Employee Notification - Cal/OSHA Revisions to Emergency Temporary Standards
Sent 6/21/2021
Greetings,
On June 17, 2021, Cal/OSHA voted to approve the proposed revisions to face coverings and other Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). The same day, Governor Newsome issued an executive order for immediate implementation of these revisions. In accordance with Cal/OSHA, the following changes must be enforced by all employers, effective June 21, 2021:
- Fully vaccinated employees will not have to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors, including when unvaccinated coworkers are among them. However, Cal/OSHA requires that MSJC (Employer) verify and confirm that an employee has been fully vaccinated prior to the removal of the employee’s face covering.
- To implement the new regulations, employees will be asked to provide a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination cards. Once recorded and processed, HR will inform the employee they have been cleared via e-mail. After this e-mail confirmation is received, the employee may then cease mask use. Until a confirmation is received from HR, masks must still be worn!
- Those employees who have been confirmed by HR as fully vaccinated, may also forego the daily COVID-19 Self Check.
- Unvaccinated Employees are still required to wear face coverings/masks while at work, until regulations are updated in the future by Cal/OSHA. MSJC (Employer) is required to provide and enforce the use of face coverings for unvaccinated employees when indoors, in vehicles, or as otherwise required (by State or local health orders).
- Unvaccinated employees must continue to complete the Daily COVID-19 Self Check every day they report to campus, for any length of time. This will assist with contact tracing, should there be a COVID positive exposure or outbreak.
- Per the regulations set forth by Cal/OSHA, unvaccinated employees, or employees that do not have a valid COVID-19 vaccination card on file with Human Resources, must continue to wear face coverings during their workday.
Note: An individual is considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
- Copies of COVID-19 Vaccination cards are recorded with Human Resources and are secured in a separate confidential file (not connected to any personnel file, medical leave file, or healthcare benefit file).
- If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
Vaccination Verification Week is scheduled for June 21, 2021, through June 25, 2021
- Please contact Human Resources for directions on how to upload your COVID-19 vaccination card as soon as possible to confirm your fully vaccinated status.
- Human Resources will be at the San Jacinto Campus on June 23, 2021, from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm in Building 200 Board Room for Vaccination Verifications
- Human Resources will be at the Menifee Valley Campus on June 24, 2021, from 7:00 am – 12:00 pm in Building 900 Room 957 for Vaccination Verification
- Human Resources is located at the Temecula Valley Campus offices third floor Monday-Thursday from 7:00 am – 5:30 pm for drop off during Vaccination Verification Week
- If you are in process, or plan on becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19, please provide your COVID-19 vaccination card to confirm your fully vaccinated status to Human Resources no later than 3 business days after the date you are fully vaccinated.
- COVID-19 vaccination locations can be found at COVID-19 Vaccine (rivcoph.org)
- Information about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination can be found at Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine | CDC
Other notable updates to the Cal/OSHA Emergency Regulations:
Physical distancing requirements have been removed, except in major outbreaks
- There is no longer a requirement for employees to remain at least 6 feet from one another.
The requirement of cleanable solid partitions has been removed
- MSJC departments may choose to retain their cleanable solid partitions for highly trafficked areas or those areas that serve the public. Please work with Human Resources and Risk Management regarding the removal or retention of cleanable solid partitions.
Vaccinated and employees who provide proof of previously testing positive (with certain criteria) are no longer excluded from work when a close contact occurs
- MSJC employees must provide proof of their fully vaccinated status to Human Resources through a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination card. Employees that have previously tested positive for COVID-19 will provide proof to Human Resources as part of the contact tracing process.
- Employees experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 must contact Human Resources to start the medical leave process as soon as possible.
- Supervisors that are aware of their employee experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 will contact Human Resources to start the medical leave and contact tracing process.
MSJC (Employer) must provide face coverings to employees, “upon request”
- Although PPE (disposable masks in particular) has been provided to all department, additional PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) may be requested via the Departmental PPE Request Form
MSJC (Employer) must provide respirators (N95 masks) to unvaccinated employees upon request and when a “major” outbreak
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) may be requested via the Departmental PPE Request Form
In addition, please review the following:
- In the event than an employee sends their actual COVID-19 vaccination card to Human Resources, the employee will be called/emailed to personally pick up their vaccination card
- Employees that are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination may inquire with Human Resources for accommodations under ADA or for religious purposes
- Unvaccinated employees are responsible to follow all safety guidelines and procedures as provided by District
The Return-to-Campus Guide is currently being revised with the new regulations and shall be available shortly.
Please contact Human Resources for directions on how to upload your COVID-19 vaccination card as soon as possible to confirm your fully vaccinated status.
Jeannine Stokes