California Extends Workplace Health, Safety Protections to Domestic Service Workers
As of July 1, domestic workers employed by businesses like housecleaning companies and homecare agencies in California are covered by workplace protections under the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Act. Household domestic service workers were not previously covered under California laws, and this change stems from Senate Bill 1350, which the state legislature enacted and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2024. Now, businesses in the state that employ such workers on a temporary or permanent basis will be treated as employers subject to Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, which comprises many of the workplace health and safety regulations enforced by Cal/OSHA.
Covered employers must establish, implement, and maintain effective injury and illness prevention programs; inspect workplaces for hazards and use signs and labels to warn workers about them; provide personal protective equipment as mandated by law; and report fatalities and serious workplace injuries to Cal/OSHA, among other requirements.
The new protections also extend to domestic service workers hired directly by private homeowners in certain circumstances. According to Cal/OSHA, home construction and mold and fire remediation and cleanup are examples of work that might cause a private household to be subject to these regulations. Homeowners who hire workers to do “ordinary household domestic tasks” like housecleaning, cooking, and caregiving are not considered employers under the law.
Other exceptions to the requirements of SB 1350 include work performed in or for a licensed family daycare home and work that is publicly funded, including by California’s In-Home Supportive Services program, which provides in-home assistance to aged, blind, and disabled individuals.
Additional information about California’s new requirements for domestic service workers can be found on a Cal/OSHA webpage that collects relevant guidance and resources. The agency will also host an employer information session via Zoom on July 24 to provide an overview of the changes and to outline the resources available to support employers in complying with these regulations.