California has extended workplace safety and health protections to domestic workers, including housekeepers, caregivers, and gardeners, for the first time. This landmark expansion of protections was enacted through Senate Bill 1350, which was signed into law in 2024 and took effect on July 1, 2025. The new law requires certain employers to comply with the California Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cal/OSHA) and its related regulations.

Under SB 1350, any entity that hires household domestic service workers on a temporary or permanent basis is considered an employer and is subject to the state’s workplace safety rules. These new rules mandate that employers:

• Establish and maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
• Inspect workplaces for hazards.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.
• Immediately report serious injuries or fatalities to Cal/OSHA.

Domestic workers are also granted new rights under the law. They are now entitled to access their employer’s safety plan, receive hazard training, and request that unsafe conditions be corrected without fear of retaliation.

Who Is Covered by the New Law?

The law applies to businesses that employ domestic workers. It also applies to private homeowners in specific situations. While individuals who employ workers for “ordinary household domestic tasks” such as cleaning, cooking, and caregiving are exempt, homeowners are not exempt if they hire workers for higher-risk jobs, like home construction, mold remediation, or fire cleanup.

SB 1350 also includes crucial anti-retaliation provisions. Employers are prohibited from threatening, firing, demoting, or suspending workers for reporting hazards, filing complaints, refusing unsafe work, or participating in a safety investigation.

Implications for Injured Domestic Workers

SB 1350 is a significant development because it brings a historically excluded workforce under the umbrella of enforceable safety standards. This creates new avenues to address workplace injuries and unsafe conditions in the domestic service industry. Lawyers representing injured workers should be aware of these expanded protections, as they may lead to new claims for retaliation, unsafe workplace violations, and related Workers’ Compensation benefits.

Speak With Our Ontario Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Lerner, Moore, Silva, Cunningham & Rubel Today

Our compassionate Ontario Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Lerner, Moore, Silva, Cunningham & Rubel have fought for injured California workers for over 40 years. If you have been injured on the job, put our experience to work for you. Call 909-889-1131 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Ontario and Victorville, California, we proudly serve clients in San Bernardino County, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and Colton, as well as Riverside County.