Important Update
Cal/OSHA has updated the COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations on February 1, 2024. For the latest updates continue to check Cal/OSHA's Non-ETS FAQ page.Have a Question about COVID-19 in the Workplace?
Alameda County staff are available to answer your questions about COVID-19 in the workplace.
Contact Us
Outbreak Questions: COVIDOB@acgov.org
General Inquiries: (510) 577-7080
Addressing Covid-19 Cases In The Workplace
In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulation or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard (PDF), and should consult those regulations for applicable requirements. Healthcare personnel in certain settings should follow the guidance in AFL 21-08.9.
Recording and Reporting COVID-19
What is Alameda County’s Workplace-Related COVID-19 outbreak reporting requirement?
Employers must report major outbreaks (20 or more employee COVID-19 cases in an exposed group, as defined by subsection 3205(b)(7), visited the worksite during their infectious period within a 30-day period) to Cal/OSHA. Search Cal/OSHA Reporting and report your major outbreak to the nearest Cal/OSHA district office.
ACPHD encourages all facilities to stay up to date on guidance for their specific settings. While ACPHD continues to support settings who are experiencing outbreaks, we are unable to work individually with all facilities. However, we will continue to share resources by email when we receive an outbreak report. In addition, if your setting is detecting unusual COVID illnesses such as more severe illness (e.g. hospitalizations or deaths), a more rapid spread of infections (e.g. having 1 case then 20), or cases with unusual symptoms (e.g. other than typical for COVID), please reach out to COVIDOB@acgov.org.
California employers that are required to record work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses must also record work-related COVID-19 cases as they would any other occupational injury, illness, or fatality. To be recordable, a work-related injury or illness must result in one or more of the following:
- Death
- Days away from work
- Restricted work or transfer to another job
- Medical treatment beyond first aid
- Loss of consciousness
- A significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional
If a work-related COVID-19 case meets one or more of these criteria, then covered employers in California must record the case on their 300, 300A and 301 or equivalent forms.
See California Code of Regulations, title 8, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 2, Employer Records of Occupational Injury or Illness for details on which employers are obligated to report and other requirements.
Employers must report major outbreaks, serious injury, illness, and death to the local Cal/OSHA district office immediately. This includes in-patient hospitalization and death from COVID-19 even if work-relatedness is uncertain. Cal/OSHA prefers reports by phone but will also accept email reports to CalOSHAaccidentreport@tel-us.com
For additional information see Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Case Reporting FAQ, Title 8 Section 342 requirements, and AB 2693. To contact Cal/OSHA see the Cal/OSHA District Offices Contact Information webpage.
Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace
How can I protect my employee’s from COVID-19?
Employers should continue to reiterate the following COVID-19 prevention messages to employees:
- If you are sick, do not come to work.
- Remain 6 feet apart from one another, whenever feasible.
- Wear a face covering whenever in the same area as others.
- Wash hands frequently, with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer with 60%+ alcohol).
- Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Disinfect commonly touched areas, daily.
Furthermore, Cal/OSHA has developed guidance on the steps every employer should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Cal/OSHA requirements include employers review the guidance relevant to their industry, worksites, county variance guidance and criteria, as well as the guidance on Cal/OSHA safety requirements and existing procedures to ensure the workplace is protected from the spread of COVID-19. See Cal/OSHA Industry Guidance on COVID-19 for industry-specific information on protecting employee’s from COVID-19. For information on the use and care of masks, see the CDC’s masking webpage.
Workplace Steps to Controlling and Preventing COVID-19 Outbreaks (2/9/2024)
