CA AB685

Authorizes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to prohibit workplace operations or entry if they expose workers to COVID-19 risk constituting an imminent hazard, limited to affected areas and without materially interrupting critical government functions or essential services; provision repeals January 1, 2023.

Requires employers to notify employees within one business day of potential COVID-19 exposure, including information about COVID-19 benefits, leave options, and workplace disinfection plans; employers must also notify exclusive representatives and maintain records for three years.

Requires employers to report COVID-19 outbreaks to local public health agencies within 48 hours, including employee names, number, occupation, and worksite information; health facilities are exempt from this reporting requirement.

Directs the State Department of Public Health to publicly post workplace COVID-19 outbreak data by industry on its website, with local health departments and Cal/OSHA providing links to this information.

Exempts COVID-19-related serious violation citations from the standard precitation notice and employer rebuttal procedures that normally apply; exemption repeals January 1, 2023.