On May 13, 2025, Cal/OSHA released a new discussion draft of its proposed regulation on Workplace Violence Prevention in General Industry. This latest version updates the July 15, 2024 draft we previously blogged about, and...more
5/30/2025
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Employee Rights ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Hostile Environment ,
Labor Reform ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Violence
On May 13, 2025, Cal/OSHA released a new discussion draft of its proposed regulation on Workplace Violence Prevention in General Industry. This latest version updates the July 15, 2024 draft we previously blogged about, and...more
5/27/2025
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Criminal Mischief ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Labor Reform ,
New Regulations ,
Proposed Rules ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Shoplifting ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Violence
On May 7, 2025, Cal/OSHA released a draft proposal to revise the outdoor and indoor heat illness prevention regulations (8 CCR Sections 3395 and 3396), aiming to implement requirements from AB 2243, signed by Governor Newsom...more
5/21/2025
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Employee Rights ,
Employee Training ,
Employees ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Heat Exposure ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Comment ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Safety Standards ,
Workplace Safety
This week we are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting in Rancho Mirage, California. The meeting includes representatives from management, labor, and safety professionals, some who previously worked in...more
As of February 3, 2025, California’s COVID-19-specific workplace regulations will expire, though employers must still track COVID-19 cases until February 3, 2026. Cal/OSHA can enforce COVID-19 as a workplace hazard under the...more
Ongoing wildfires in Southern California trigger Cal/OSHA regulations that require employers to train and protect employees from wildfire smoke. The regulation applies to most outdoor workplaces, requiring employers to...more
1/10/2025
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
City of Los Angeles ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employee Training ,
Employees ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Environmental Policies ,
Occupational Exposure ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wildfires ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: Following California’s Workplace Violence Prevention Plan regulation becoming effective, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) recently published its draft Workplace...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: A new rulemaking is underway at the California Department of Industrial Relations that will allow Cal/OSHA to cite employers for “enterprise-wide and egregious” violations, implementing a 2021 law signed by...more
7/30/2024
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Labor Code ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Proposed Rules ,
State Labor Laws ,
Statutory Violations ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 24, 2024, Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat rule was approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and filed with the Secretary of State (SOS), rendering the rule effective immediately....more
On June 20, 2024, the first day of summer, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board turned the heat up on employers and unanimously voted to approve Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat rule. Employers should be prepared to comply with the rule as...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Cal/OSHA Standards Board unanimously voted to approve Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat rule at the June 20, 2024 Standards Board meeting. Employers should be prepared to comply within the next 30-60 days....more
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board was ready to vote on Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat rule at the March 21, 2024 Standards Board meeting, but at the 11th hour, the Board was ordered to cancel its scheduled vote....more
Senate Bill 553, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, requires nearly all employers in the State of California to prepare a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, train employees on how to identify and avoid workplace...more
3/8/2024
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hostile Environment ,
Labor Reform ,
New Legislation ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Recording Requirements ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Restraining Orders ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Injury ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence
Seyfarth Synopsis: This week the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order revising COVID-19 definitions and procedures. Because the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 standard incorporates by reference certain CDPH...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 20, 2023, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its guidance to local health departments on the definition of a COVID-19 outbreak. The new definition changes the timeframe for...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: After a lengthy delay due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cal/OSHA has published its proposed indoor heat illness prevention standard. After the publication, there is a 45-day comment period, ending at...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Thursday, December 15, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (“OSHSB”) approved the long-proposed 2-year “permanent” COVID-19 standard. The new standard will take effect on January 1,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Two big changes are on the horizon for California employers:(1) changes to the COVID-19 general exposure notification requirements and (2) a proposed “permanent” Cal/OSHA COVID-19 standard to take effect...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 21, 2022, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board (“Board”) voted 6-1 to approve a third adoption of the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (“ETS”). The revised ETS will likely go into effect the...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Cal/OSHA Standards Board (“Board”) has published proposed language for the third adoption of the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (“ETS”), which will be voted on during the upcoming April...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As of January 14, 2022, California employers must ensure that their COVID-19 health and safety protocols are compliant with Cal/OSHA’s Latest COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards. The U.S....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On December 16, 2021, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to readopt the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) with changes that will take effect January 14, 2022. This readoption includes many...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 606 into law on September 27, 2021. It creates two new categories of Cal/OSHA violations: “enterprise-wide” and “egregious”. It also provides Cal/OSHA with...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Less than a week after the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to approve Cal/OSHA’s controversial revisions to the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), it convened an emergency meeting on June 9, 2021,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 3, 2021, the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) voted late in the evening to approve Cal/OSHA’s proposed revised Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The revised ETS...more