I hope everyone is doing well as the spring season begins.  I wanted to reach out to discuss Covid-19 regulations even though it is obvious that most of us humans have some Covid fatigue.

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted for a 3^rd re-adoption of the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) T8 3205.  It is anticipated to be effective May 6, 2022.

The update includes several minor changes and clarifications, however, doing away with Covid regulations and relying on previous IIPP 3203 regulations or other significant changes were not made.  See link below to 28 page re-adoption document which shows changes.

Highlights – Executive Orders and CDPH orders take a precedence over the ETS. 

• Surfaces are not specifically included as potentially infectious. 
• Return to work testing can be documented by a time stamped photo instead of observation. 
• Allowing light to pass through masks condition is eliminated from the new ETS requirement. 
• “Fully vaccinated” definition has been eliminated. 
• “Infectious period” terminology is used instead of “high risk exposure period.”
• “Returned case” definition added. 
• Employer not required to make testing available to returned cases. 
• No requirement for unvaccinated to be masked indoors. 
• Eliminated the requirement for 6 feet of distance from unmasked employees if employee is utilizing an exemption from mask wearing. 
• Cleaning and disinfection requirements have been eliminated. 
• Employers must provide masks and testing if symptomatic to employees upon request regardless of vaccination status. 
• CDPH guidance shall be followed for close contacts. 
• Return to work after close contact details in ETS have been eliminated including exclusion for vaccinated along with details concerning masking, six feet distance etc. 

(c) (10) Return to work criteria:

• Negative test required if returning to work after 5 days from positive test, no symptoms but no test required if returning to work after 10 days. 
• If you have symptoms and a positive test the symptoms must be resolving. 
• Any positive tested employee must wear a mask when returning to work for 10 days. 
• No testing is required for “returned cases” return to work under (c) (10) if no symptoms.
• Close contacts need a negative test within 3-5 days or follow (c) (10). 
• Distance employees as much as feasible language utilized.

Read link for 3205.2-4 changes.

https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Apr212022-COVID-19-Prevention-Emergency-txtcourtesy-3rd-Readoption.pdf

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/ETS.html

COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards

The COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards remain in effect. The workplace standards were updated in December 2021 to include minor revisions related to returning to work after close contact. The revisions became effective starting on January 14, 2022. In addition to these requirements, employers must follow public health orders on COVID-19. The latest order from the California Department of Public Health on February 28, 2022 provides new recommendations and requirements on the use of face coverings in certain circumstances and industry sectors. This order became effective on March 1, 2022. More information on the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards is available in Cal/OSHA's Frequently Asked Questions.

Masks:

From Cal/OSHA FAQs –

Additionally, masks are strongly recommended for all persons, regardless of vaccine status, in indoor public settings and businesses (examples: retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public); on public transit (examples: airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares); and in transportation hubs (examples: airport, bus terminal, marina, train station, seaport or other port, subway station, or any other area that provides transportation). Surgical masks or higher-level respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit are highly recommended.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Stay Safe!

Ben IV

Outdoor Workplace Challenges

Cal/OSHA has been visiting worksites and asking for and or utilizing the general checklist attached to enforce COVID-19 protocols.  Please see the link for the Cal/OSHA Ag checklist specific to COVID-19 and note that when the CSTC worksite specific document (see link) is utilized with the IIPP topic (see link) then the checklist items are addressed.

Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Checklist for Ag

IIPP-CSP COVID-19 Update 6.25.20

Worksite Specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan Checklist

We are here to support you.  Please reach out to any of our staff.

Stay Safe! Stay Healthy!

CSTC Team

Two weeks ago I did a Zoom meeting presentation on COVID-19 for my business networking group here in Hawaii.  After sharing the PowerPoint with Ben (my brother and colleague), he thought it would be great to share with all of you.  If you would like to talk about any of the information in the slides or want further details of the presentation, please reach out to me.  I would love to share and chat. 

CSTC COVID-19 TLAV 5.2020

Stay Safe!  Stay Healthy!

We are all in this together!

95° + temperatures have hit in the Central Valley.  We are updating Heat Illness Prevention Programs to incorporate Covid-19 precautions. In this blog we are focusing on two specific areas: water and shade.

First, I’d like to address water as everyone needs to be consuming adequate fluids, especially when the weather is hot. It’s important to follow personal hygiene and sanitization practices for commonly touched surfaces.  Igloo jugs to fill single use cups will need to be monitored and sanitized appropriately.  Even the single use water bottles will need to be handled with proper personal hygiene caution. As always, make sure you are providing sufficient quantities of cooled fresh water at 1 quart per person per hour in the workplace.

Preventative recovery rest breaks is the next area to be addressed.  Shaded rest areas must be provided.  For every two hours worked employees must be provided with a preventative rest period of at least 10 minutes. Employers must take additional measures to be sure that employees can take a break in a shaded area while obeying social distancing of 6 feet.

Employees should be trained to keep 6 feet of social distance during breaks and transportation to prevent infection.

In California, Cal/OSHA will continue to enforce regulations associated with COVID-19 and hazards associated with the workplace including heat illness and other applicable hazards. Please review your Heat Illness Prevention programs with a review of your specific COVID-19 procedures. 

Please contact us if we can help you in adjusting your plans accordingly.

Essential Industries with an employee who tests positive for COVID-19

1. Isolate sick worker from other employees.
2. Inform other employees while protecting privacy under HIPAA laws.
3. Perform a contact tracing of the employee at your workplace for the previous 14 days including contractors and suppliers who may have been in close contact* with the infected worker.
4. Sanitize surfaces which the worker may have touched including tools and transportation.
5. Monitor employees who were potentially exposed. Ask daily about symptoms and potential exposures. Train employees to inform you if any symptoms appear while working and isolate any employee who has symptoms. Consider monitoring temperatures of employees.
6. If contact tracing indicates the employee was exposed while working then recording (worker comp) and reporting to Cal/OSHA if the illness leads to a fatality, in-patient hospitalization or disfigurement.
7. Review your companies code of safe practice for COVID-19 and review your infectious disease management plan and update as needed.

** Data is limited to define of close contact. Factors to consider when defining close contact include proximity (within 6 feet), the duration of exposure (e.g., longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk), whether the individual has symptoms (e.g., coughing likely increases exposure risk) and whether the individual was wearing a facemask (which can efficiently block respiratory secretions from contaminating others and the environment).

Sources: Cal/OSHA, CDC, OSHA, CA DHS and HHS

The CDC and Cal/OSHA regulations have been changing as the pandemic is progressing.  The Code of Safe Practice attached for COVID-19 reflects the most recent changes we are aware of.  In particular the return to work and quarantine guidelines have changed recently.  Please review and update your IIPP with this Code of Safe Practice.  If you have questions or need assistance in updating your programs please contact us.

IIPP CSP COVID-19 English 4.22.2020

IIPP CSP COVID-19 Spanish 4.22.2020

Cal/OSHA has released specific COVID-19 guidance for the Agriculture community. 

Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Specific Guidance for Agriculture Employers and Employees

Guía de Seguridad y Salud de CalOSHA sobre COVID-19 en la Industria Agricola

CSTC has created a COVID-19 Code of Safe Practice (E/S) for you to include in your updated Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) as directed by the Cal/OSHA guidance. 

IIPP CSP COVID-19 English 4.6.2020

IIPP CSP COVID-19 Spanish 4.6.2020

We are available to help and support you with any questions or assistance in updating your Company's specific IIPP. 

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) Posting.  Post by April 1, 2020

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

To Our Treasured Clients,

During this stressful times we are here for you!  Cal/OSHA and Federal OSHA are still in operation.  I have worked with clients in California and Texas this morning to assist in responding to complaints from employees at several businesses.  We remain committed to you and your employees.  Below is a list of pertinent information.

1. Have an Infectious Disease Response Plan.  This plan should include social distances of 6 feet, work from home if possible, if an employee is  symptomatic stay home, everyone wash your hands frequently with soap and water.  Refer to our blog for a template http://www.cstcsafety.com/blog/templates-for-covid-19-programs
2. Keep safety training.  The Covid-19 protocols did not release any employer from their responsibility to train their employees.  Regulations still require equipment training, hazard communication training, chemical and pesticide training.  Here at CSTC® we are training live on-line, computer based training,  live on site training with small groups honoring the social distancing protocols..  Many of our conversations with safety managers, operations managers and owners are taking place through Zoom live on-line meetings.  Telephone calls also work. 
3. CSTC Office Operations.  CSTC® office doors are closed but we are available during normal business hours 8am to 5pm.  We are available!  We are staggering office staff hours to enable social distancing. Viewing our blogs on line will help all treasured clients keep up with changing information.  http://www.cstcsafety.com/blog
4. Essential businesses are still operating.  CSTC® essential safety  to the essential businesses are here for you.

Have a great and safe day!  Ben3

Ben W. Laverty III,  PhD, CSP, FACFE, REPA

President/ CEO

California Safety Training Corporation

(O) 661-377-8300

(C ) 661-343-1378

ben@cstcsafety.com