California's Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board Amends Medical Services and First Aid Regulations to Extend Requirements to All Employers

California's Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has voted to amend the Medical Services and First Aid Regulations set forth in the California Code of Regulations to require all employers to make provisions in advance to ensure that employees receive prompt medical treatment in the event that an employee is seriously injured or falls seriously ill. The amendment will take effect on September 26, 2009.

In its current form, the Medical Services and First Aid Regulations only require employers "at isolated locations" to make provisions in advance for prompt medical attention to be provided to employees who are seriously injured. However, the amendment requires all employers to make such provisions for employees who are seriously injured or who fall seriously ill. The amendment to the Regulations further provides that one or a combination of the following will avoid unnecessary delay in treatment:

• A communication system for contacting a doctor or emergency medical service, such as access to 911;
• Readily accessible and available on-site treatment facilities suitable for treatment of reasonably anticipated injury or illness; and/or
• Proper equipment for prompt medical transport when transportation of injured or ill employees is necessary and appropriate.

The amendment does not significantly change the requirement that all employers ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of industrial health or injury and the requirement to make first aid readily available to employees.