Articles Discussing California Workplace Health And Safety Issues.

On January 8, 2021, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) released an updated version of its frequently asked questions (FAQs) guidance, entitled “COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Frequently Asked Questions,” which includes information about COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards. The FAQs address a number of issues about COVID-19 testing

On January 8, 2021, Cal/OSHA issued a much-awaited second set of FAQs to its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).  The following are ten key takeaways:

On January 8, 2021, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued an updated version of its frequently asked questions (FAQs) guidance, “COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Frequently Asked Questions,” about COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards. The FAQs address many issues about which employers had questions, including paid time off

On December 18, 2020, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Standards Board)1 conducted a Stakeholders Meeting to address employer concerns about the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) issued

In response to the rising number of reported COVID-19 cases in California, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopted emergency temporary standards (ETS), which went into effect immediately on November 30, 2020

Shortly before Thanksgiving, California’s Department of Industrial Relations Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (“Board”) adopted a general safety order that creates an emergency temporary standard specific to potential workplace COVID-19 exposures (“Rule”). The Rule was quietly approved by the Office of Administrative Law without detailed analysis on November 30th

By: OAL Approves Cal/OSHA’s Emergency COVID Regulations, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

Last night, California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved Cal/OSHA’s emergency COVID regulations, making them effective immediately.  My prior post summarizing these new regulations is here and the text of the new regulations is here.  Today, California’s Department of Industrial Relations published

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.

On November 19, 2020, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted and approved an emergency COVID-19 regulation governing employers and workplaces. That regulation is scheduled for adoption and implementation on November 30, 2020. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions that employers have expressed about the new

On November 19, 2020, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, the standards-setting agency of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), adopted an emergency standard regarding COVID-19 workplace prevention. The Standards Board submitted the new final rule to the Office of Administrative Law, which may approve

By: Not So Happy Holidays from Cal/OSHA – New Requirements for California Employers

On Friday, Cal/OSHA adopted emergency regulations imposing COVID-related safety standards and requirements related to workplace COVID testing and paid leave for employees who test positive or are exposed to COVID.  The Office of Administrative Law has until November

On November 19, 2020, over the vigorous objections of several employers, trade associations, employer agencies, and defense counsel, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted unanimously to pass the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (Cal/OSHA or the “Division”) Emergency COVID-19 Prevention Regulation.  The finalized draft

California law already prohibits employers from taking certain employment actions against an employee for refusing to work in some circumstances where there is a real or apparent safety hazard to the employee or other employees. On September 29, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2568, which extends that protection to

On September 29, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2537, which significantly expands upon employers’ existing baseline obligations for providing a safe and healthful work environment.  The new bill creates specific requirements regarding general acute care hospitals’ distribution and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).  Its purpose is to protect