The updated revisions are meant to offer clarity and consistency for employers and employees as California fully reopens its economy.
While the state began its reopening on Tuesday, Cal/OSHA’s regulations hadn’t yet come into line with guidance from the other state and federal agencies, which had created issues for employers such as the county of Lake, as Lake County News has reported.
As of Thursday’s action, Cal/OSHA’s revisions align with the latest guidance from the California Department of Public Health — based on guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — on face coverings and eliminate physical distancing requirements, except for certain employees during outbreaks.
Unless they show symptoms, fully vaccinated employees do not need to be offered testing or be excluded from work after close contact with a COVID-19-positive person.
Ensuring workplaces throughout the state have consistent guidance as California officially moves Beyond the Blueprint, the governor’s order waives the 10-day review process by the Office of Administrative Law.
The emergency regulations will take effect upon their filing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
With over 40 million vaccines administered and among the lowest case rates and transmission rates in the nation, the state fully reopened on June 15, eliminating pandemic-related restrictions that have been in place over the past year.
Initially implemented last November, the state said Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards remain an important component of the state’s ongoing response, providing balanced worker protections that support California’s continued progress in recovering from the pandemic.
The full text of today’s executive order can be seen below.
More information on the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards can be found here.
6.17.21-ETS-EO-N-09-21 by LakeCoNews on Scribd