After three years of COVID-19, many employers are familiar with the occupational safety and health regulations that relate to that specific workplace hazard and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Division” or “DOSH”) which enforces those regulations. (Note: The Division is often referred to as Cal/OSHA.)

However, even with COVID-19 (hopefully) disappearing into the

This article was reviewed January 2021 and the information is up-to-date.

On December 14, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-84-20 (the “Order”), addressing a number of issues related to COVID-19 and the present public health emergency.

In this bulletin, we address several issues of significant importance to employers, including revisions to the quarantine

On November 19, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (“OSHSB”) issued a series of new regulations related to COVID-19, which are set forth in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (“C.C.R.”) Sections 3205 through 3205.4 (“Cal/OSHA regulations”). While employers have rightfully focused on their obligation under Section 3205 to adopt and

On December 7, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) issued updated guidance concerning the recommended quarantine period for individuals following a “close contact” exposure to someone with COVID-19. This guidance now aligns with comparable advice provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) on the same subject on December 2.

Now, both

Given the recent news coverage concerning COVID-19 vaccines and the government’s distribution plan for such vaccines, many of our public agency clients have inquired whether it will be permissible to require that agency employees be vaccinated for COVID-19. This question is important from a public health perspective, complicated from a legal one, and almost certain

On November 19, 2020, pursuant to emergency rulemaking authority, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (“OSHSB”) adopted temporary regulations regarding measures that employers must undertake in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace (“emergency regulations”).

The emergency regulations, which will likely take effect on November 30, 2020, apply to public

 As California battles close to 600 wildfires burning more than one million acres across the state, many areas are experiencing unhealthy and even very unhealthy air quality. During these conditions, employers must comply with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) worker safety requirements to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke effects.

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