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Happening Today: LA County Department of Public Health Requires Employers Provide Employees With N95 or KN95 Masks


Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that effective today, January 17th, it would require all employers in the county to provide any employee a N95 or KN95 mask if that employee works indoors and in close contact with others.

Readers might be aware that there is already an indoor mask mandate in Los Angeles County.  However, this requirement that employers actually provide these medical grade masks is somewhat unique (and an additional cost that employers will need to account for.)

Notably, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has urged employers to provide these masks before today’s deadline.  Although employers in Los Angeles County could have voluntarily done so, the requirement does not kick in until today.

At this time, it is not clear how long this requirement will remain in place.  If I were a betting man, I would expect it to closely track the statewide indoor mask mandate.  That statewide indoor mask mandate remains in place until at least February 15th.


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