CALIFORNIA: Cal/OSHA issues guidance for construction & logistics

Cal/OSHA recently issued safety guidance for the construction and logistics industries, to protect workers from COVID-19 (coronavirus). The guidance documents don’t impose any new obligations; they offer ideas to help California employers address COVID-19 in their Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPPs). Because the virus is widespread in California communities, Cal/OSHA says updating your IIPP is mandatory.

The guidance for the construction industry addresses training employees, increasing cleaning and disinfection, increasing physical distancing, ensuring good hygiene, implementing safe work practices, and what to do with workers who may have COVID-19. If construction workers need respirators to protect themselves against non-virus-related hazards such as dust, you must provide the respirators if they’re available.

The guidance for the logistics industry addresses training employees, implementing procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at work, increasing physical distancing, implementing good hygiene, and encouraging sick workers to stay home. For workers who regularly have close contact with the public, such as delivery drivers and receiving area personnel, you should provide face masks (if available) if you’re unable to create enough physical distance or barriers between the employee and customer. Cal/OSHA also says you should encourage workers to voluntarily wear face coverings at work to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Tips For Employers: These guidance documents, along with other resources, are posted on the web page for Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus. Keep in mind that as we previously reported, beginning on July 1, 2020, you’re required to allow workers to access your IIPP.