In early June 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order revising the definition of “close contact.” Under the CDPH order, close contact was defined as “someone sharing the same indoor airspace (e.g. home, clinic waiting room, airplane, etc.) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.”
ETS
Governor Rolls Back California COVID-19 Executive Orders & Cal/OSHA Releases Draft Permanent COVID-19 Standard
By Sean Paisan on
Posted in CalOSHA
On June 17, 2022, Governor Newsom issued an executive order terminating certain provisions of prior executive orders related to Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). Some of the terminated orders were no longer necessary due to changes in the ETS. For example, previously the Governor had issued an executive order stating exclusion periods could not…
Cal/OSHA Releases Updated FAQs & Fact Sheets for Third Readoption of ETS
By Sean Paisan & Sierra Vierra on
Posted in CalOSHA
At the end of April, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to approve the Third Readoption of the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The revised version of the ETS took effect on May 6, 2022.
As promised when passed, Cal/OSHA has released updated guidance to assist with this version of the ETS that…
Cal/OSHA Approves the Third Readoption of Cal/OSHA ETS
By Sean Paisan & Melodie K. Arian on
Posted in CalOSHA
On April 21, 2022, Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board voted to approve the Third Readoption of the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).
The third adoption makes some changes to the ETS previously in effect. Some of the more significant changes include:
- Elimination of the requirement that face coverings pass the “light test” (g.does not
…
Cal/OSHA to Vote on Third Readoption of ETS
By Sean Paisan & Melodie K. Arian on
Posted in CalOSHA
Though California has mostly lifted COVID-19 requirements statewide, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board is not planning to let the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) expire. Per Governor Newsom’s executive order, the expiration of the second readoption of the ETS was extended to May 6, 2022, but the Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board has posted a notice that it…
California Changes Mask Guidance for Public Settings and Workplaces
By Sean Paisan & Stephanie A. Kierig on
Posted in Workplace Safety
The same week that California’s third round of COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave went into effect, the Governor released the state’s strategy for the endemic phase of COVID-19.
Aligning with the new endemic strategy, on February 28, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued revised guidance regarding masks. Effective March 1, 2022,…
Statewide Universal Masking Expires February 15th but Employers Need to Consider Local and Cal/OSHA Requirements
By Sayaka Karitani, Sean Paisan & Jacklin Rad on
Posted in Workplace Safety
In January the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) extended universal masking indoors through February 15, 2022, due to a continued COVID-19 surge. In advance of the expiration, Governor Newsom announced that universal masking would not be extended again. The CDPH also published mask guidance for after February 15th.
Effective February 16,…
Cal/OSHA Again Delays a Vote to Adopt the Federal ETS But Provides Additional Cal/OSHA ETS Guidance
By Sean Paisan & Sierra Vierra on
Posted in CalOSHA
At the start of their January 20th meeting, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board announced they would not consider the proposal to adopt the federal ETS, also known as a Horcher proposal. This comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a stay on the federal Emergency Temporary Standard.
If this feels like déjà vu, you…
Cal/OSHA and CDPH Issue Clarifying Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine Requirements
By Sean Paisan & Sierra Vierra on
Posted in CalOSHA
At the end of the year, California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued updated guidance regarding Isolation and Quarantine, which applied to workplaces per the Governor’s prior Executive Order. The timing of this guidance was rather awkward, as the Cal/OSHA Standards Board had recently approved changes to the Cal/OSHA ETS set to go into effect…
Cal/OSHA Finally Publishes Public Notice to Follow CDPH Guidance
By Sean Paisan on
Posted in CalOSHA
On December 16, 2021, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board adopted the third version of the Cal/OSHA ETS with new exclusion and return to work requirements for COVID-19 cases and close contacts.
On December 30, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued new guidance for Isolation and Quarantine for the General Public. This new…