CalChamber Statement on New COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Amendments

In a letter sent to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board today, the California Chamber of Commerce and several allied groups are urging important revisions and clarifications to new COVID-19 regulations that will be voted upon at a hearing tomorrow.

“Cal/OSHA should be adopting the same rules and protocols for workers that Governor Gavin Newsom has adopted for the rest of the state—beginning June 15—and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted for the rest of the country,” said CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg.

“If you are fully vaccinated, you don’t need to wear a mask inside or outside. That’s the science!  Under the rules now being considered by Cal/OSHA, workers cannot control their own destiny, like the rest of Californians.  Under these rules, workers’ freedoms will be controlled by their fellow workers decisions to get vaccinated, not by their own choices.  We join Governor Newsom in encouraging everyone to get vaccinated,” said Zaremberg.

A copy of the coalition letter can be found here.

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocate to government in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. Leveraging our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations, we provide products and services to help businesses comply with both federal and state law. CalChamber, a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, promotes international trade and investment in order to stimulate California’s economy and create jobs. Please visit our website at www.calchamber.com.

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