Governor's Latest COVID-19 Regulations & Guidance
New Employer Playbook For A Safe Re-Opening
On Friday, Governor Newsom announced the State has issued a new "Employer Playbook For A Safe Re-Opening" which contains guidance for the following. The Playbook is intended to codify all employer need-to-know information into one manual.
Requirements Employers Must Satisfy To Provide Safe & Clean Work Environments
This guidance expands on the existing industry specific guidance, with the most current versions at the following link:
What To Do In The Case Of A COVID-19 Outbreak In The Workplace
Step-By-Step Employer Guidance
Importantly, this section contains the most current guidance to help employers determine when employees should be permitted to return to work after they have been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19. Pages 13-15 contain step-by-step guidance for employers. Employer reporting obligations and employee leave rights are also described in this section. Additionally, the step-by-step guidance can also be found in more detail at CA Dept of Public Health's (CDPH) Workplace Outbreaks Guidance. For step-by-step instructions, please click below:
CDPH Workplace Outbreak Guidance
Worker Education & Mask Enforcement
This section contains guidance on appropriate worker education topics, as well as enforcement provisions. As it states, "The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has established the COVID-19 Enforcement Task Force to monitor and enforce violations of State statutes and orders. The State agencies included in the task force are the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Department of Industrial Relations, including the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal OSHA), and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner’s Office). Other members include agencies that do not have regulatory authority, but have responsibilities focused on outreach and education. The mission of the COVID-19 Enforcement Task Force is to ensure and maintain a safe environment to protect employers, workers, and customers. The Task Force will be providing assistance and support to employers by helping them navigate compliance of statutes and orders as well as responding to, and enforcing violations related to indoor operations, use of face coverings, social distancing, and administrative actions."
To View The Entire "Employer Playbook For A Safe Re-Opening", click below:
Governor's Employer Playbook For A Safe Re-Opening
Testing
California Department of Public Health has announced new testing guidance that establishes prioritization in testing. Individuals working in agriculture are in the third tier of testing priority, behind the hospitalized, and health care, congregate care and emergency services. For the full guidance, please click below:
Updated COVID-19 Testing Guidance
Updated Cal/OSHA Guidance
Cal/OSHA has updated their guidance for agriculture, including new information on infection prevention for agricultural employers and employees. The updated guidance can be found at the following link:
Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Industry Guidance
Outreach & Education
The Governor announced an enhanced public awareness campaign focused on essential workers and the LatinX community to inform them of ways they can break the cycle of spread and reduce their risk for COVID-19 at work, at home, and in their community. The new CA Dept of Public Health PSAs can be found at the following links.