NEW CAL/OSHA EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

Cal-OSHA's temporary emergency regulations requiring employers to protect workers from hazards related to COVID-19 were approved on 11/30/2020 and went into effect on 12/01/2020. The "emergency temporary standards" provide that employers must:
  1. Implement a site-specific written COVID-19 prevention plan to address COVID-19 related health hazards (Note: A usable model program is available on the Cal-OSHA web site);
  2. Correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions;
  3. Provide face coverings;
  4. When at the worksite there are multiple COVID-19 infections (3 or more within 14 days) or outbreaks (20 or more cases within 30 days), employers must provide provide COVID-19 testing (at no cost to the employees) and timely notify public health departments (within 48 hours); and
  5. Maintain accurate recordkeeping and reporting of COVID-19 cases.

Presently unknown how long these "temporary" regulations will remain in effect, but they will probably remain active well into the first quarter of 2021.

[COMMENT: Failure to abide by these regulations not only exposes employers to Cal-OSHA fines, but also potentially to civil claims and/or a claim of Serious & Wilful Misconduct if connected to an industrial injury.]