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- Phone: 1-949-863-1000
- Fax: 1-949-863-9028
- Email: info@wga.com
On June 17, 2021, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board met to consider new revisions to the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that incorporate the latest public health guidance. After the Board approved the revised guidelines (ETS 2.0), Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order declaring ETS 2.0 effective once the revision is filed with the Office of Administrative Law. The EO effectively eliminated the statutory 10-day process for the Office of Administrative Law to grant final approval.
Under ETS 2.0, fully vaccinated workers without symptoms can now go completely mask-free. Unvaccinated workers must continue to mask up indoors unless they are alone in a room or eating and drinking. Employers also must provide N95 masks to unvaccinated workers upon request when they are working indoors or in a vehicle. In addition, there are no physical distancing or bed spacing requirements whatsoever in H-2A or other employer-provided housing, and no distancing in employer-provided transportation. In cases where all employees are vaccinated in employer-provided housing and transportation, employers are exempt from those regulations altogether.
According to Cal/OSHA’S newly-issued Frequently Asked Questions, other changes from the original ETS include the following:
Many of the original ETS requirements remain in place, including the following:
Click here to read the press statement that the unified state and regional business community—including Western Growers—issued today in response to new workplace regulations passed by the Cal/OSHA Standards Board and expedited by a subsequent Executive Order issued by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Farming has never been more challenging, which is why Western Growers invests in fully committed advocates – your advocates – in Sacramento, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. Only Western Growers offers members so many business services, supported by more than 400 dedicated employees.