On May 20th, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board was set to vote on revisions to COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”).
The evening before the vote the Deputy Chief for the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Division”) submitted a request that the Standards Board not to vote on proposed revisions and instead allow the Division to submit new proposals that would align with updated guidance from the CDC and state agencies.
While the proposed changes were intended to adjust the ETS to new developments pertaining to COVID-19 guidance, the Division wanted to ensure the revisions follow the more recent guidance.
The Standards Board still listened to numerous public comments which ranged from employer groups that requested a total revocation of the ETS to employee advocates who requested no change be made at all.
After lengthy public comment, the Standards Board decided to table the vote and scheduled a June 3rd emergency meeting to vote on a revised version of the ETS. The revised version must be posted by May 28, 2021.
Jackson Lewis will continue to monitor changes in COVID-19 guidance and regulations in the workplace. If you have questions about the Cal/OSHA ETS or related workplace safety issues, please reach out to the Jackson Lewis attorney with whom you often work or any member of our Workplace Safety and Health Team.