California has the largest state Occupational Safety and Health department in the country. Cal/OSHA works to protect and improve workplace health and safety throughout the state by setting and enforcing standards and providing education, outreach, and assistance.
Following State of California and Oakland occupational health guidelines benefits both employers and employees. For employers, being aware of and strictly following the rules will ensure your business stays in compliance and may limit your liability if an employee injury or illness occurs.
Employees should make sure they're aware of their rights and obligations under Oakland's workplace occupational health rules. This includes knowing how to access applicable Oakland occupational health services and understanding how to report unsafe work conditions.
Many Oakland workplace health regulations are designed to ensure employees are physically fit enough to perform the duties of the job. This helps prevent job-related injuries and minimizes the chances that an unfit employee may create a workplace hazard for coworkers.
For example, the city of Oakland requires police officer physical agility testing prior to accepting candidates into the police academy. Prior to employment with the Alameda County Fire Department, applicants must also pass a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). In addition, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation requires pre-employment testing for job candidates. This screening includes vision and hearing tests, bloodwork, a respiratory mask fit test, drug screening, and tuberculosis screening.
Alameda County requires pre-employment occupational health screenings to ensure employees are physically fit to meet the demands of the job. Civil Service Rule 1488 also allows the county to request physical examinations for employees at any time during their employment to confirm that the employee remains fit enough to perform their job duties.
In 2009, the state of California passed the Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) standard to protect employees whose work activities put them at risk of contracting certain airborne infections.
California Education Code 44839 requires certified teachers to submit to a physical examination prior to first-time employment. This exam is required to confirm that the employee is free from communicable infectious disease and that they are physically capable of performing the job functions.
