What’s Next for Workplace Safety? Cal/OSHA’s New Regulations

Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board has been busy drafting multiple safety regulations, including workplace violence, heat illness, and first-aid requirements. While all of these regulations build on existing law, this will be a critical year for employers to revisit their written safety plans and ensure compliance. Get the scoop on what’s next for workplace safety.

Proposed Workplace Violence Regulation

California’s workplace violence prevention requirements for general industry went into effect on July 1, 2024, and required almost all employers to develop a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP), conduct hazard assessments, train employees on workplace violence, and maintain a violent incident log, among other requirements. The law is in effect, and Cal/OSHA has the authority to enforce it. CEA members can access our WVPP Do-It-Yourself Toolkit for guidance and resources.

The law also directed Cal/OSHA to develop a regulation interpreting and clarifying the law by December 31, 2026. Cal/OSHA last revised its draft in July 2026. The current draft provides employers more detail on hazard assessments, post‑incident responses, and implementation of the WVPP. Key highlights in the draft include:

• A requirement for employers to provide individual trauma counseling upon request, following a workplace violence incident. (This is one of the more controversial provisions.) The current draft states that an employee assistance program (EAP) would satisfy the requirement.
• Clarification on the small employer exemption, narrowing it to employers who aren’t open to the public and have 10 or fewer employees at the workplace over the preceding 365 days. This would prevent fluctuation in employer coverage based on staff changes.
• Examples of workplace violence hazards employers need to assess, including staffing levels
• A mechanism for employees to report concerns to someone other than a supervisor who may be involved in the incident
• Clarification on training, including that when training is conducted remotely, questions must be answered within one business day
• Expanded employee access to records and investigation materials

With the deadline fast approaching, employers should expect the WVPP regulation to be finalized in the next few months.

Proposed Heat Illness Regulation

On August 14, 2026, Cal/OSHA published revisions to the Heat Illness Prevention regulation it has been working on, which would apply to both indoor and outdoor heat illness plans. Again, the purpose is to build upon existing requirements. Key highlights in the draft include:

• High heat procedures (when the temperature reaches 95°F or higher) applying to all outdoor places of employment, rather than specific industries
• Provides that when temperatures reach 95°F or higher, employees take a minimum ten-minute cool-down break every two hours during a shift, and that time to get to the shade is not included in that break time
• Simplifies acclimatization thresholds for newly assigned or newly returned employees
• Clarifies that heat illness prevention training must account for literacy levels and provide an opportunity for questions
• Generally, requires an employer to distribute a written copy of its Heat Illness Prevention Plan to new employees when they are hired, during heat illness prevention training, and at least once a year thereafter

Proposed First-Aid Regulation

On September 17, 2026, Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board unanimously approved revisions to emergency medical services and first-aid regulations impacting both general industry and construction employers. The new regulation must be approved by the Office of Administrative Law before becoming final. The regulation could be effective as early as January 1, 2027 (if approved and filed by OAL by November 30th). If approval occurs after that date, it could be shifted to April 1, 2027.

After years of petitions submitted to Cal/OSHA to update California’s workplace first-aid requirements, the new first-aid regulations are aimed at aligning with the national voluntary consensus standard for workplace first-aid kits/supplies, known as the “ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021.” Among other changes, the regulations clarify:

• An express first-aid “kit” requirement. An employer may use either: (1) the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 Class A contents or (2) contents selected by an employer-authorized physician or other licensed healthcare professional;
  • Kits must include an ANSI first-aid guide or a guide selected by the healthcare professional
• Employers must inform employees of first-aid kit locations and include signage as practicable;
• Creates a mandatory kit check, including when the kit is put into service, to ensure that any used items are replaced;
• Creates an express hazard assessment, requiring employers to evaluate whether they have a sufficient number of kits and supplies, based on employee locations and the types and severity of occupational hazards at the worksite; and
• If an employer provides chemical injury treatment supplies in first-aid kits, they must train employees on emergency procedures and include safety data sheets.

Additional requirements apply to construction industry employers.

Final Note

Remember, the proposed Cal/OSHA regulations are not in effect yet and may be subject to change. However, existing laws in these areas are already enforceable.