Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
California Board Delays Vote On Masking And Distancing Rules In Workplaces
A masked employee at an L.A. cafe and bakery.
(
FREDERIC J. BROWN
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
California’s current emergency workplace regulations, which took effect last November, require workers to stay at least six feet apart and wear masks indoors, except when alone in a room or eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. Those rules will stay in place for now.
The Cal/OSHA board had planned on Thursday to consider proposed changes that would have allowed physical distancing requirements to end by August, and allow fully vaccinated workers without COVID-19 symptoms to forgo masks both indoors and outdoors as long as everyone else was vaccinated and didn’t have symptoms.
However, the night before the meeting, Cal/OSHA Deputy Chief Eric Berg sent a memo to board members asking them to delay the vote and allow staff time to draft a new proposal in light of the CDC’s recent mask update that says vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors in most settings. California state health officials say they'll adopt that guidance on June 15, the date Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed relaxing most coronavirus-related restrictions.
Berg wrote in the memo to board members that any new workplace guidelines should also have “a targeted effective date of June 15, 2021.”
Support for LAist comes from
The board ended up tabling the vote so staff can make the proposed changes, but not before hearing hours of public testimony. Both employer and employee advocates told the board the proposed regulations were too vague, and asked for clarification on how vaccine status information may be requested and shared.
The public will have to wait until May 28 to see the proposed updated safety protections. The Cal/OSHA board will vote on the proposed changes in an emergency meeting on June 3. If the board can't agree on the new rules, the current regulations will stay in place until October.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist