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Updates related to COVID-19

The completed business preparedness plan is not required to be submitted to the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) for approval, but needs to be made available upon request.

Non-Critical Sector industrial and office-based businesses that are non-customer facing are allowed to reopen as long as they have created a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

By June 29, 2020, Critical Sector businesses are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that complies with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) COVID-19 guidelines and OSHA standards.

For additional information or assistance in developing a plan, businesses can contact MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation at 651-284-5060 or osha.consultation@state.mn.us.

Labor Standards

Construction trades information, exams and licenses

  • DLI license exams:  License exams resumed June 29, 2020. Learn more and schedule an exam.

  • Continuing education:  Deadlines have been extended 90 days for licenses that expire in April, May, June and July 2020. The deadline for licenses that expired in March was extended to July 31, 2020.

    • License renewals must still be submitted prior to the current expiration date. Late fees will apply to renewals submitted after the expiration date. Renew a license here.

  • License applications:  Until further notice, we are unable to process applications that are dropped off or mailed. Apply or renew online for the fastest processing.

  • Construction inspection requirements for municipalities and help for contractors.

  • Building and plumbing plan review:  Electronic plans and paper plans submitted prior to March 27, 2020, will continue to be reviewed. Paper plans submitted after March 27, 2020, will not be processed until the Stay at Home order is lifted. For the quickest review, submit plans online.

  • Inspections and permits:  Updates for electrical, high-pressure piping, boiler, manufactured structures, building and plumbing permits and inspections:

    • Online permits will continue to be issued. No paper permit applications will be processed until the Stay at Home order is lifted.

    • Inspections to critical sectors exempt from the Stay at Home order will continue. These include residential and non-residential building construction.

  • Plumbing:  Guidance about flushing building water systems after periods of low or no water use.

  • Building official training:  Building official limited and accessibility training courses will be conducted virtually Oct. 26-30.

  • Board and council meeting cancellations and updates.

  • 2020 National Electrical Code adoption delayed:  Adoption of the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) has been delayed and did not become effective in Minnesota on July 1, 2020, as anticipated. The Board of Electricity received 25 valid requests for hearing regarding the adoption of the 2020 NEC. That hearing was held on Aug. 19, 2020. The administrative law judge has until Oct. 15, 2020, to issue a hearing report. The board will review that report and comply with the necessary steps in the adoption process.

Apprenticeship

Minnesota OSHA

Workers' compensation

  • Administrative conferences, mediations:  As of Monday, March 23, 2020, the Department of Labor and Industry will conduct administrative conferences and mediations remotely by telephone or video conference. Parties also have the option of rescheduling events to a later date. Contact us at dli.workcomp@state.mn.us or 651-284-5032, or contact your assigned mediator, for more information.

  • Copy file review:  DLI's Copy File Review team will be contacting citizens who have appointments scheduled to look at their workers' compensation files, so they can reschedule their appointment 30 days or more in the future. If it is imperative they see their file at their scheduled appointment time, DLI will limit the individual's access to a singular room and the Copy File Review team will ensure social-distancing practices are followed.

  • Emailing documents:  Emailing of certain documents is temporarily allowed.

  • Rehabilitation consultations:  Until further notice, the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) will not take any enforcement action under Minnesota Rules 5220.0130 against any qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) who conducts a rehabilitation consultation with an injured worker by telephone or video, rather than in person. DLI encourages QRCs to limit in-person meetings and implement social-distancing measures when providing a rehabilitation consultation and other rehabilitation services to injured workers. Placement vendors and their staff members, who meet with injured workers, are also encouraged to conduct meetings by phone or video.

  • Work Comp Campus:  Work Comp Campus launch delayed as stakeholders prepare; Campus will launch Nov. 2, 2020. We remain available to address questions you have at dli.wcmp@state.mn.us.

  • Workers' compensation bill:  Bill language | Bill summary | Frequently asked questions (updated April 14, 2020)
    This legislation creates a presumption for workers’ compensation coverage of first responders, certain workers at a corrections, detention or secure treatment facility, and certain health and child care workers who contract COVID-19. View related information from MWCIA.