California employers who have five or more employees are subject to reporting requirements for COVID-19 infections. If an outbreak occurs at your workplace, regulations assume employees who test positive for COIVD-19 contracted it at work.
You’re required to report to your workers’ compensation claims administrator via email or fax, when you become aware that an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The report must be made within 3 business days.
You can download the COVID-19 Positive Test Report form that includes all the reporting requirements.
An outbreak occurs if, within a 14-day calendar period, one of the following happens:
A “specific work location” means the building, store, store, facility or agricultural field where the employee worked at your direction. Many workers may transition between multiple places of employment during their shift, so tracking the locations they’re required to work at is essential.
In addition, the employee must:
Claims administrators are tasked with using the reported information to calculate whether an outbreak has occurred. So providing timely, detailed reporting is critical.
If a workers’ compensation claim becomes accepted, an employee is required to exhaust any paid sick leave benefits specifically available in response to COVID-19 before temporary disability benefits may be paid.