CAL-OSHA Advisory Committee Hearing Update: COVID-19 Emergency Regulations

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CAL-OSHA) has convened an advisory committee to provide input on possible changes to the recently implemented COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).  ​The virtual meetings spanned three days starting on Thursday, February 11th and ending on Tuesday, February 16th.  

The virtual meeting on Thursday, February 11th surrounded discussions regarding proposed changes to the regulation’s definitions, the scopes of the regulations and investigations, exclusion from the workplace and return to work criteria as these issues are addressed by Title 8 California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 3205(c). 
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Discussion during the meeting on February 12th focused on how vaccinations will be addressed by the regulations, surveillance testing and potentially increased requirements regarding the use of respiratory protection.
 
The discussion on February 16th focused on proposed changes to the Prevention in Employer-Provided Housing and Prevention in Employer-Provided Transportation regulations. (Title 8 CCR sections 3205.3 and 3205.4). 
 
The agenda for each of the Advisory Committee Meetings and the Discussion Draft of the ETS provided by CAL-OSHA, outlining proposed changes for discussion can be found here:
 
COVID-19 Prevention Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda (ca.gov)
 
(readoption draft 2).docx (ca.gov)
 
 AGC staff has reviewed the draft regulatory changes and will be monitoring the three-day virtual meeting for comments and additional proposed changes to the ETS.  Over the next two weeks, AGC staff will then update all COVID-19 guidance documents and website information accordingly.