COVID-19 Safety Update - January 16, 2021

Dear OCEA member,

As COVID-19 infection rates continue to soar in our community and workplaces, OCEA Stewards and staff are escalating demands for verification the County is complying with Cal/OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for dealing with viral outbreaks and major outbreaks.

As I stated to both County officials and the press, your workplace leaders and labor representatives are asking for a process that provides workers with observable, visible, verifiable actions commensurate with the rate of positive COVID-19 cases at each worksite.

The urgency is great - and growing. The ETS defines a COVID-19 “outbreak” as three or more cases in a 14-day period present in the same exposed workplace during the high-risk exposure period. Based on numbers compiled from the County’s response to our Request for Information (RFI), twenty-two (22) County worksites appear to be experiencing an “outbreak."

What is missing in the County's response to the crisis is a consistent procedure for reporting, documenting, and responding to exposures, and a clearly defined policy for testing, contact tracing, and workplace mitigation. It is OCEA's position that these elements are the minimum requirements the County must meet to achieve ETS compliance.

Thanks to you and input from your coworkers, we have documented our concerns in a letter to the County which you can read here. We have demanded information immediately including the following: 

• Documentation that confirms the County evaluated or is evaluating whether HEPA air filtration units are needed in poorly ventilated areas;
• Documentation that confirms the County determined or is determining the need for a respiratory protection program or changes to an existing respiratory protection program under Government Code Section 5144 to address COVID-19 hazards; and,
• Documentation that confirms the County considered or is considering halting all or part of operations to control the virus.

When covered employers, such as the County, effectively implement the ETS, they slow the transmission of COVID-19, reduce exposure risks for frontline workers, and protect the community as a whole.  

If you see unsafe working conditions, notify your immediate supervisor, manager, or Human Resources representative. You can also notify your OCEA Steward or staff representative if you feel unsafe or observe any unsafe conditions.

We will continue to demand compliance with workplace mandates and policies that protect you, your coworkers, and your families.

In Solidarity,

Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager

Publication Date: January 16, 2021