Issue 130 – December 2022
NEWS: WORTHY

Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Permanent Standard
Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), adopted in November 2020, is set to expire on December 31, 2022. The Standards Board plans to vote on the permanent standard at its December 15, 2022, meeting, and the Textproposed permanent standard will remain in effect through December 31, 2024.
Changes from the current ETS include the end-of-exclusion pay for employees excluded from the workplace due to COVID-19. In addition, the definition of “exposed group” will continue to have a “momentary pass-through” exception; however, the exception will be expanded to include individuals who are not masked. Regarding outbreaks, employers will no longer be required to report to their local health department. Moreover, a COVID-19 outbreak is considered over when “one or fewer” new cases are detected in the exposed group for a 14-day period. Following an outbreak, an investigation, review, and correction of hazards will no longer be required to be “immediate.”
Provisions that will continue from the ETS include testing and notice requirements, recordkeeping requirements of employee infection, and the “close contact” definition that aligns with the updated California Department of Public Health definition.
Employers should continue to comply with the obligations under the current ETS through December 31, 2022. For up-to-date information and resources, members are advised to visit Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention webpage. If you have questions, contact your regional risk manager.
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