Cal/OSHA Readopts COVID-19 ETS Through Mid-April 2022

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted today, Dec. 16, 2021, to readopt the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) through mid-April 2022. Despite significant push back from the business community, the Standards Board readopted the ETS with concerning changes, including requirements to test, mask and socially distance non-symptomatic vaccinated workers who had a COVID-19 close contact. Wine Institute staff worked with the California Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of agriculture associations to submit comments in opposition to these changes. The changes will go into effect upon expiration of the current ETS on Jan. 14, 2022, and will be effective for 90 days.

In addition, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to allow the Cal/OSHA Standards Board to issue a third readoption of the ETS in mid-April to extend until Dec. 31, 2022. Under the Government Code, an agency is permitted no more than two readoptions of an emergency regulation, the executive order waives this requirement for the ETS.