- Fully Vaccinated – Face Masks Not Required (Employee)
- Fully Vaccinated – Face Masks Required (Visitors)
- Fully Vaccinated – Face Masks Not Required (Visitors)
Cascade will continue to monitor this and we will keep you updated when OR OSHA guidance is released. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!