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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
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Effective Dates: Nov. 30, 2020 - June 17, 2021

§3205.1. Multiple COVID-19 Infections and COVID-19 Outbreaks.

For the current version of this regulation, see the Title 8, Section 3205.1
(a) Scope.
(1) This section applies to a place of employment covered by section 3205 if it has been identified by a local health department as the location of a COVID-19 outbreak or when there are three or more COVID-19 cases in an exposed workplace within a 14-day period.
(2) This section shall apply until there are no new COVID-19 cases detected in a workplace for a 14-day period.
(b) COVID-19 testing.
(1) The employer shall provide COVID-19 testing to all employees at the exposed workplace except for employees who were not present during the period of an outbreak identified by a local health department or the relevant 14-day period(s) under subsection (a), as applicable. COVID-19 testing shall be provided at no cost to employees during employees' working hours.
(2) COVID-19 testing shall consist of the following:
(A) Immediately upon being covered by this section, all employees in the exposed workplace shall be tested and then tested again one week later. Negative COVID-19 test results of employees with COVID-19 exposure shall not impact the duration of any quarantine 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 provide continuous COVID-19 testing of employees who remain at the workplace at least once per week, or more frequently if recommended by the local health department, until this section no longer applies pursuant to subsection (a)(2).
(C) Employers shall provide additional testing when deemed necessary by the Division through the Issuance of Order to Take Special Action, in accordance with title 8, section 332.3.
(c) Exclusion of COVID-19 cases. Employers shall ensure COVID-19 cases and employees who had COVID-19 exposure are excluded from the workplace in accordance with subsections 3205(c)(10) and (c)(11) and local health officer orders if applicable.
(d) Investigation of workplace COVID-19 illness. The employer shall immediately investigate and determine possible workplace related factors that contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with subsection 3205(c)(3).
(e) COVID-19 Investigation, review and hazard correction. In addition to the requirements of subsection 3205(c)(2) and 3205(c)(4), 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 thirty days that the outbreak continues, 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 possible, respiratory protection, and other applicable controls.
(f) Notifications to the local health department.
(1) The employer shall contact the local health department immediately but no longer than 48 hours after the employer knows, or with diligent inquiry would have known, of three or more COVID-19 cases for guidance on preventing the further spread of COVID-19 within the workplace.
(2) The employer shall provide to the local health department the total number of COVID-19 cases and for each COVID-19 case, the name, contact information, occupation, workplace location, business address, the hospitalization and/or fatality status, and North American Industry Classification System code of the workplace of the COVID-19 case, and any other information requested by the local health department. The employer shall continue to give notice to the local health department of any subsequent COVID-19 cases at the workplace.
(3) Effective January 1, 2021, the employer shall provide all information to the local health department required by Labor Code section 6409.6.
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 142.3 and 144.6, Labor Code.
HISTORY
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.