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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Introduction
For the current version of this regulation, see the Title 8, Section 3205.3
§3205.3. COVID-19 Prevention in Employer-Provided Housing.
(a) Scope. This section applies to employer-provided housing. Employer-provided housing is any place or area of land, any portion of any housing accommodation, or property upon which a housing accommodation is located, consisting of: living quarters, dwelling, boardinghouse, tent, bunkhouse, maintenance-of-way car, mobile home, manufactured home, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, or other housing accommodations. Employer-provided housing includes a “labor camp” as that term is used in title 8 of the California Code of Regulations or other regulations or codes. The employer-provided housing may be maintained in one or more buildings or one or more sites, including hotels and motels, and the premises upon which they are situated, or the area set aside and provided for parking of mobile homes or camping. Employer-provided housing is housing that is arranged for or provided by an employer, other person, or entity to workers, and in some cases to workers and persons in their households, in connection with the workers' employment, whether or not rent or fees are paid or collected.
The following exceptions apply:
(1) This section does not apply to housing provided for the purpose of emergency response, including firefighting, rescue, and evacuation, and support activities directly aiding response such as utilities, communications, and medical operations, if:
(A) The employer is a government entity; or
(B) The housing is provided temporarily by a private employer and is necessary to conduct the emergency response operations.
(2) Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (h) do not apply to residents who maintained a household together prior to residing in employer-provided housing, such as family members, when no other persons outside the household are present.
(3) This section does not apply to employees with occupational exposure as defined by section 5199, when covered by that section.
(4) This section does not apply to employer-provided housing used exclusively to house COVID-19 cases or where a housing unit houses one employee.
(5) This section does not apply to housing in which all residents are fully vaccinated.
(b) Assignment of housing units. To the extent feasible, employers shall reduce exposure to COVID-19 hazards by assigning employee residents to distinct groups and ensuring that each group remains separate from other such groups during transportation and work. Employers shall ensure that shared housing unit assignments are prioritized in the following order:
(1) Residents who usually maintain a household together outside of work, such as family members, shall be housed in the same housing unit without other persons.
(2) Residents who work in the same crew or work together at the same workplace shall be housed in the same housing unit without other persons.
(3) Employees who do not usually maintain a common household, work crew, or workplace shall be housed in the same housing unit only when no other housing alternatives are feasible.
(c) Ventilation. In housing units, employers shall maximize the quantity and supply of outdoor air and increase filtration efficiency to the highest level compatible with the existing ventilation system. If there is not a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 or higher filter in use, portable or mounted High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration units shall be used, to the extent feasible, in all sleeping areas in which there are two or more residents who are not fully vaccinated.
(d) Face coverings. Employers shall provide face coverings to all residents and provide information to residents on when they should be used in accordance with state or local health officer orders or guidance.
(e) Cleaning and disinfecting.
(1) Employers shall ensure that housing units, kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas are effectively cleaned to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Housing units, kitchens, bathrooms, and indoor common areas shall be cleaned and disinfected after a COVID-19 case was present during the high-risk exposure period, if another resident will be there within 24 hours of the COVID-19 case. Cleaning and disinfecting shall be done in a manner that protects the privacy of residents.
(2) Employers shall instruct residents not to share unwashed dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, and similar items.
(f) Screening. The employer shall encourage residents to report COVID-19 symptoms to the employer.
(g) COVID-19 testing. The employer shall establish, implement, and maintain effective policies and procedures for COVID-19 testing of residents who had a close contact or COVID-19 symptoms. These policies and procedures shall be communicated to the residents.
(h) COVID-19 cases and close contacts.
(1) Employers shall effectively quarantine residents who have had a close contact from all other residents. Effective quarantine shall include providing residents who had a close contact with a private bathroom and sleeping area. The following residents are exempt from this requirement:
(A) Fully vaccinated residents who do not have COVID-19 symptoms; and
(B) COVID-19 cases who have met the requirements of subsection 3205(c)(10)(A) or (B) and have remained free of COVID-19 symptoms, for 90 days after the initial onset of COVID-19 symptoms or, for COVID-19 cases who never developed COVID-19 symptoms, for 90 days after the first positive test.
(2) Employers shall effectively isolate COVID-19 cases from all residents who are not COVID-19 cases. Effective isolation shall include housing COVID-19 cases only with other COVID-19 cases, and providing COVID-19 case residents with a sleeping area and bathroom that is not shared by non-COVID-19 case residents.
(3) Personal identifying information regarding COVID-19 cases and persons with COVID-19 symptoms shall be kept confidential in accordance with subsection 3205(c)(3)(C).
(4) Employers shall end isolation in accordance with subsections 3205(c)(9) and (c)(10) and any applicable local or state health officer orders.
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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