Emergency farmworker housing rules announced

OLYMPIA — Washington Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Industries have announced new emergency rules for farms with worker housing. The rules were introduced to combat the spread of the coronavirus and will go into effect May 18.

Farmers must submit housing plans to DOH to show how they will comply. Employees must be supplied with face coverings and living quarters — including kitchens, bathrooms and dormitories — must allow for physical distancing. There are rules for setting up beds in dormitories. Housing units must be cleaned frequently.

Workers must be tested, and any worker with coronavirus, or suspected of having it, must be isolated.

A copy of the rules is available on the DOH website.