California Votes To Continue Requiring Masks At Work If Anyone Is Unvaccinated

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Fri Jun 4, 2021, 02:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: MSN/San Francisco Chronicle

(By Carolyn Said, 12 hrs. ago). If anyone in a workplace is unvaccinated, all colleagues must wear masks when in the same room, according to a new California workplace standard passed Thursday. But the standard allows workers to ditch masks when everyone in a room is vaccinated.

The standards board for California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, passed the new rules as a stopgap measure after a marathon meeting Thursday, minutes after it initially rejected the same rules by a 4-3 vote, swayed by business groups' arguments that they are too strict.

The board said it considers the measure temporary and will act quickly to craft a replacement. If the board had rejected the new rules, the existing standard, which requires everyone to wear masks at all times, would have remained in place.

The group decided to revisit its original vote and pass the proposal with the understanding that a three-person subcommittee would meet with agency experts to revise it as soon as possible. Meanwhile the new proposal takes effect June 15 if it passes legal muster with the state...

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/california-votes-to-continue-requiring-masks-at-work-if-anyone-is-unvaccinated/ar-AAKGlYp

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- *WATCH* VIDEO, ABC News Report, June 3, 2021. Cal/OSHA Approves New Workplace Masks, Face Covering

https://abc7.com/california-workplace-masks-face-covering-vaccinated/10738071/

- Cal/OSHA approves new workplace mask rules, will create subcommittee to make revisions. The board made clear the regulations are only a stopgap while it considers further easing COVID rules in coming weeks or months. By Carlos Granda.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) -- Conflicted California workplace regulators approved controversial rules that allow workers to go maskless only if every employee in a room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board made clear Thursday night that the regulations are only a stopgap while they consider further easing pandemic rules in coming weeks or months.

The board initially voted 4-to-3 to reject any changes to current rules. But chairman David Thomas said that would have left employers with the current rules, which require masks for all employees, along with social distancing and partitions between employees in certain circumstances. Moments later, the seven-member board unanimously adopted the revised regulations while a three-member subcommittee considers more changes.

"It's better than the previous one, because that's what we're going back to" if the board didn't act, Thomas said. "We don't want to leave the last one in place when this is better than that." The off-again, on-again decisions came after major business groups and dozens of individuals spent hours urging the board to further lift pandemic regulations.

Members who initially rejected the revision said they are concerned that it doesn't go far enough or that it requires employers to stockpile the most effective N95 facemasks for employees who want them starting July 1...

[dalton99a]

1. "Employees will be pissed off, wondering whose fault it is that they have to wear a mask"

Some observers said the masking requirements could stigmatize unvaccinated people.

“Employees will be pissed off, wondering whose fault it is that they have to wear a mask,” said Stephen Hirschfeld, a San Francisco employment lawyer, speaking before the meeting. “This could set up a situation where they try to figure out who is unvaccinated and give them a hard time.”

Other controversial aspects: Even when everyone in a room is vaccinated, the rules require social distancing continue until July 31, more than six weeks after the state’s planned reopening. After July 31, employers must offer respirators to all unvaccinated workers for voluntary use, which would provide an alternative to having to stay 6 feet away from others.

[SoCalNative]

6. Good

they should be stigmatized if they refuse to get vaccinated.

[catrose]

12. Good.

[tirebiter]

2. The stigmata-it burns

Gimme a break.

[Hekate]

3. KnR

[OneCrazyDiamond]

4. They should just fire them. N/T

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. Great news for my daughter, who teaches high school in CA.

But I can hear the cultists revving up now, “it’s unconstitutional to ask anyone about their health information! It’s a violation of HIPAA!”

[IronLionZion]

8. HIPAA only applies to HIPAA-covered entities - healthcare providers, health plans,

HIPAA and Proof of Vaccine Status

Vaccination information is classed as PHI and is covered by the HIPAA Rules. However, HIPAA only applies to HIPAA-covered entities – healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses – and their business associates. If an employer asks an employee to provide proof that they have been vaccinated in order to allow that individual to work without wearing a facemask, that is not a HIPAA violation as HIPAA does not apply to most employers.

It would not be a HIPAA violation for an employer to ask an employee’s healthcare provider for proof of vaccination.

https://www.hipaajournal.com/is-it-a-hipaa-violation-to-ask-for-proof-of-vaccine-status/#:~:text=Vaccination%20information%20is%20classed%20as,clearinghouses%20%E2%80%93%20and%20their%20business%20associates.

[eissa]

7. Fucking stupid

We have to be held hostage to the childish tantrums of anti-vaxxers? Seems like those of us who got vaccinated in the hopes of everything returning to normal are now at the mercy of a petulant few. Over half the country is vaccinated - let those who refuse to be vaccinated deal with the ramifications, and stop with this collective punishment bullshit.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. How dense can MAGAt's be?

Vaccinations and immunizations are part of childhood, just about part of being born.

[ffr]

10. That sounds like the smart thing to require.

The unvaccinated are just as vulnerable as they were a year ago, which means their potential carriers. Let time sort out with them.

[monkeyman1]

11. thing is ,how do we know who is vaccinated ? people tend to lie a little !!

[MichMan]

13. "Workplace violence erupts against those who are unvaccinated"

Fellow employees hospitalized after being attacked by an angry mob for not getting vaccinated

Waiting for this headline soon