As 2025 approaches, workplace safety and compliance continue to take center stage. With Cal/OSHA preparing to implement key updates to its standards and regulations, it’s essential for businesses and safety professionals to stay informed so they can comply with these new requirements.
New safety legislation and rulemaking updates to pay attention to:
- Assembly Bill 1976 will require California employer to stock naloxone hydrochloride (Narcan) or other FDA-approved opioid antagonist and usage instructions in workplace first aid supplies. Cal/OSHA must propose a regulation by December 1, 2027 and adopt the standard by December 1, 2028.
- Assembly Bill 2975 directs the Cal/OSHA Standards Board by March 1, 2027 to incorporate this weapons screening requirement at designated entrances of hospitals.
- Senate Bill 1350 hopes to expand workplace protection under Cal/OSHA to household domestic workers performing work on a permanent or temporary basis. This bill will go into effect July 1, 2025.
- Assembly Bill 3258 will expand the current process safety management standards for refineries, chemical plants, and certain other manufacturing facilities to also apply to biofuel, asphalt, and petrochemical feedstock facilities too. Cal/OSHA must propose and adopt a regulation by January 1, 2026.
Other safety updates to be aware of in 2025:
- Cal/OSHA Standards Board passes updated regulation on Feb 15, 2024. The regulation will be in effective on January 1, 2025 and will revised many aspects of the previous regulation including the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) reducing from 50 mg/m3 to 10 mg/m3 over an 8-hour TWA and the Action Level (AL) lowering from 30 mg/m3 to 2 mg/m3
- The silica Emergency Temporary Standard will be expiring towards the end of December 2024. The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has developed a proposed amendment to Section 5204 which will primarily apply to countertop manufacturing, artificial stone manufacturing, and similar types of companies. This proposed regulation is still pending approval from the board but will most likely continue to see movement in 2025.
- The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted an updated DWC Form 7 (Notice to Employees—Injuries Caused By Work)with additional information for workers. This new form will be effective January 1, 2025.
- Cal/OSHA Standards Board has voted to align its residential construction and roofing fall protection trigger to meet Fed/OSHA’s standard of 6 feet. The proposed revision has been sent to the Office of Administrative Law for review and approval. An effective date is undetermined at this time.
- The COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulation is coming to an end on February 3, 2025. There are currently no information on whether Cal/OSHA intends to adopt this non-emergency regulation as a permanent regulation or will let it expire without any additional requirements.
- Assembly Bill 3278 will remove the requirement for commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of under 26,001 lbs. from California’s mandatory 90-day vehicle inspection program (BIT Inspection). All commercial vehicles, under 26,001 GVWR will be now subject to the federal annual inspection requirements in Part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Commercial Vehicles at or above 26,001 GVWR will still be required to conduct the 90-day inspection. This will be effective on January 1, 2025.
