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Updates related to COVID-19

  • Minnesota OSHA withdraws emergency temporary standard (ETS):  As published in the State Register on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, MNOSHA has withdrawn the Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard effective immediately.

  • COVID-19 Preparedness Plan:  A written COVID-19 Preparedness Plan is no longer mandated by executive order. However, under federal and Minnesota OSHA laws, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. To meet these obligations under OSHA laws, employers should continue to implement COVID-19 prevention programs in the workplace. The most effective programs contain a number of key elements, including conducting a hazard assessment, identifying and implementing measures that limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and adopting measures that ensure that workers who are infected or potentially infected are separated and sent home from the workplace. Prevention programs should take into consideration mandatory safety and health protocols established by OSHA standards, as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and OSHA recommendations that reflect developments in science and best practices.

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

  • Worker protections during COVID-19 video

  • COVID-19 workers' compensation claims statistics (updated through March 16, 2023)

  • Minnesota OSHA:  COVID-19 and recordkeeping

  • Minnesota worker resource guide for employees in processing and manufacturing plants (May 1, 2020)

  • Report:  Minnesota's workers' compensation response to COVID-19 (Jan. 15, 2021)

  • Workers' compensation bill:  Bill language | Bill summary | Frequently asked questions (summary and FAQs updated Feb. 16, 2022) | Presumption gap FAQs (added March 18, 2022)

    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.

  • Unemployment insurance:  Visit uimn.org. The Department of Labor and Industry does not oversee this area. Inquiries must go to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Minnesota OSHA

Workers' compensation

  • Administrative conferences, mediations:  Effective April 22, 2021, the Department of Labor and Industry has transitioned to a hybrid structure to conduct its proceedings. Mediations will now default to in-person proceedings. The parties may agree to conduct the mediation remotely or at a different location. Mediations scheduled before April 22 will remain unchanged and will be conducted remotely or as the parties have agreed. Conferences will continue to be conducted via telephone. If you have questions, contact the assigned mediator or arbitrator.

  • COMPACT newsletter:  Special edition – COVID-19 (published August 2020)