As you know, HR Jungle is a human resources consulting firm… not a safety or risk management company. We, too, struggle to read all the latest COVID news and try to understand it. Unfortunately, the information continues to change nearly weekly so everyone needs to keep checking on the latest regulations. Here are the resources we use most frequently:
State and Federal Resources
Cal/OSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations are the only thing that matters when it comes to what California companies must do regarding COVID. Cal/OSHA overrides all federal agencies regarding how California companies deal with COVID. Review Cal/OSHA guidelines at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/ and their helpful FAQs at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx.
California’s Governor Newsom can and has issued executive orders that can override Cal/OSHA regulations or add a special requirement, such as the current indoor mask mandate. All executive orders are listed at https://www.gov.ca.gov/category/executive-orders/.
Recently Cal/OSHA agreed to follow most of the CPHD (California Dept. of Public Health) rules for COVID. This site also has a chart showing quarantine periods, etc. that you need to know at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has been the primary federal site for many people but, in California, Cal/OSHA takes priority so don’t rely on the CDC for information on what to do in California. However, the CDC has provided a great deal of information throughout the pandemic at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
OSHA (Federal Occupational and Safety and Health Administration) initiates many of the workplace safety regulations but they only have authority in states where there is no state version of this agency. Cal/OSHA is California’s version of this agency and will usually take the OSHA regulations and fine-tune them for California. Federal OSHA’s site is https://www.osha.gov/.
Other Resources
Fisher & Phillips LLP is an employment law firm that has provided a multitude of newsletters and webinars throughout the pandemic. Their explanations have helped us better understand the requirements for employers. They also sell a complete COVID Packet, including a written plan, all the other documents needed, and a step-by-step guide for handling COVID cases in your workplace. View their information at https://www.fisherphillips.com/services/emerging-issues/covid_19-resource-center/index.html?tab=overview.
Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC is another employment law firm providing helpful information on COVID at https://ogletree.com/coronavirus-covid-19-resource-center/.
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