As discussed here, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted on December 15, 2022 to adopt non-emergency COVID-19 prevention regulations. A certificate of compliance allowed the existing COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to remain in effect while the state’s Office of Administrative Law conducted its 30-day review. The newly adopted regulations took effect February 3, 2023 and will remain in effect until February 3, 2025.[i]

The newly adopted regulations maintain some of the same requirements found in the ETS and provide for several new provisions ostensibly aimed at making it easier for employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace while remaining flexible in adapting to any changes in guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health. The non-emergency regulations apply to most workers in California not covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases standard.

Cal/OSHA has created a new COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulation webpage with an updated fact sheet, FAQs and an updated COVID-19 Model Written Program[ii].

Check here, for an overview of some of the more notable changes under the new regulations and which ETS regulations continue into 2023 and beyond.[iii]