CalOSHA Updated Workplace Policy for COVID-19 Prevention Goes into Effect
CalOSHA Updated Workplace Policy for COVID-19 Prevention Goes into Effect
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (CalOSHA) recently adopted new revisions to the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) went into effect on January 14. The revisions include:
- Investigating and responding to COVID-19 cases in the workplace: Employers must continue to properly notify employees, employee representatives and any other workers at a worksite of possible COVID-19 exposures within one business day. This section was updated to give employers more clear instructions on how to notify workers who were at the same worksite as the COVID-19 case during the high-risk exposure period.
- Testing and Exclusion: The following revisions make the ETS consistent with current California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommendations:
- Employers are now required to make COVID-19 testing available at no cost and during paid time to employees who were fully vaccinated before the “close contact” with a COVID-19 case occurred, even if they are asymptomatic.
- During outbreaks and major outbreaks, employers must now make weekly testing (outbreaks) or twice-weekly testing (major outbreaks) available to asymptomatic fully vaccinated employees in the exposed group.
- Employees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 and those who are fully vaccinated are not required to be excluded from the workplace after “close contact” but must wear a face covering and maintain six feet of physical distancing for 14 calendar days following the last date of contact
- Return to Work Criteria: The period of time before an employee can return to work after close contact or COVID-19 infection has been revised to be consistent with current CDPH guidelines. These time frames will automatically update if CDPH updates their guidelines pursuant to the Governor’s executive order (N-84-20).