Cal/OSHA recently updated and published their latest revision to their COVID-19 Emergency Regulations. Most of the core requirements that employers must develop, implement, and maintain via a written COVID-19Prevention Plan remain the same from the prior version, including:
· Communicating, identifying, evaluating, and training on COVID-19 hazards
· Conducting close contact analysis and offering testing, free of charge and during paid time, for employees that have close contact in the workplace
· Providing written notice within one business day to all employees, other employers, and independent contractors who were at the same worksite as the COVID-19 case during the“infectious period” (“Infectious period” now replaces the term “high-risk exposure period”)
· Correcting COVID-19hazards in the workplace
· Weekly testing for all employees in the exposed group during outbreaks, except for those who recently recovered from COVID-19 and returned to the workplace
· Employers must still provide masks upon request by employees, and allow for their free use at the workplace, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also required to be worn when required byorders from CDPH. An employee who tests positive and is subsequently cleared to return to the workplace must now wear a mask until 10 days have passed from the onset of symptoms or their first positive test, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, and regardless of testing negative on Day 5 or later.
Some of the changes made to previous regulations include:
· There is no longer requirement to clean and/or disinfect surfaces from COVID-19
· There is no longer a definition of who is considered “fully vaccinated” and there is no longer arequirement for unvaccinated workers to wear face coverings.
· COVID-19 tests may now be self-administered and self-read, but only if independent verification of theresults can be provided
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