Effective Friday, July 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. by Executive Order businesses must require that all persons, including their workers, customers, and visitors, wear face coverings.
Summary
Workers must wear a face covering:
In an indoor business or public indoor space, including office spaces.
When working outdoors* where social distancing cannot be maintained.
When entering another person’s living unit for a business purpose.
Workers may remove the face covering:
When alone, in an office, a room, a cubicle with walls that are higher than face level when social distancing is maintained, a vehicle, or the cab of heavy equipment or machinery, or an enclosed work area. In such situations, the individual should still carry a face covering to be prepared for person-to-person interactions.
Where wearing a face covering would create a job hazard.
Preparedness Plan
All businesses must update their COVID-19 Preparedness Plans to include the face covering requirements of this Executive Order.
The Department of Labor and Industry has updated their Preparedness Plan Requirements Guidance for Construction. We've provided a compare & contrast version of the Requirements Guidance - blue highlight indicates changes. Pages 5, 10 & 12 contain substantive changes to accommodate the new Executive Order.
Businesses must post one or more signs that are visible to all persons—including workers, customers, and visitors—instructing them to wear face coverings.
DLI may issue citations, civil penalties, or closure orders to places of employment with unsafe or unhealthy conditions, and DLI may penalize businesses that retaliate against employees who raise safety and health concerns.
State and local licensing and regulatory entities that regulate businesses for compliance with statutes, rules, and codes to protect the public are encouraged to assess regulated businesses’ compliance with this Executive Order and use existing enforcement tools to bring businesses into compliance.
*Indoor vs. Outdoor
DEED has previously defined an indoor venue as "any area, building, structure, or other enclosure that is enclosed on at least two sides by walls, barriers, or partitions, whether temporary or permanent, and are also covered at least 50% by a ceiling, cap, canopy, or other similar means, whether temporary or permanent."
Cloth Face Masks Available from MMCA
MMCA has washable 2-ply cotton masks with adjustable tie backs available free for contractor members. Fill out the form on our COVID-19 Webpage to request masks.
If you have employees who need assistance with stress, financial, or familial issues refer them to HealthPartners Employee Assistance Program at 866-326-7194 or text US HEAP and your question to 919-324-5523 or log on to hpeap.com (website password “ptsmn”).