On September 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 685 into law which places certain reporting obligations on the employer relating to COVID-19. It also expands the power of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) to enforce and take action to protect employees. AB 685 goes into effect on January 1, 2021.
Notice Requirements to Employees
The new law requires employers to take all of the following actions within 24 hours after the employer has “notice of the potential exposure” to COVID-19, which is defined below:
- Provide written notice to all employees, and employers of subcontracted employees who were at the worksite within the infectious period who may have been exposed to COVID-19.