Cal/OSHA Ends Most COVID-19 Prevention Standards
California OSHA announced that most of its workplace health standards have ended, but reporting and recordkeeping requirements will remain in effect until 2026.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Feb 25, 2025
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is advising employers that most of its COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Standards ended this week. Cal/OSHA’s regulations, which took effect on February 3, 2023, remained in effect for two years, except for reporting and recordkeeping requirements, which will continue until 2026.
Although there are no longer specific regulatory requirements for COVID-19 prevention in the workplace, employers in California must still:
- Maintain a safe and healthful place of employment as required by Labor Code section 6400.
- Establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) as required by Title 8, California Code of Regulations, section 3203.
- Identify, evaluate, and correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions, work practices, or procedures associated with COVID-19 if identified as a workplace hazard.
COVID-19 reporting and recordkeeping requirements remain in effect until February 3, 2026. Under these requirements, employers must:
- Keep a record of and track all COVID-19 cases, including the employee's name, contact information, occupation, work location, date of last workplace presence, and date of positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis. These records must be retained for two years beyond the period required for compliance with this section.
- Provide information on COVID-19 cases to the local health department with jurisdiction over the workplace, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Cal/OSHA, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) immediately upon request and when required by law.
More information is available on Cal/OSHA’s Archived COVID-19 Guidance and Resources webpage.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.