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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Introduction

§3205.2. Major COVID-19 Outbreaks.

(a) Scope.

(1) This section applies to any workplace covered by section 3205 if 20 or more employee COVID-19 cases in an exposed group, as defined by section 3205(b), visited the workplace during their high-risk exposure period within a 30-day period.

(2) This section shall apply until there are fewer than three COVID-19 cases detected in the exposed group for a 14-day period.

(b) Employers shall continue to comply with section 3205.1, except that the COVID-19 testing described in section 3205.1(b) shall be made available to all employees in the exposed group, regardless of vaccination status, twice a week or more frequently if recommended by the local health department.

(1) The employer shall provide a respirator for voluntary use in compliance with subsection 5144(c)(2) to employees in the exposed group and shall determine the need for a respiratory protection program or changes to an existing respiratory protection program under section 5144 to address COVID-19 hazards.

(2) Any employees in the exposed group who are not wearing respirators required by the employer and used in compliance with section 5144 shall be separated from other persons by at least six feet, except where an employer can demonstrate that six feet of separation is not feasible, and except for momentary exposure while persons are in movement. Methods of physical distancing include: telework or other remote work arrangements; reducing the number of persons in an area at one time, including visitors; visual cues such as signs and floor markings to indicate where employees and others should be located or their direction and path of travel; staggered arrival, departure, work, and break times; and adjusted work processes or procedures, such as reducing production speed, to allow greater distance between employees. When it is not feasible to maintain a distance of at least six feet, individuals shall be as far apart as feasible.

(3) At work stations where an employee in the exposed group is assigned to work for an extended period of time, such as cash registers, desks, and production line stations, and where the physical distancing requirement in subsection (c)(2) is not maintained at all times, the employer shall install cleanable solid partitions that effectively reduce transmission between the employee and other persons.

(4) The employer shall evaluate whether to halt some or all operations at the workplace until COVID-19 hazards have been corrected.

(5) Any other control measures deemed necessary by the Division through the Issuance of Order to Take Special Action, in accordance with title 8 section 332.3.

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.

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.

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