The COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards are still in effect. The workplace standards were updated in December 2021 to include minor revisions related to returning to work after close contact. The revisions are effective starting on January 14, 2022. In addition to these requirements, employers must follow public health orders on COVID-19. The latest order from the California Department of Public Health on January 5, 2022 requires the use of face coverings by all employees when indoors. More information on the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards is available in Cal/OSHA’s Frequently Asked Questions.

The ETS applies to all employers, employees, and to all places of employment with the following exceptions:

• Work locations where there is only one employee who does not have contact with other people.
• Employees who are working from home.
• Employees who are covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases regulation.
• Employees working from a location chosen by the employee, which is not under the control of the employer (for instance, an employee teleworking from a café or a friend’s home)

Learn more about the ETS scope of coverage.

There are no physical distancing or barrier requirements in the workplace regardless of employee vaccination status with the following exceptions:

• There is an unvaccinated employee that, for medical reasons, is not able to wear a face covering or non-restrictive alternative and other employees are not fully vaccinated or tested at least weekly.
• Employers must evaluate whether it is necessary to implement physical distancing and barriers during an outbreak (3 or more cases in an exposed group of employees)
• Employers must implement physical distancing and barriers during a major outbreak (20 or more cases in an exposed group of employees)

More information is available on Cal/OSHA’s ETS page.

Yes. Vaccination status must be documented. The revised ETS does not specify a particular method. The employer must record the vaccination status for any employee not wearing a face covering indoors and this record must be kept confidential. The revised ETS does not specify a particular method.

Employers can require all employees wear a face covering instead of having a documentation process.

View acceptable documentation options.

An employer must provide respirators in two scenarios:

1. To any unvaccinated employee who works with others indoors or in a vehicle and who requests one.
2. Where there is a major outbreak, to any employees in the exposed group for voluntary use.

The respirator must be the right size, and the employee must receive basic instruction on how to get a good “seal,” or fit.

Find out more about respirators.

Face coverings are required indoors and in vehicles for unvaccinated employees. Employees in certain indoor settings must wear a face covering regardless of vaccination status if required by CDPH order. As of June 15, those indoor settings where CDPH requires face coverings include public transit, K-12 educational facilities, health care and long-term care settings, correctional and detention facilities, and shelters (homeless or emergency shelters and cooling centers).

Though face coverings are not required outdoors, employers must communicate to workers that face coverings are recommended for unvaccinated persons outdoors where six feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained. Employers must provide face coverings to unvaccinated persons and make them available to vaccinated persons upon request.

Find out more about face coverings.

Yes, including:

• An effective written COVID-19 Prevention Program.
• Providing effective training and instruction to employees on the employer’s prevention plan and their rights under the ETS.
• Providing notification to public health departments of outbreaks.
• Providing notification to employees of exposure and close contacts.
• Requirements to offer testing after potential exposures.
• Requirements for responding to COVID-19 cases and outbreaks.
• Quarantine and exclusion pay requirements.
• Basic prevention requirements for employer-provided housing and transportation.

Review the latest information on the revisions in Cal/OSHA’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Visit Cal/OSHA’s ETS page. This page contains helpful information and resources specifically related to the emergency temporary standards for employers and workers. 

California has new laws and regulations to protect workers and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection at workplaces.

COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS)

The COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) became effective and enforceable on November 30, 2020. The ETS has been readopted with revisions twice. Most recently, the ETS was readopted on December 16, 2021. The revisions include minor change to reflect the latest public health guidance. The changes became effective on January 14, 2022.

On June 17, 2021 the emergency temporary standards were readopted with revisions for the first time. Many of those changes are still in place. There were changes to face covering, physical distancing, testing and other requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated workers.

The ETS applies to all employers, employees, and to all places of employment with three exceptions:

• Workplaces where there is only one employee who does not have contact with other people.
• Employees who are working from home or teleworking from a location of the employee’s choice that is not under the control of the employer.
• Employees who are covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases regulation.

As required by the ETS, an employer must establish an effective written COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP). The employer must include in their written program and implement the following items:

• System for communicating with employees and other persons in the workplace about the employer’s COVID-19 prevention procedures.
• Identification, evaluation, and correction of COVID-19 hazards.
• Physical distancing must be used for certain employees when required by the ETS, where an employer determines there is a hazard and for certain employees during outbreaks.
• Ensuring the proper use of face coverings:
  • Note: the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments might have requirements for face coverings at work in addition to the requirements in the ETS. Employers and workers must follow the latest state and local public health requirements in addition to the ETS.
  • Employees are not required to wear face coverings when outdoors regardless of vaccination status except for certain employees during outbreaks.
  • Fully vaccinated employees do not need to wear face coverings indoors or in vehicles, except for certain situations, such as during outbreaks and in settings where CDPH requires all persons to wear face coverings. Employers must document the vaccination status of fully vaccinated employees if they do not wear face coverings indoors.
  • Employees required to wear face coverings, such as unvaccinated employees working indoors, are permitted to not wear a face covering under certain circumstances:
    • When an employee is alone in a room or vehicle.
    • While eating or drinking at the workplace, provided employees are at least six feet apart and outside air supply to the area, if indoors, has been maximized to the extent feasible.
    • Employees wearing respirators required by the employer and used in compliance in accordance with section 5144 or other title 8 safety orders.
    • Employees who cannot wear face coverings due to a medical or mental health condition or disability, or who are hearing-impaired or communicating with a hearing-impaired person.
    • While doing specific tasks which cannot feasibly be performed with a face covering. This exception is limited to the time period in which such tasks are actually being performed.
  • Employees who are not fully vaccinated may request respirators like N95 masks for voluntary use from their employers at no cost and without fear of retaliation from their employers.
• Engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment that will be used to reduce transmission risk.
• Procedures to investigate and respond to COVID-19 cases in the workplace.
• Provide COVID-19 training and instruction to employees.
• Provide testing to unvaccinated employees with COVID-19 symptoms, employees who come into close contact with a COVID-19 case, and in the case of multiple infections or a major outbreak, implement regular testing for employees in the exposed group, and ensure employees incur no cost for the testing. This means you must compensate employees at their regular rate of pay for the time to get tested, as well as travel time and travel costs to and from the testing site.
• Exclusion of COVID-19 cases, unvaccinated employees that come into close contact, and vaccinated employees that come into close contact and develop symptoms from the workplace until they are no longer an infection risk.
• Maintain records of COVID-19 cases and report serious illnesses to Cal/OSHA and cases and outbreaks to the local health department, as required.

Cal/OSHA has posted a Model COVID-19 Prevention Program (Microsoft Word document) on its website to assist employers with establishing their own COVID-19 Prevention Program for their workplace. 

COVID-19 infection prevention requirements from AB 685

In addition to the ETS you should be aware of the COVID-19 infection prevention requirements from AB 685. 

• Within one business day, employers must notify all employees, their authorized representative, and independent contractors and other employers at a worksite of potential exposures, COVID-19-related benefits and protections, and disinfection and safety measures that will be taken at the worksite in response to the potential exposure.
• Employers must notify local public health agencies of all workplace outbreaks, which is defined as three or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among employees who live in different households within a two-week period.

Additionally, AB 685 enhanced Cal/OSHA’s ability to conduct enforcement:

• From January 1, 2021 until January 1, 2023, Cal/OSHA can issue an Order Prohibiting Use (OPU) to shut down an entire worksite or a specific worksite area that exposes employees to an imminent hazard related to COVID-19.
• From January 1, 2021 until January 1, 2023, Cal/OSHA can issue citations for serious violations related to COVID-19 without giving employers 15-day notice before issuance.

Workers’ Compensation Presumption (SB 1159) 

This new law creates two rebuttable presumptions that COVID-19 illnesses contracted by specific categories of employees are work related and therefore eligible for workers’ compensation, including medical treatment.

• The first presumption applies to COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims filed by peace officers, firefighters, first responders, and health care workers.
• The second presumption, for employers with five or more employees, applies to employees who test positive for COVID-19 during an outbreak at the employee’s specific place of employment. An outbreak occurs when a set number of employees – depending on the number of employees at the workplace – test positive for COVID-19 during a continuous 14-day period.
  • Employers are required to report all employee infections at a specific workplace to their workers’ compensation insurer, regardless of whether the infection appears to be work related. 
  • This is a rebuttable presumption meaning that an employer can present evidence regarding measures they have taken to reduce potential transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL)

Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL): In 2020, California authorized emergency COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave of up to 80 hours for most workers. The 2020 requirement expired on December 31, 2020. Another law, SB 95, authorized 2021 SPSL. The law went into effect on March 29 and was retroactive to January 1, 2021. The law required qualifying employees be provided up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave if they are unable to work or telework due to specific COVID-19 reasons. The leave time also applied to getting a COVID-19 vaccine and recovering from symptoms related to the vaccine. 2021 SPSL is was in effect until September 30, 2021 for employers with 26 or more workers. Small businesses employing 25 or fewer workers were exempt from the law but may offer supplemental paid sick leave and receive a federal tax credit, if eligible. If your employees took unpaid time off due to COVID-19 in 2021, they might still be able to request pay after September 30. The Labor Commissioner’s Office has Frequently Asked Questions about 2021 SPSL in English and Spanish.

More Resources:

• Cal/OSHA FAQs on emergency temporary COVID-19 prevention requirements
• DWC FAQs on SB 1159
• Cal/OSHA FAQs on AB 685 new notification requirements

Yes, the Unruh Civil Rights Act permits businesses to implement rules that protect employees and customers from COVID-19 infection.
Please note that the business can’t ask only certain type of customers about the above if it’s done so based on a personal characteristic protected by the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Please consult DFEH’s Guidance regarding COVID-19 safety measures and reasonable accommodations for important information about reasonable accommodations as well.

Physical Distancing

There are no physical distancing or barrier requirements in the workplace regardless of employee vaccination status with the following exceptions:

• An employee that is required by the standard to wear a face covering, but for medical reasons, is not able to wear one or a non-restrictive alternative must physically distance and either become fully vaccinated or be tested at least weekly.
• An employee not wearing a face covering must physically distance unless the unmasked employee is fully vaccinated or tested at least weekly for COVID-19 during paid time and at no cost to the employee
• Employees who are not excluded from work after a close contact because they were:
  • Already fully vaccinated, or
  • COVID-19 cases who developed symptoms within the last 90 days, or
  • COVID-19 cases who first tested positive within the last 90 days, must stay six feet away from others and wear a face covering for 14 days following their close contact
• Employees who meet requirements to return to work early (before 14 days have elapsed) after a close contact. These employees must also wear a face covering during this period.
• Employers must evaluate whether it is necessary to implement physical distancing and barriers during an outbreak (3 or more cases in an exposed group of employees)
• Employers must implement physical distancing and barriers during a major outbreak (20 or more cases in an exposed group of employees)

Handwashing

You must encourage hand washing and allow more time for frequent, adequate hand washing, which includes:

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Washing commonly missed areas such as palms, back of hand, thumbs, underneath fingernails and between fingers.

Hand Sanitizer

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, provide employees with an effective hand sanitizer by distributing them at various locations throughout the worksite. Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing but it can be used if soap and water are not immediately available. Do not provide or allow the use of hand sanitizers with methyl alcohol.

Cleaning Commonly Touched Surfaces

You must establish procedures to routinely clean commonly touched objects and surfaces. You should ensure there is adequate time and supplies to support cleaning practices. These cleaning procedures must include:

• Identifying and regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, equipment, tools, handrails, handles, controls, bathroom surfaces and steering wheels.
• Informing employees and authorized employee representatives of cleaning and protocols, including the planned frequency and scope of regular cleaning and disinfection of an area used by an employee COVID-19 case.
• Cleaning and disinfection of areas, material, and equipment used by a COVID-19 case during the high-risk exposure period.

Infection Prevention Supplies

The commonly touched surfaces in your workplace should be more frequently cleaned with products that are EPA-approved for use against COVID-19. You should ensure safe, correct use of any product and any protective equipment that is required.

Face Coverings

Employers must provide and ensure the proper use of face coverings in the workplace under certain conditions.

• Note: the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments might have requirements for face coverings at work in addition to the requirements in the ETS. Employers and workers must follow the latest state and local public health requirements in addition to the ETS.
• To all employees, regardless of their vaccination status.
• Employees are not required to wear face coverings when outdoors regardless of vaccination status except for certain employees during outbreaks.
• Fully vaccinated employees working indoors do not need to wear face coverings except for certain situations, including during outbreaks, during symptom screening, when not excluded from the workplace in the 14 days following a close contact, and in settings where CDPH requires all persons to wear face coverings.
• Employees required to wear face coverings may not do so under certain conditions.
• Employees who are not fully vaccinated may request respirators such as N95 masks for voluntary use from their employers at no cost and without fear of retaliation from their employers.
• It is illegal for employers to retaliate against any worker for using a face covering.

Employers must record the vaccination status for fully vaccinated employees not wearing a face covering indoors and this record must be kept confidential. Cal/OSHA’s regulations do not specify exactly how the vaccination status must be recorded. Acceptable options include:

• Employees provide proof of vaccination (vaccine card, image of vaccine card or health care document showing vaccination status) and employer maintains a copy.
• Employees provide proof of vaccination. The employer maintains a record of the employees who presented proof, but not the vaccine record itself.
• Employees self-attest to vaccination status and employer maintains a record of who self-attests.
• Employers can require all employees wear a face covering instead of having a documentation process.

Indoor Airflow and Filtration

To make the workplace safer from COVID-19, employers must evaluate how to increase airflow and filtration at work. This means employers must take steps to improve airflow and filtration whenever possible. Cal/OSHA has guidance to help employers evaluate airflow in different settings.

The COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards requires employers to review CDPH’s Interim guidance for Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality in Indoor Environments.

Permit and Encourage Use of Paid Sick Leave and Workers’ Compensation

If a worker is sick or has been exposed to COVID-19 you must provide the worker with certain wages and/or benefits. For more detailed information on the wages or benefits listed below, explore a worker may be sick or exposed to COVID-19 on this site.

Testing and Exclusion Pay

Employees who are not fully vaccinated and exhibit COVID-19 symptoms must be provided testing by their employer. The testing must be provided during paid time. Employees must be excluded from the workplace in the following circumstances:

• Employee tests positive for COVID-19.
• Employee had close contact with others who are COVID-19 positive during the high-risk exposure period and they are not fully vaccinated.
• All employees that develop symptoms after close contact, regardless of their vaccination status.

If the exposure is work-related and employees are excluded from work, employers must maintain their pay by providing exclusion pay. The Labor Commissioner’s Office has more information on exclusion pay.

Paid Sick Leave

You may be obligated to provide paid sick leave.

If your workers qualify for paid sick leave, you must allow them to take the leave immediately upon their written or oral request.

California required employers with 26 or more employees to provide up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave from January 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021. Read more about this supplemental paid sick leave that should have been made available in 2021 in the Labor Commissioner’s frequently asked questions.

Workers’ Compensation

If a test confirms an employee has COVID-19 and was exposed to COVID-19 at work, the employee might be eligible for workers’ compensation, which provides benefits that include:

• Medical care
• Temporary disability benefits
• Permanent disability benefits

Remember: Taking an adverse act, including cutting pay or hours, terminating or suspending, in response to workers exercising their rights under the law, including making an oral or written complaint about working conditions or demand for benefits, is unlawful retaliation.

More Resources:

Take an online workplace health and safety training on COVID-19 infection prevention

Face Coverings

Employers must ensure the proper use of face coverings in the workplace.

• Note: the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments might have requirements for face coverings at work in addition to the requirements in the ETS. Employers and workers must follow the latest state and local public health requirements in addition to the ETS.
• Employees are not required to wear face coverings when outdoors regardless of vaccination status except for certain employees during outbreaks.
• Fully vaccinated employees do not need to wear face coverings indoors or in vehicles, except for certain situations, including during outbreaks, during symptom screenings, during the 14 days after a close contact if not excluded from the workplace, and in settings where CDPH requires all persons to wear face coverings. Employers must document the vaccination status of fully vaccinated employees if they do not wear face coverings indoors.
• Employees required to wear face coverings, such as unvaccinated employees working indoors, are permitted to not wear a face covering under certain circumstances.
  • When an employee is alone in a room or vehicle.
  • While eating or drinking at the workplace, provided employees are at least six feet apart and outside air supply to the area, if indoors, has been maximized to the extent feasible.
  • Employees wearing respirators required by the employer and used in compliance in accordance with section 5144 or other title 8 safety orders.
  • Employees who cannot wear face coverings due to a medical or mental health condition or disability, or who are hearing-impaired or communicating with a hearing-impaired person.
  • Specific tasks which cannot feasibly be performed with a face covering. This exception is limited to the time period in which such tasks are actually being performed.
• Employees who are not fully vaccinated may request respirators like N95 masks for voluntary use from their employers at no cost and without fear of retaliation from their employers.
• It is illegal for employers to retaliate against any worker for using a face covering.

Employers must record the vaccination status for any employee not wearing a face covering indoors and this record must be kept confidential. Cal/OSHA’s regulations do not specify exactly how the vaccination status must be recorded. Acceptable options include:

• Employees provide proof of vaccination (vaccine card, image of vaccine card or health care document showing vaccination status) and employer maintains a copy.
• Employees provide proof of vaccination. The employer maintains a record of the employees who presented proof, but not the vaccine record itself.
• Employees self-attest to vaccination status and employer maintains a record of who self-attests.
• Employers can require all employees wear a face covering instead of having a documentation process.

Other Personal Protective Equipment

Employers are required to evaluate the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure to COVID-19. What PPE you must provide will depend on your employees’ risk of exposure.

Your written plan on preventing workplace safety and health hazards must include training on proper use of any personal protective equipment.

Examples of PPE include:

• Gloves
• Goggles
• Face shields

All types of PPE must be:

• Selected based upon the hazard to the worker.
• Properly worn when required.
• Regularly inspected, maintained and replaced, as necessary.
• Properly removed, cleaned, and stored or disposed of to avoid contamination of self, others, or the environment.

You must provide effective training and instruction to your employees on the following:

• The employer’s COVID-19 program requirements to protect employees from COVID-19 hazards and how employees can participate in the identification and evaluation of COVID-19 hazards.
• Information on COVID-19 including:
  • COVID-19 is an infectious disease that can be spread through the air when an infectious person talks or vocalizes, sneezes, coughs, or exhales.
  • That COVID19 can also be spread when a person touches a contaminated object and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, though that is less common.
  • That an infectious person may have no symptoms.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19 and protecting against both transmission and serious illness or death.
• Self-screening at home, including temperature and/or symptom checks using CDC guidelines.
• The importance of not coming to work:
  • If a worker has symptoms of COVID-19 as described by the CDC, such as a fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, OR
  • If a worker was diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not yet been released from isolation, OR
  • If, within the past 14 days, a worker has had contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is considered potentially infectious (i.e., still on isolation).
• To return to work after a worker receives a COVID-19 diagnosis only after meeting CDPH Guidance on Returning to Work or School Following COVID-19 Diagnosis.
• To seek medical attention if their symptoms become severe, including persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or bluish lips or face. Updates and further details are available on CDC’s webpage.
• The importance of frequent handwashing with soap and water, including scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds (or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol (preferred) or 70% isopropanol (if the product is inaccessible to unsupervised children) when workers cannot get to a sink or handwashing station, per CDC guidelines). Never use hand sanitizers with methanol due to its high toxicity to both children and adults.
• Ensure any independent contractors, temporary, or contract workers at the facility are also properly trained in COVID-19 prevention policies and have necessary supplies and PPE. Discuss these responsibilities ahead of time with organizations supplying temporary and/or contract workers.
• Information on paid leave benefits the worker may be entitled to receive that would make it financially easier to stay at home. See additional information on government programs supporting sick leave and workers’ compensation for COVID-19, including workers’ sick leave rights under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
• The employer’s policies for providing N95 respirators and the right for not fully vaccinated employees to request them for voluntary use without fear of retaliation and at no cost to employees. Employees voluntarily using N95 respirators must be trained on proper use and limitations.

More Resources:

Cal/OSHA FAQs on emergency temporary COVID-19 prevention requirements

• Consult the latest information from the Governor’s Office on which businesses and activities can operate.
• Identify and correct unsafe work practices.
  • Create a site-specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan (Model COVID-19 Prevention Program [Microsoft Word document])
  • Consult industry specific guidance and checklists
  • Conduct a site-specific evaluation of where COVID-19 transmission could occur, including interactions between employees and any other persons, and places employees may congregate or interact with members of the public.
  • Allow workers and worker representatives to be involved in hazard identification and evaluation.
• Provide effective training to employees based on the requirements of Cal/OSHA’s emergency temporary standards on COVID-19.
• Modify work practices, employee schedules and the physical workplace to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

More Resources:

Cal/OSHA FAQs on emergency temporary COVID-19 prevention requirements

Ensure that workers know the symptoms of COVID-19 and encourage them to stay home if they have any of the following:

Common Symptoms of COVID-19

Read more on California’s website for COVID-19 Symptoms and Facts.

You should encourage employees to let supervisors know if they think they have been in close contact with a COVID-19 case or if they have symptoms. Workers should stay home unless they need medical care. Paid sick leave may be available to them while they recover at home. Provide workers with information on how they can request and use paid sick leave benefits.

If the exposure is work-related and employees are excluded from work, employers must maintain their pay by providing exclusion pay. The Labor Commissioner’s Office has more information on exclusion pay.

Employees must be excluded from the workplace in the following circumstances:

• Employee tests positive for COVID-19.
• Employee had close contact with others who are COVID-19-positive during the high-risk exposure period and they are not fully vaccinated. (Note: Employees who had close contact with others who are COVID-19-positive during the high-risk exposure period and (1) they are fully vaccinated, (2) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but never developed symptoms, or (3) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but they have recovered from all symptoms, do not need to be excluded as long as they wear a face covering and maintain six feet distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following their last date of close contact.)
• All employees that develop symptoms after a close contact, regardless of their vaccination status.

If You Become Aware an Employee is Sick or has been in Close Contact

You must investigate and respond to a COVID-19 case or close contact in the workplace by doing the following:

• Determine when the COVID-19 case was last in the workplace, and if possible the date of testing and onset of symptoms.
• Determine which employees may have been in close contact to the COVID-19 case (within six feet for cumulative total of 15 minutes or greater within a 24-hour period within the high-risk exposure period).
• Notify employees and any authorized representatives within one business day (and notify any other employer who has potentially exposed employees in the workplace) of the time the employer knew of a COVID-19 case.
• Employers must offer COVID-19 testing at no cost to employees during paid time to all employees who had close contact in the workplace, except for:
  • COVID-19 cases who were allowed to return to work and have remained symptom free.
• Testing must also be provided for employees in an exposed group:
  • All employees present during the 14-day period in an outbreak, except those who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but never developed symptoms, and those who tested positive for COVID-19 and first developed symptoms within the last 90 days.
  • All employees in a major outbreak.
• Investigate the exposure and determine whether workplace conditions could have contributed to the risk of exposure, and what hazard corrections would reduce exposure.
• Follow all recordkeeping and reporting requirements for employee COVID-19 cases.
• Exclude from the workplace COVID-19 cases and employees who had a close contact until they are allowed to return to work. See exceptions noted below. However, follow the CDPH Guidelines for Isolation & Quarantine if those exclusion periods are shorter than those in the Cal/OSHA standards. (Note on exceptions: Employees who had close contact with others who are COVID-19-positive during the high-risk exposure period and (1) they are fully vaccinated, (2) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but never developed symptoms, or (3) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but they have recovered from all symptoms, do not need to be excluded as long as they wear a face covering and maintain six feet distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following their last date of close contact.
• Follow the requirements for preserving their pay and benefits.
• Follow the return to work criteria for returning excluded employees to work. Follow the CDPH Guidelines for Isolation & Quarantine if those exclusion periods are shorter than those in the Cal/OSHA standards.

Cal/OSHA has a fact sheet on isolation and quarantine.

Recording and Reporting

Employers must record work-related COVID-19 cases in their injury and illnesses logs. You must report information about COVID-19 cases and outbreaks at the workplace to the local health department whenever required by law. You must also notify Cal/OSHA right away when there is a serious illnesses or fatality related to COVID-19. Read Cal/OSHA’s FAQs on recording and reporting COVID-19 cases.

Employers must record the vaccination status for any employee not wearing a face covering indoors and this record must be kept confidential. Cal/OSHA’s regulations do not specify exactly how the vaccination status must be recorded. Acceptable options include:

• Employees provide proof of vaccination (vaccine card, image of vaccine card or health care document showing vaccination status) and employer maintains a copy.
• Employees provide proof of vaccination. The employer maintains a record of the employees who presented proof, but not the vaccine record itself.
• Employees self-attest to vaccination status and employer maintains a record of who self-attests.

Disinfection after COVID-19 Case in the Workplace

Employers must implement cleaning and disinfecting procedures that require:

1. Identifying and regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, equipment, tools, handrails, handles, controls, phones, headsets, bathroom surfaces and steering wheels. Employers must inform employees and authorized employee representatives of cleaning and disinfection protocols, including the planned frequency and scope of cleaning and disinfection.
2. Cleaning of areas, material, and equipment used by a COVID-19 case during the high-risk exposure period, and disinfection if the area, material, or equipment is indoors and will be used by another employee within 24 hours of the COVID-19 case.

Return to Work Criteria After COVID-19 Illness or Close Contact

Employers must exclude from work COVID-19 cases, and unvaccinated employees that have been in close contact with a COVID-19 case in the workplace. (Note: Employees who had close contact with others who are COVID-19-positive during the high-risk exposure period and (1) they are fully vaccinated, (2) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but never developed symptoms, or (3) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but they have recovered from all symptoms, do not need to be excluded as long as they wear a face covering and maintain six feet distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following their last date of close contact.) A COVID-19 case or close contact may return to work when any of the following occur:

• For employees with symptoms and persons who had a close contact and developed symptoms (with some exceptions) all of these conditions must be met:
  • At least 24 hours have passed since a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications; and
  • COVID-19 symptoms have improved; and
  • At least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.
• For COVID-19 cases who tested positive but never developed symptoms, at least 10 days have passed since the COVID-19 case’s first positive test.

Employees who had a close contact and never developed symptoms may return to work when 14 days have passed since the last known close contact unless either of the exceptions in subsections (c)(10)(D)1.a. or b. applies:

• (a) 10 days have passed since the last known close contact and the person wears a face covering and maintains six feet of distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following the last date of close contact.
• (b) Seven days have passed since the last known close contact; the person tested negative for COVID-19 using a COVID-19 test with the specimen taken at least five days after the last known close contact; and the person wears a face covering and maintains six feet of distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following the last date of close contact.

There may be different return-to-work criteria during critical staffing shortages for certain workplaces such as health care, emergency response, and some social service workers. Refer to the CDPH Guidelines for Isolation and Quarantine for Health Care Personnel.

More Resources

• Cal/OSHA FAQs on emergency temporary COVID-19 prevention requirements
• Fact sheet on what employers need to know about the revised emergency temporary COVID-19 prevention requirements
• Cal/OSHA Fact Sheet on Isolation and Quarantine

Testing and Exclusion Pay

Employees who are not fully vaccinated and exhibit COVID-19 symptoms must be provided testing by their employer. The testing must be provided during paid time. Employees must be excluded from the workplace in the following circumstances:

• Employee tests positive for COVID-19.
• Employee had close contact with others who are COVID-19 positive during the high-risk exposure period and they are not fully vaccinated.
  (Note: Employees who had close contact with others who are COVID-19-positive during the high-risk exposure period and (1) they are fully vaccinated, (2) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but never developed symptoms, or (3) had tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days but they have recovered from all symptoms, do not need to be excluded as long as they wear a face covering and maintain six feet distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following their last date of close contact.)
• All employees that develop symptoms after a close contact, regardless of their vaccination status.

If the exposure is work-related and employees are excluded from work, employers must maintain their pay by providing exclusion pay. The Labor Commissioner’s Office has more information on exclusion pay.

Review Cal/OSHA’s Isolation and Quarantine Fact Sheet.

Paid Sick Leave (up to 24 hours)

Under California’s regular paid sick leave law: Employees working for you in California for at least 30 days in a year are probably covered, whether they are a full-time, part-time, or temporary employee.

California’s regular paid sick leave law gives employees sick time that can be used to:

• Recover from physical/mental illness or injury;
• To seek medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care;
• To care for a family member who is ill or needs medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care.
• Self-isolate as a result of potential exposure to COVID-19.

Employees can earn one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. An employer must allow an employee to take at least 24 hours or three days of paid sick leave per year, whichever is more.

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

Employers in the public or private sectors with more than 25 employees, including those with collective bargaining agreements, were required to provide up to 80 hours of COVID-19 related supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) from January 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Workers can still file claims for unpaid SPSL that was not provided during the period the law was in effect. The Labor Commissioner’s Office has more information on SPSL.

If Employees Are Denied Paid Sick Leave

If employees are denied paid sick leave, they can report the violation to the Labor Commissioner’s Office. Employers may be subject to fines and penalties if employees file a claim or if the Labor Commissioner opens an investigation to look into workers who were denied paid sick leave.

More Resources

Side by side Comparison of Leave Chart

Employers must implement cleaning and disinfecting procedures that require:

1. Identifying and regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, equipment, tools, handrails, handles, controls, phones, headsets, bathroom surfaces and steering wheels. Employers must inform employees and authorized employee representatives of cleaning and disinfection protocols, including the planned frequency and scope of cleaning and disinfection.
2. Cleaning of areas, material, and equipment used by a COVID-19 case during the high-risk exposure period, and disinfection if the area, material, or equipment is indoors and will be used by another employee within 24 hours of the COVID-19 case.

Handwashing

To protect employees from COVID-19 hazards you must evaluate handwashing facilities, determine the need for additional facilities, encourage and allow time for employee handwashing, and provide employees with an effective hand sanitizer. You should encourage employees to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds each time. Provide or allow the use of hand sanitizers with methyl alcohol.

More Resources

Take Cal/OSHA’s training course for supervisors on COVID-19 infection prevention

If a worker believes they contracted COVID-19 at their workplace, they have a right to workers’ compensation benefits. You should encourage workers to notify their employer and file a workers’ compensation claim if they think they contracted COVID-19 at work. When you become aware of the illness, you should provide your employee the workers’ compensation claim form.

New Law on COVID-19 Presumptions

On September 17, 2020, the governor signed Senate Bill 1159. This new law creates two rebuttable presumptions that COVID-19 illnesses contracted by specific categories of employees are work related and therefore eligible for workers’ compensation, including medical treatment.

• The first presumption applies to COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims filed by peace officers, firefighters, first responders, and health care workers.
• The second presumption, for employers with five or more employees, applies to employees who test positive for COVID-19 during an outbreak at the employee’s specific place of employment. An outbreak occurs when a set number of employees – depending on the number of employees at the workplace – test positive for COVID-19 during a continuous 14-day period.
  • Employers are required to report all employee infections at a specific workplace to their workers’ compensation insurer, regardless of whether the infection appears to be work related. 
  • This is a rebuttable presumption meaning that an employer can present evidence regarding measures they have taken to reduce potential transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.

This bill limits the risk of employers being liable for claims where the infection did not occur at work by tailoring the presumptions to those first responders and frontline health care workers whose work puts them at the greatest risk of exposure and other employees where there is a demonstrated and verifiable COVID-19 outbreak at their worksite.

If You Need Additional Support

You can contact the Information and Assistance Unit if you have questions or call 1‑800‑736‑7401 for recorded information

More Resources

• DWC FAQs on SB 1159
• How to file a workers’ compensation claim
• DWC Injured Worker Guidebook
• Workers’ Compensation claim form (DWC 1)

Cal/OSHA’s emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 prevention define outbreaks and major outbreaks:

• Outbreak – three or more employee COVID-19 cases in an “exposed group” within a 14-day period or identified as an outbreak by a local health department.
• Major outbreak – 20 or more employee COVID-19 cases in an “exposed group” within a 30-day period.

“Exposed group” means all employees at a work location, working area, or a common area at work, where an employee COVID-19 case was present at any time during the high-risk exposure period. A common area at work includes bathrooms, walkways, hallways, aisles, break or eating areas, and waiting areas. The following exceptions apply:

• (A) For the purpose of determining the exposed group, a place where persons momentarily pass through while everyone is wearing face coverings, without congregating, is not a work location, working area, or a common area at work.
• (B) If the COVID-19 case was part of a distinct group of employees who are not present at the workplace at the same time as other employees, for instance a work crew or shift that does not overlap with another work crew or shift, only employees within that distinct group are part of the exposed group.
• (C) If the COVID-19 case visited a work location, working area, or a common area at work for less than 15 minutes during the high-risk exposure period, and all persons were wearing face coverings at the time the COVID-19 case was present, other people at the work location, working area, or common area are not part of the exposed group.

NOTE: An exposed group may include the employees of more than one employer. See Labor Code sections 6303 and 6304.1 for full details.

Notification to the Local Health Department

You must contact the local health department immediately but no longer than 48 hours after you become aware of three or more COVID-19 cases for guidance on preventing the further spread of COVID-19 within the workplace.

You must provide to the local health department the total number of COVID-19 cases and for each COVID-19 case, the name, contact information, occupation, workplace location, business address, the hospitalization and/or fatality status, and North American Industry Classification System code of the workplace of the COVID-19 case, and any other information requested by the local health department. You should continue to give notice to the local health department of any subsequent COVID-19 cases at the workplace.

More Resources

• Cal/OSHA FAQs on AB 685 new notification requirements
• Cal/OSHA FAQs on emergency temporary COVID-19 prevention requirements
• Revisions to the COVID-19 Prevention ETS FAQs