Occupational safety: transboundary pollution

Lifeguards, park rangers, and other high-risk workers near the Tijuana and New Rivers may face hazardous air or water contamination. The law directs workplace protections for exposures that can persist during pollution and wet-weather events.

What the law does ​

• Requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to propose a protection standard to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board by January 1, 2030.
• Covers lifeguards, park rangers, and other workers the division identifies as high risk within 10 miles of specified Tijuana River Valley, Tijuana River, and New River locations.
• Allows the standard to require protective equipment, medical monitoring, hazard notices, exposure reporting and records, and worker and supervisor training.
• Requires the division to consider a hydrogen sulfide exposure threshold and allows consideration of thresholds for other relevant pollutants.
• Allows the standards board to issue emergency regulations to implement the law.

Who it affects ​

• Lifeguards and park rangers working near covered border-pollution areas.
• Other outdoor employees identified as having high or prolonged exposure risk.
• Public- and private-sector employers of covered workers.

Context ​

Transboundary pollution includes pollutants or toxins from Baja California that enter California through the Tijuana River, Pacific Ocean, or New River.