11 Dec CAL/OSHA Adopts Temporary COVID-19 Emergency Standard

Posted at 17:49h in Risk Management by . .
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The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has adopted a temporary emergency standard for COVID-19.

The standard protects California workers who are not covered by the state’s aerosol transmissible disease standards (Section 5199) from exposure to COVID-19. The standard went into effect Nov. 30, 2020, and is set to expire on Oct. 2, 2021.

California’s COVID-19 Workplace Safety Standard

The standard requires employers to develop and implement a written COVID-19 prevention program. The program can be part of the employer’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) or maintained separately. The COVID-19 plan should address:

  • COVID-19 identification;
  • Hazard assessment;
  • Investigation and response of infections and outbreaks, with particular emphasis on how to handle multiple COVID-19 infections and major outbreaks; and
  • COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided housing and transportation to and from work.

Action Steps for Employers

Employers should review the new standard and become familiar with their new obligations under the law.

In addition, because of the fluidity of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic situation, employers are urged to monitor California OSHA and the California OSHA COVID-19 guidance and resource website to stay current with compliance requirements.

California’s COVID-19 standard protects employees not covered by Cal/OSHA’s aerosol transmissible diseases standard.

Important Dates

Nov. 30, 2020

Effective date for Cal/OSHA’s temporary COVID-19 emergency standard.

Oct. 2, 2021

Expected expiration date for Cal/OSHA’s temporary COVID-19 emergency standard.

This Legal Update is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice. ©2020 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

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