Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board
In 1962, the Virginia General Assembly established the Safety Codes Commission with power to make rules and regulations governing safety operations. The Commission was revised by the General Assembly in 1972 and continues as the Safety and Health Codes Board. The 14-member Board is authorized to adopt, alter, amend and repeal rules and regulations for the Department to protect the occupational safety and health of employees in Virginia. This responsibility includes the state plan agreement with federal OSHA to effect compliance with the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety, and the Commonwealth’s Asbestos and Lead Contractor Notification and Inspection Programs. Twelve members of the Board are appointed by the Governor for a 4-year term and, in accordance with statute, are drawn from various industries to be a mix of employee/employer representatives and the general public. The remaining two members of the Board are the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Commissioner of Health. Both positions serve ex-officio.
The Board is required to meet at least twice annually with additional meetings as necessary to fulfill statutory or federal regulatory requirements. Advance notice of meetings can be found in the Virginia Register of Regulations, on the Regulatory Town Hall, or on this web site. (See link above) Additional information on Board members, meeting schedule, and meeting agenda and minutes can be obtained by contacting cristin.bernhardt@doli.dev.sitevision.com. The Board has enacted a number of safety and health regulatory standards that are unique to Virginia or have requirements which are different from those of Federal OSHA. These standards can be found at the Virginia Unique Standards page. For more information or to contact members of the Board, please call (804) 786-2392 or email at cristin.bernhardt@doli.dev.sitevision.com.
2023
NEW! Recording of the Safety & Health Codes Board Meeting Held on September 18, 2023
Recording of the Safety & Health Codes Board Meeting Held on June 27, 2023
2022
Recording of the Safety & Health Codes Board Meeting Held on November 14, 2022
Recording of the Safety & Health Codes Board Meeting Held on March 21, 2022 – Subject: The Safety and Health Codes Board held a meeting and adopted the final Revocation of the Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV2 Virus That Causes COVID-19,16VAC25-220, pursuant to Va. Code §40.1-22(6a).
Recording of the Safety & Health Codes Board Public Hearing Held on March 14, 2022 – Subject: The Safety and Health Codes Board held a public hearing to allow for public comments on the proposed Revocation of the Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV2 Virus That Causes COVID-19,16VAC25-220, as adopted by the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board (“Board”) on February 16, 2022, pursuant to Va. Code §40.1-22(6a).
The Department’s Guidance Document on COVID-19 entitled: Guidance for Employers to Mitigate the Risk of COVID-19 to Workers will be published in the Virginia Register on March 28, 2022 (Volume 38: Issue 16) for a 30 day comment period in accordance with Va. Code § 2.2-4002.1.B. There will be a public comment forum starting on March 28, 2022 and ending April 27, 2022.
The Town Hall guidance document public comment forum is scheduled for availability on March 28, 2022. For details see the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall web site. If you would like to submit a public comment directly to DOLI prior to March 28, 2022, you can send your comments to Princy Doss at princy.doss@doli.dev.sitevision.com.
Safety and Health Codes Board Meeting to be Held March 21, 2022. Subject: Virginia Safety And Health Codes Board Adoption of the Proposed Revocation of the Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention, SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 Virginia Regulatory Town Hall Meeting Notice: https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm? meetingid=34943
Safety and Health Codes Board Public Hearing to be Held March 14, 2022. Subject: Virginia Safety And Health Codes Board Adoption of the Proposed Revocation of the Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention, SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19
Virginia Regulatory Town Hall Meeting Notice: https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=34938
On February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to protect the general public from COVID-19. These prevention steps are based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. The new CDC guidelines are currently under review by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health. The Department will be issuing an FAQ regarding how the new CDC guidance will impact enforcement of the VOSH Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus that Causes COVID-19 upon completion of our review.
Recording of the Safety and Health Codes Board Meeting Held February 16th, 2022.
Safety and Health Codes Board Hybrid Meeting to be Held February 16, 2022 – Subject: The Safety and Health Codes Board is to convene an emergency meeting of their membership to discuss whether there is a continued need for the “Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19.” For details see meeting notice on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall web site.
On February 16, 2022, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board adopted a proposed revocation of the Virginia Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19, 16VAC25-220, and further directed that such proposal be the subject of a thirty day written comment period and public hearing prior to any final vote to revoke the standard.
The public may register its comments on the proposed revocation of the Virginia Standard as adopted by the Board by using the comment forum, link provided below. The forum will be open for thirty (30) days, from February 17, 2022 to March 19, 2022. The link to the public comment forum can be found here: https://townhall.
2021
Recording of the Safety and Health Codes Board Meeting Held December 3rd, 2021 – Subject: The Safety and Health Codes Board is to convene an emergency meeting of their membership to discuss whether there is a continued need for the “Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19.”
2020
Safety and Health Codes Board Electronic Emergency Meeting to be Held June 24, 2020 – Subject: Virginia Safety And Health Codes Board Adoption Of COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard/Emergency Regulation.
Safety and Health Codes Board Continued Electronic Emergency Meeting to be Held June 29, 2020 – Subject: Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board Adoption of a COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard under Va. Code §40.1-22(6a).
Safety and Health Codes Board Continued Electronic Emergency Meeting to be Held July 7, 2020 – Subject: Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board Adoption of a COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard under Va. Code §40.1-22(6a).
Safety and Health Codes Board Continued Electronic Emergency Meeting to be Held July 15, 2020 – Subject: Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board Adoption of a COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard under Va. Code §40.1-22(6a).
SHCB Electronic Emergency Meeting Archive
Please find the Safety and Health Board Codes Bylaws here.
Please find the Safety and Health Codes Board Public Participation Guidelines here.
Safety and Health Codes Board Roster:
| Mr. Jay S. Abbott Term Expires: 06/29/24 Representative for Agricultural Employers |
Ms. Lutheria H. Smith Term Expires: 06/29/24 Representative for the General Public |
| Mr. Robert H. Buchler Term Expires: 06/29/24 Industrial Representative Knowledgeable in Chemical and Toxic Substances |
VACANT Term Expires: 06/29/23 Representative for Industrial Employers |
| Ms. Kelly Bundy Term Expires: 06/29/25 Representative from Construction Industry Employers |
Mr. Jeffrey S. Rowe Term Expires: 06/29/26 Representative for Labor in the Manufacturing Industry |
| Mr. Kevin Battle Term Expires: 06/29/26 Labor Representative of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Industry |
Mr. Larry E. James Term Expires: 06/29/24 Representative for Agricultural Employees |
| Mr. Robert C. Smith Term Expires: 06/29/26 Employer Representative of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Industry |
Mr. Michael Everett Term Expires: 06/29/24 Labor Representative Knowledgeable in Chemical and Toxic Substances |
| Mr. Lee T. Biedrycki Term Expires: 06/29/26 Representative of an Insurance Company |
Dr. Karen Shelton State Health Commissioner Virginia Department of Health Represented by: Julie Henderson Director of Office of Environmental Health Services Virginia Department of Health |
| Mr. James L. Spencer Term Expires: 06/29/26 Representative from Labor in the Construction Industry |
Mr. Mike Rolband (Ex Officio) Director Department of Environmental Quality Represented by: Elizabeth Lohman Pollution Response & Emergency Preparedness Program Specialist |
FOIA Coordinator – jane.daffron@doli.dev.sitevision.com – For questions or inquiries regarding DOLI Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request.