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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Introduction
§3205.1. Multiple COVID-19 Infections and COVID-19 Outbreaks.
(a) Scope.
(1) This section applies to a workplace covered by section 3205 if three or more employee COVID-19 cases within an exposed group, as defined by section 3205(b), visited the workplace during their high-risk exposure period at any time during a 14-day period.
(2) This section shall apply until there are no new COVID-19 cases detected in the exposed group for a 14-day period.
(b) COVID-19 testing.
(1) The employer shall make COVID-19 testing available at no cost to its employees within the exposed group, during employees' paid time, except:
(A) Employees who were not present at the workplace during the relevant 14-day period(s) under subsection (a).
(B) For COVID-19 cases who did not develop COVID-19 symptoms after returning to work pursuant to subsections 3205(c)(10)(A) or (B), no testing is required for 90 days after the initial onset of COVID-19 symptoms or, for COVID-19 cases who never developed symptoms, 90 days after the first positive test.
(2) COVID-19 testing shall consist of the following:
(A) Immediately upon being covered by this section, testing shall be made available to all employees in the exposed group and then again one week later. Negative COVID-19 test results of employees with COVID-19 exposure shall not impact the duration of any quarantine, isolation, or exclusion period required by, or orders issued by, the local health department.
(B) After the first two COVID-19 tests required by subsection (b)(2)(A), employers shall make COVID-19 testing available once a week at no cost, during paid time, to all employees in the exposed group who remain at the workplace, or more frequently if recommended by the local health department, until this section no longer applies pursuant to subsection (a)(2).
(c) Employers shall make additional testing available at no cost to employees, during employees' paid time, when deemed necessary by the Division through the Issuance of Order to Take Special Action, in accordance with title 8, section 332.3.
(d) The employer shall continue to comply with all applicable provisions of section 3205, and shall also do the following:
(1) Employees in the exposed group shall wear face coverings when indoors, or when outdoors and less than six feet from another person, unless one of the exceptions in subsection 3205(c)(6)(D) applies.
(2) Employers shall give notice to employees in the exposed group of their right to request a respirator for voluntary use under subsection 3205(c)(7)(D)2., if they are not fully vaccinated.
(3) Employers shall evaluate whether to implement physical distancing of at least six feet between persons or, where six feet of physical distancing is not feasible, the use of cleanable solid partitions of sufficient size to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
(e) COVID-19 Investigation, review and hazard correction. The employer shall immediately perform a review of potentially relevant COVID-19 policies, procedures, and controls and implement changes as needed to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The investigation and review shall be documented and include:
(1) Investigation of new or unabated COVID-19 hazards including the employer's leave policies and practices and whether employees are discouraged from remaining home when sick; the employer's COVID-19 testing policies; insufficient outdoor air; insufficient air filtration; and lack of physical distancing.
(2) The review shall be updated every 30 days that this section continues to apply, in response to new information or to new or previously unrecognized COVID-19 hazards, or when otherwise necessary.
(3) The employer shall implement changes to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 based on the investigation and review required by subsections (e)(1) and (e)(2). The employer shall consider moving indoor tasks outdoors or having them performed remotely, increasing outdoor air supply when work is done indoors, improving air filtration, increasing physical distancing as much as feasible, requiring respiratory protection in compliance with section 5144, and other applicable controls.
(f) In buildings or structures with mechanical ventilation, employers shall filter recirculated air with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 or higher efficiency filters if compatible with the ventilation system. If MERV-13 or higher filters are not compatible with the ventilation system, employers shall use filters with the highest compatible filtering efficiency. Employers shall also evaluate whether portable or mounted High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration units or other air cleaning systems would reduce the risk of transmission and, if so, shall implement their use to the degree feasible.
1. New section filed 11-30-2020 as an emergency; operative 11-30-2020. Emergency expiration extended 60 days (Executive Order N-40-20) plus an additional 60 days (Executive Order N-71-20) (Register 2020, No. 49). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-1-2021 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New section refiled with amendments 6-17-2021 as an emergency; operative 6-17-2021 pursuant to Executive Order N-09-21 (Register 2021, No. 25). Exempt from the APA pursuant to Government Code sections 8567, 8571 and 8627 (Executive Order N-09-21). Emergency expiration extended 60 days (Executive Order N-40-20) plus an additional 60 days (Executive Order N-71-20). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-13-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. New section refiled 1-5-2022 as an emergency; operative 1-14-2022 (Register 2022, No. 1). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 4-14-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
4. Editorial correction of History 5 (Register 2022, No. 9).
5. Emergency filed 1-5-2022 extended an additional 21 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-5-22. A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 5-5-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
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