California Safety Agency Approves Stringent COVID-19 Regulations

On November 18, 2020, the California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal OSHA”) proposed emergency regulations (Labor Code sections 3205, 3205.1, 3205.2, 3205.3 and 3205.4) to adopt new workplace protocols giving employers with more comprehensive guidelines to adequately and quickly enforce existing and modifying safety rules to COVID-19.  The main requirements of the rules are that employers must implement an effective COVID-19 prevention program.  Some of the new requirements include, but not are not limited to, an employer’s obligation to provide COVID-19 testing, face covers and personal protective equipment to its employees at no cost to them.