SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2021 | 7A
OSHA proposes permanent COVID-19 workplace rules
Seeking to extend
protections for workers
against the coronavirus
disease, Oregon OSHA
(Occupational
Safety
and Health Administra-
tion) is proposing a per-
manent rule that largely
maintains — with some
improvements — the
risk-reducing measures
required by the current
temporary
emergency
rule. It would replace the
temporary rule, which
expires on May 4.
The proposed perma-
nent rule will receive
virtual public hearings
later this month and in
early March. Although
the rule must be adopt-
ed as a permanent rule
because the law does not
allow a temporary rule
to be extended, Oregon
OSHA expects to repeal
the permanent rule once
it is no longer needed to
address the coronavirus
pandemic.
“The public health
emergency triggered by
COVID-19 remains a
significant concern in
Oregon — as we know,
we have not yet defeat-
ed this disease and we
clearly will not have done
so by the time the tem-
porary rule expires. As
a result, it is critically
important that we carry
forward measures that
we know are effective at
combating the spread of
this disease and reducing
risks in the workplace,”
said Michael Wood, ad-
ministrator for Oregon
OSHA. “Failure to do so
will undoubtedly leave
workers far less protected
and leave employers with
far less clarity and cer-
tainty in terms of what is
expected of them.”
As with the temporary
rule, which took effect
Nov. 16, 2020, the pro-
posed permanent rule
maintains such require-
ments as physical dis-
tancing; use of face cov-
erings; regular sanitation;
employee
notification
and training; maximiza-
tion and maintenance of
existing ventilation sys-
tems; and formal expo-
sure risk assessment and
infection control plan-
ning. The proposed per-
manent rule would allow
employers to rely upon
the risk assessments, in-
fection control plans, and
infection control training
already completed.
However, the perma-
nent rule would add
measures and strength-
en provisions in certain
areas. Those proposed
changes include:
• Requiring employers
to consider alternatives
to transporting multiple
people in a single vehicle,
although such transpor-
tation would not be pro-
hibited.
• Slightly modifying
the ventilation measures
so that employers with
more than 10 employees
— and that have exist-
ing ventilation systems
— must certify in writ-
ing that they are running
their systems in line with
current
requirements.
The proposed rule does
not require the purchase
or installation of new
ventilation systems.
• Requiring employers
to provide written noti-
fication to employees of
their rights to return to
work when employees
must quarantine.
• Requiring employers
to cooperate with public
health authorities that
ask to arrange for vacci-
nation in the workplace.
This proposed require-
ment is similar to the
temporary rule’s provi-
sion mandating cooper-
ation with public health
officials if COVID-19
testing in the workplace
is necessary.
• Requiring
health
care employers to pro-
vide respirators to em-
ployees working with
known or suspected
COVID-19-positive pa-
tients unless they demon-
strate there is a genuine
shortage that they are
working to resolve.
The proposed perma-
nent rule also strength-
ens the language dis-
couraging the use of face
shields, which have been
shown to be less effec-
PeaceHealth COVID-19
vaccination update
tive than masks or facial
coverings although such
devices would remain an
option for source control.
The proposed perma-
nent rule was developed
in consultation with two
rulemaking
advisory
committees assembled
for the purpose. It large-
ly reflects the provisions
of the current temporary
rule, which itself was
based to a large extent on
the guidance produced
by the Oregon Health
Authority and enforced
in the workplace by Or-
egon OSHA. The tempo-
rary rule was developed
following an extensive
stakeholder and public
comment process last
summer, which is not
normally the case when
temporary rules are de-
veloped.
Oregon OSHA encour-
ages a careful reading
of the proposed perma-
nent rule. Virtual public
hearings will be held at
10 a.m. on Feb. 23 and
Feb. 26, and at 5 p.m. on
March 3 and March 4.
Details on how to sign up
for the hearings — as well
as other options for com-
menting on the proposed
rule — are now available.
The comment period will
close on April 2.
Learn more about
the division’s workplace
guidance and resources
at osha.oregon.gov/Pag-
es/re/covid-19.aspx.
PeaceHealth
Medical
Group is proud to play a
pivotal role in helping end
this pandemic. Following
federal and state guidance,
PeaceHealth has provided
a COVID-19 vaccine to
more than 12,000 health
care workers.
The local healthcare
provider is eager to begin
offering the vaccine to
others in its communities
as more vaccine becomes
available and states indi-
cate more people are eli-
gible.
Here are a few questions
people have been asking
PeaceHealth:
Should I get vacci-
nated for COVID-19?
Most people should
get vaccinated. The two
vaccines that have been
approved by the FDA for
use in the U.S. have been
proven very safe and are
94-95 percent effective in
preventing people from
getting COVID-19. The
more people that get vac-
cinated, the safer our com-
munities will be — and the
quicker we can get back to
“normal.”
Find out more about the
vaccines in the FAQs on
our COVID-19 Vaccine
Resource Center, www.
peacehealth.org/coronavi-
rus/vaccine-information.
Who can get a
vaccine right now?
You can get vaccinated
at PeaceHealth if you are
eligible according to the
rules in your state, and if
PeaceHealth has vaccine
available. Vaccine doses
are allocated each week at
the federal level and dis-
tributed through states,
and we follow state and lo-
cal public health orders on
who is eligible to receive
those doses.
PeaceHealth is commit-
ted to ensuring that pa-
tients who receive a first
dose also receive the sec-
ond required dose.
You can check who is
eligible in your state from
our COVID-19 Vaccine
Resource Center. Eligibili-
ty does not guarantee that
Cultural Coalition seeks member from West Lane County
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include evaluating grant
applications,
selecting
new committee members,
and promoting the Ore-
gon Cultural Trust within
our local community.
Requirements:
1) Ability to meet via
Zoom during the pan-
demic. We will continue
to do so until it is safe to
convene in person.
2) Access to email.
3) Grants are written
and received in English,
therefore, a reading com-
petency in English is re-
quired.
Applications are avail-
able online laneculture.
net/about-us/join-us/.
People can return appli-
cations to info@lanecul-
ture.net or mail them to:
Lane County Cultural
Coalition c/o Lane Arts
Council, 1590 Willamette
St., Suite 200, Eugene, OR
97401.
For more information,
visit laneculture.net.
Visit us on
the web
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
S IUSLAW N EWS
We’re buying used cars,
trucks and SUV’s.
Any make or model,
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NO
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541.997.9702
Climate Controlled – Circulating Dehumidifi ed Air 24/7
Safe & Secure Storage • Cameras & Lighting
We are delighted and grateful that Heceta Self Storage
was voted Best Self Storage in Florence!
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
Thank you for your support!
BOB HORNEY, CHAPTER LEADER/FACILITATOR
BOTH MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
WATCH SIUSLAW NEWS FOR RESUMPTION
• Tuesday Evening Group (2nd Tuesday)
5-7 p.m. - Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
Urologist Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff attends.
• Tuesday Lunch Group (3rd Tuesday)
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
Urologist Dr. Roger McKimmy attends.
Contact Bob for more information:
(H) 541-997-6626 (C) 541-999-4239
maribob@oregonfast.net
Since 1983
Alva Bracey
E
Prostate Cancer Education/Support
on the Oregon Coast
www.ustoofl orence.org
F
Please call today for quote.
All quotes by appointment only.
F LO E N C
R
Us TOO Florence
INATE US
M
F LO E N C
R
Since 1939
Florence, Oregon
We look forward to of-
fering the vaccine to as
many people as possible
in the coming months.
Thank you for trusting us
with your care.
For more information
about PeaceHealth, visit
www.peacehealth.org.
BEST O
Johnston Motor Company
F
O
T
S
E
B
How much will a vac-
cine cost?
There is no out-of-pock-
et expense for COVID-19
vaccines delivered to any
patient at PeaceHealth
vaccination sites.
NOTICE
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
INATE US
M
Do I need to make an
appointment?
Yes, appointments are
required to receive the
vaccine at PeaceHealth at
this time. This is to ensure
that we’re delivering the
vaccine in an orderly way
to people who are eligi-
ble, and for the health and
safety of people at the vac-
cination sites.
Vaccination
appoint-
ments are not available
now, but will be soon.
You’ll be able to make
an appointment using My
PeaceHealth or by calling
a phone number we’ll pro-
vide when our vaccination
clinics are accepting ap-
pointments.
E
from BIPOC community
members in the county’s
arts and culture commu-
nities.
Successful applicants
will serve 3-year terms
alongside representatives
from all five Lane County
districts — two members
from each district, plus
one representative from
the Lane Arts Council
and one member-at-large.
The new members will be
appointed in June 2021.
The coalition’s primary
task is to distribute more
than $30,000 of Oregon
Cultural Trust funds to
Lane County arts, her-
itage and humanities
projects. Responsibilities
When can I get
vaccinated?
You can visit www.
p eacehealth.org/coro-
navirus/vaccine-sched-
ule to sign up for general
COVID-19 vaccine email
updates on eligibility and
availability.
MyPeace-
Health patients will also
be notified when medical
or age-related information
in your electronic health
record indicates you are
eligible.
If you haven’t done so al-
ready, now is a good time
to set up your MyPeace-
Health account and make
sure all your contact infor-
mation is up to date so you
can make appointments,
receive test results and
manage prescriptions.
NO
The Lane County Cul-
tural Coalition is seeking
applications from Lane
County residents interest-
ed in serving on the Lane
County Cultural Coali-
tion. Currently, the coali-
tion seeks representatives
who either live or work in
West Lane County, Dis-
trict 1, and Springfield,
District 2.
The coalition seeks two
energetic and commit-
ted community members
with a passion in the ar-
eas of arts, heritage, and
humanities. Made up of
12 representatives from
across Lane County,
the coalition especially
welcomes
applications
the vaccine will be avail-
able.
Broker
Your goals are my
top priority.
Let’s get together!
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541-997-7777
100 Hwy. 101,
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Fumigation of Antiques and Commodities.
(541) 997-4027
MODEL TRAIN
ENTHUSIASTS
Auto, Home, Life, Business
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Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
Over
ars
50 Ye ce!
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Expe
CALL ME TO BUY, SELL OR TRADE!
I’M LOCATED HERE IN FLORENCE.
541-255-9822 - Larry
landl316@live.com
Us TOO Florence
Prostate Cancer Education
Support on the Oregon Coast
www.ustooflorence.org
BOTH MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
WATCH SIUSLAW NEWS FOR RESUMPTION
• Tuesday Evening Group (2nd Tuesday)
5-7 p.m. - Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff attends.
• Tuesday Lunch Group (3rd Tuesday)
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Ichiban Chinese/Japanese
Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Roger McKimmy attends.
Contact Bob for more information:
(H) 541-997-6626 • (C) 541-999-4239
maribob@oregonfast.net