Today, Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance for youth team sports and adult recreational team sports activities to restart in Phases 2 and 3.
In a memo outlining the guidelines for allowing youth sports and recreational adult activities, Inslee said that “after consulting with stakeholders, we have developed Professional Sporting Activities, and Phase 2 and 3 Sporting Activities – COVID-19 Requirements.”
“This memorandum applies to professional sporting activities, both indoor and outdoor, outdoor youth team sports, and outdoor adult recreational team sports,” said Inslee. “This memorandum does not apply to sporting activities connected to or administered by schools, whether primary, secondary, or post-secondary institutions; or junior hockey.”
According to the memo, the sporting activities may resume immediately if:
a) They can meet and maintain all requirements, including providing materials, schedules and equipment needed to comply; and
b) They conduct only those activities that are allowed under their county’s phase status. Professional sporting activities, in accordance with the attached requirements, may resume on June 5, 2020, in all counties.
Outdoor Youth Team Sports and Outdoor Adult Recreational Team Sports, Excluding School-Connected or Administered Team Sports and Junior Hockey
RESTART COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• In Phase 2, team practice can resume if a) players are limited to groups of five in separate parts of the field, separated by a buffer zone and b) practice can follow social distancing of a minimum of five feet between players with no contact. Each league, organization, or club must publish and follow a “return to play” safety plan. Parents and household members must not congregate on the sidelines during practice.
• In Phase 3, teams can resume playing games. Total gathering at any one game cannot exceed 50 individuals. For sporting complexes with multiple fields or other playing surfaces, the 50individual limit is counted on a per-field, not a per-complex basis.
• Nothing in these requirements should be read to obligate a facility owner to reopen a facility.
All activities covered by these requirements have a general obligation to keep a safe and healthy workplace in accordance with state and federal law, and comply with the following COVID-19 worksite specific safety practices, as outlined in Governor Inslee’s “Safe Start” Proclamation 20-25.4, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries General Requirements and Prevention Ideas for Workplaces, and the Washington State Department of Health Workplace and Employer Resources & Recommendations at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Coronavirus/workplace.
Employers must specifically ensure operations follow the main L&I COVID-19 requirements to protect workers, including:
• Educate workers in the language they understand best about coronavirus and how to prevent transmission and the employer’s COVID-19 policies.
• Maintain minimum six-foot separation between all employees (and customers) in all interactions when feasible. When strict physical distancing is not feasible for a specific task, other prevention measures are required, such as use of barriers, personal protective equipment, staggered breaks, and alternating work shift starts.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, face shields and face masks as appropriate or required to employees for the activity being performed. Cloth facial coverings must be worn by every employee not working alone on the jobsite unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection under Department of Labor & Industries safety and health rules and guidance. Refer to Coronavirus Facial Covering and Mask Requirements for additional details. A cloth facial covering is described in the Department of Health guidance, https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/ClothFacemasks.pdf.
• Ensure frequent and adequate hand washing with adequate maintenance of supplies. Use disposable gloves where safe and applicable to prevent transmission on tools or other items that are shared.
• Establish a housekeeping schedule that includes frequent cleaning and sanitizing with a particular emphasis on commonly touched surfaces.
• Screen employees for signs/symptoms of COVID-19 at start of shift. Make sure sick employees stay home or immediately go home if they feel or appear sick. Cordon off any areas where an employee with probable or confirmed COVID-19 illness worked, touched surfaces, etc. until the area and equipment is cleaned and sanitized. Follow the cleaning guidelines set by the CDC to deep clean and sanitize.
A site-specific COVID-19 Supervisor shall be designated by the employer at each job site to monitor the health of employees and enforce the COVID-19 job site safety plan.
A worker may refuse to perform unsafe work, including hazards created by COVID-19. And, it is unlawful for their employer to take adverse action against a worker who has engaged in safety protected activities under the law if their work refusal meets certain requirements.
Employees who choose to remove themselves from a worksite because they do not believe it is safe to work due to the risk of COVID-19 exposure may have access to certain leave or unemployment benefits. Employers must provide high-risk individuals covered by Proclamation 20-46 with their choice of access to available employer-granted accrued leave or unemployment benefits if an alternative work arrangement is not feasible. Other employees may have access to expanded family and medical leave included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, access to use unemployment benefits, or access to other paid time off depending on the circumstances. Additional information is available at https://www.lni.wa.gov/agency/outreach/paid-sick-leaveand-coronavirus-covid-19-common-question.
No business may operate until it can meet and maintain all the requirements in this document, including providing materials, schedules and equipment required to comply. Additional considerations may be adopted, as appropriate.
All issues regarding worker safety and health are subject to enforcement action under L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Employers can request COVID-19 prevention advice and help from L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
• Employee workplace safety and health complaints may be submitted to the L&I DOSH Safety Call Center: (1-800-423-7233) or via e-mail to [email protected].
• General questions about how to comply with the agreement practices can be submitted to the state’s Business Response Center at https://coronavirus.wa.gov/how-you-can-help/covid-19business-and-worker-inquiries.
• All other violations related to Proclamation 20-25 can be submitted at https://bit.ly/covidcompliance.
