Workplace Safety

Seguridad en el lugar de trabajo

 

Most businesses are required to maintain compliance with California’s COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), which include current public health guidelines. Certain workplaces, like hospitals and correctional facilities, are required to comply with the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) standard instead of the ETS. Find more details in the frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 Prevention ETS. For more information, visit the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 website or to speak to a Cal/OSHA representative during normal business hours, call 833-579-0927or 800-936-9424.

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Nothing prevents employers from implementing additional protective measures than are required by Cal/OSHA. Contra Costa County’s Health Officer also strongly recommends that businesses consider further protective measures, such as:

• Require employees who come into the workplace to be vaccinated. Employers are legally allowed to require vaccination as a condition of employment, with very limited exceptions for medical exemptions or strongly held religious beliefs.

• Require documentation of COVID-19 vaccination rather than self-attestation.

• Require frequent testing for employees who are unvaccinated.

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Indoor Masking:

Masks are no longer required for unvaccinated workers indoors by Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) but are strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. Employers must still provide a face covering upon request of an employee. Everyone is strongly encouraged to mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Click to view the State of California’s mask requirements and recommendations.

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Businesses, venue operators and hosts may determine their own paths forward to protect staff and patrons and may choose to require all patrons to wear masks.

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Isolation and Quarantine for Workers:

Visit our For Patients and Contacts page for information about quarantine and isolation. There are additional guidelines for health care workers and workplaces covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases standard. Following Cal/OSHA guidance, when testing to return to work, antigen tests are preferred but tests must be processed by a laboratory, or observed or administered by a medical professional or worker’s employer.

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Additional Information

• State of California Safer at Work - COVID-19 Workplace Requirements Employers Need to Know

  • COVID-19 Requisitos del lugar de trabajo que los empresarios deben conocer​

• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Guidance and Resources |Guías y recursos de Cal/OSHA sobre COVID-19

  • Revisions to the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (effective January 14, 2022) Frequently Asked Questions​

  • COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Frequently Asked Question

• State of California Guidance for the Use of Face Masks

• ​Recommendations for Safely Holding Public Meetings - 1/5/2023​

• California COVID-19 Outbreak Data

• CCHS Cleaning and Disinfecting of Your Facility Cleaning After a Confirmed COVID-19 Case

• Improving Indoor Air Quality Best Practices, Environmental Protection Agency

  • Mejores prácticas para mejorar la calidad del aire interior​
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