After several months of development, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board's emergency regulation to protect outdoor workers from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke went into effect on July 29, 2019.
The process began in response to a petition the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) received on December 13, 2018, filed jointly by the California Labor Federation, Worksafe and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. Prompted by the devastating wildfires in recent years, the petition asked for emergency regulatory protection for outdoor workers from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke.
Now that those regulations are in effect, there's a lot for employers to know. Download CalChamber's free "Employer Requirements Under California's Emergency Wildfire Smoke Regulation" white paper for more details about employer requirements under this new emergency regulation, which is effective through January 28, 2020, with two possible 90-day extensions. A permanent rule is anticipated in 2020.
Published September 5, 2019
