Temporary Enforcement Guidance: Annual Fit-Testing, Respiratory Protection and Face Coverings during COVID-19 Pandemic. DOSH Directive (DD) 11.80

APPENDIX A: Washington State Coronavirus Hazard

Considerations for Employers (Except COVID-19 Care in

Hospitals and Clinics)

Face Coverings, Masks, and Respirator Choices

September 21, 2021

APPENDIX A to DD 11.80 Page 1 of 2

Vaccination

Status

Transmission Risk Category

Low

Medium

High

Work

characteristics

Working inside*

with other people or

a gathering of 500

or more people

outdoors, but

physical distancing

is maintained

between

unvaccinated

individuals and is

not considered a

medium or high

transmission risk

 Physical distancing

between unvaccinated

people is not

maintained

 Work in the presence

of COVID-19

quarantined or isolated

people, with physical

distancing

 Providing healthcare to

individuals not known

or suspected to have

COVID-19

 Close proximity between

breathing zones (directly

breathing exhaled air).

 High exertion activities or

respiration (<6 foot

distancing)

 Work in the vicinity of

aerosol generating

procedures

 Providing care to an

individual known or

suspected to have COVID-

Anyone

Working in

public areas

or,

Unvaccinated

or vaccination

status

unknown

Cloth face

coverings required

by order**

Medical procedure

mask, KN95, or

voluntary use respirator

N95 filtering facepiece

respirator or more protective

respirator

Verified fully

vaccinated

and working in

non-public

areas

 Employer not required to enforce mask

use. Workers may choose to wear PPE.

Employer not required to enforce PPE use.

 Only applies when no customers, students,

volunteers, visitors, or other non-

employees are present.

Employer must assess

exposures and may consider

vaccination status in

determining respiratory

protection needs per Chapter

296-842 WAC.

* Inside should be considered broadly to mean not outside. Outside environments have a free flow of

air that limits viral transmission. Situations that are under cover or partially surrounded by walls are

not necessarily outside or inside. Generally, these situations should be considered inside unless it

can be shown that there is good flow of air that maintains an outside air environment.

** The Secretary of Health’s order requiring public masking may be referred to for specific

requirements and exceptions:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/Secretary_of_Health_Order_20-

03_Statewide_Face_Coverings.pdf

Note: This guidance is being updated per

the March, 2022 Washington State mask

mandate changes.

Exposure Assessment for Respirator Protection Selection:

Identifying medium and high-risk exposures for unvaccinated workers and high risk exposures for fully

vaccinated workers the following factors may be considered:

 Are there individuals in the workspace suspected or known to have COVID-19?

 Fully vaccinated status of workers and others around them.

 Mask use of the other people.

 Close proximity (within 6 feet) for an extended period of time on a frequent or infrequent basis.

 Close by (e.g., within 3 feet) with no option to move safely away or stay behind a physical

barrier, particularly when in face-to-face positioning.

 Individuals who need to breathe frequently and/or deeply due to physically strenuous work or

other activity that requires deep breathing.

 Aerosol-generating medical procedures that may create fine infectious particles or droplets.

 In an enclosed or confined space.

 In a poorly ventilated area:

- Indoor spaces are enclosed by walls and ceilings with minimal ventilation are of greatest

concern

- Air flow directly from one person to another can carry respiratory droplets far more than 6

feet

- Even with good ventilation, air flow indoors does not replace breathing air more than a few

times an hour

- Outdoor spaces have no structures or other objects that restrict air flow and are not a

concern unless other factors are combined, even a small breeze will change out the air

around people a few times per minute

- Some spaces, such as breezeways, covered loading docks, covered porches, and so forth

are not considered indoors or outdoors. Employers should consider the extent that air flow

is constricted in assessing exposures in these spaces.

Generally, if there is a single factor such as very close proximity (3 feet) or elevated breathing, an

unvaccinated worker will need a respirator, but protection from vaccination might be considered

sufficient to reduce the hazard. If there are two or more factors, involved there is concern that a very

high exposure occurs which could break through the protection of vaccination. Respirators are likely

needed, regardless of vaccination status, in situations where aerosol generating procedures are

conducted, providing face-to-face physical assistance to another individual, or working directly with

individuals who are known or suspected to have COVID-19.

Further examples of exposure assessment include, protective masks may not be necessary for fully

vaccinated employees riding with fully vaccinated coworkers to a jobsite a couple of hours away; but a

respirator may be required for unvaccinated workers in this situation. Even fully-vaccinated employees

working in some situations may need respiratory protection; such as, around an unvaccinated

coworker performing heavy manual labor inside a confined space with poor ventilation should be

considered for respiratory protection due to the particularly high level of exposure that could occur.

Other PPE:

Employers should consider other personal protective equipment when assessing mask requirements.

Gloves, gowns, and face shields may be appropriate for limiting exposure to COVID-19.