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California’s workplace safety department says workers must wear masks unless all employees are confirmed to have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved revised guidelines June 3, stressing it is likely to revisit them as the state’s anticipated June 15 “reopening date” draws closer. The changes are set to take effect June 15 but could be approved earlier.
Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines saying vaccinated people shouldn’t have to wear masks in the company of others, OSHSB approved standards that said workers who are vaccinated but in a workplace with one or more unvaccinated employees have to keep masks on.
The standards apply to nearly all businesses in California except industries that require more stringent safeguards, remote businesses and single-employee enti-
Employees at outdoor “mega events” with more than 10,000 attendees will have to stay masked. This mandate applies to things such as outdoor concert workers or theme park employees.
Employers no longer will be required to mandate physical distancing for workers but only if they offer respirators such as N95 masks to unvaccinated workers for voluntary use. This proposal was criticized by employers who said the mandate would be costly and ineffective.
“Cal/OSHA should be adopting the same rules and protocols for workers that Gov. Gavin Newsom has adopted for the rest of the state—beginning June 15— and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted for the rest of the country,” California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg said.
State regulators aren’t following the science, he said.
“If you are fully vaccinated, you don’t need to wear a mask inside or outside. That’s the science! Under the rules now being considered by Cal/OSHA, workers cannot control their own destiny, like the rest of Californians,” he said. “Under these rules, workers’ freedoms will be controlled by their fellow workers’ decisions to get vaccinated, not by their own choices.”
The board initially narrowly rejected making any changes to their mitigations. The meeting had been postponed to June 3 after the CDC’s May 13 announcement that vaccinated people didn’t need to wear masks when going about their pre-pandemic activities. The board is scheduled to meet again June 17, two days after the state lifts its COVID-19 mitigations entirely. SafeAuto will add capabilities and distribution with its 24-hour, 7-days-a-week customer contact centers at 1-800-SafeAuto and its website.
The combination will leverage National General’s direct-to-consumer non-standard auto insurance operations and leverage National General’s track record of acquiring and integrating companies to accelerate growth.
“I am confident that combining forces with National General with the backing of Allstate will allow SafeAuto to grow its platform in the non-standard space,” said Ari Deshe, co-founder and chairman of SafeAuto. “I wish to thank all of our past and present associates for their contributions to our success during our 27-year history.”
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2021, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Source: SafeAuto
CAWA Announces 2021 Scholarship Winners
CAWA, representing the automotive parts industry, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2021 scholarship awards. CAWA provided $10,750 in scholarships this year to 10 individuals. “Once again, CAWA is proud to assist these young people in pursuing their education and careers in the auto care industry,” said Rodney Pierini, president and CEO, in announcing the awards.
Recipients of the scholarships include:
Trino Guerrero, Mort Schwartz Award, Rio Hondo College Duminda Edirisinghe, Mort Schwartz Award, Rio Hondo College Harout Youssoufian, Mort Schwartz Award, Citrus College Ryan Zangler, Universal Technical Institute Stassa Cappos, California Polytechnic University Matthew Anczelowitz, Universal Technical Institute Matthew Wolfe, Universal Technical Institute Alexander Siegenthaler, Universal Technical Institute Kevin Berrios, Los Angeles Trade Technical College Jayson Fuentes, Drexel University
This year, three students received the prestigious Mort Schwartz Award as the highest rated students out of 80 applications for scholarships. The primary scholarship fundraising effort by CAWA is its annual dinner gala held the Sunday night before the AAPEX and SEMA shows. This year it will be held Oct. 31 at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Scholarship funding also comes, in part, from a grant provided by the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. To contribute to the association’s scholarship fund or to donate prizes for the annual fundraising auction, contact Pierini at 800-332-2292, ext. 1201, or admin@ cawa.org, or visit www.cawa.org. CAWA is a regional auto care trade association, which represents auto parts jobbers, warehouse distributors, retailers, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives and program groups. The association provides education, legislative, regulatory and business support to the industry and its membership. It is one of the largest trade associations of its kind in the U.S. and recognized as a leader in the auto care industry.
Source: CAWA
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