On November 19, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board unanimously adopted an emergency regulation on workplace safety regarding COVID-19. The regulation was released only 5 days before the hearing.
The emergency regulation is a mix of the requirements found in existing Cal/OSHA guidelines; incorporation of definitions and requirements from AB 685 (Reyes) passed by the Legislature this year; and brand new employer mandates.
Cal/OSHA is reminding employers that California’s protection from wildfire smoke standard is still in effect, and they must take steps to protect their workers from harmful exposure to unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.
