FLASH REPORTS

Flash: ‘Walkaround’ Rule Changes

Cal/OSHA has made revisions to its proposal on who can accompany inspectors during site site inspections. Here’s what’s being proposed.

Flash: Murder Charges in Esparto Fireworks Blast

Grand Jury Indicts Seven in 2025 Explosion

ARTICLES

New Cal/OSHA WPV Changes

Cal/OSHA is edging closer to its official proposal on workplace violence prevention in general industry. Here’s the latest draft and how you can weigh in on it.

Multiemployer Citations in Fatal Fall

Three employers are cited after a fatal fall at a Los Angeles residential roofing job earlier this year. Here’s what Cal/OSHA alleges in this tragic case.

Bracing Action at Last

A construction company petitioned the Cal/OSHA Standards Board in 2020 to clarify the rules for bracing rebar columns. At last, regulatory draft language has surfaced. Here’s what the issue is all about, why the Board proposes, and how you can weigh in on it.

Petition Seeks Head Protection Upgrade

A fall protection trainer is petitioning the Cal/OSHA Standards Board, saying it’s about time that Type II safety helmets are a requirement, not just a recommendation. Here’s what a Type II is and how it’s different from a hard hat.

Gates Proposal Rolling Along

A Cal/OSHA project to prevent fatal gate incidents is moving toward a regulatory proposal, as a committee works to refine draft language. Some gates are in; some are out. Here’s the latest in that effort.

Cal/OSHA’s New Budget

California’s Governor proposed cuts to Cal/OSHA in his early-year budget. Here’s how the agency ultimately fared in the budget process that is now signed into law.

Despite Board Misgivings, CIH Petition to Committee

Does Cal/OSHA need to define who is a “competent person” for the purposes of conducting workplace air monitoring? That’s what the California Industrial Hygiene Council seeks, and what an advisory committee will deliberate.

Preventing Hell in a Bucket

If an employee working in an elevated bucket or platform is exposed to a fire, how would they be protected? That’s what a Midwest lineman is asking in requesting the Cal/OSHA Standards Board to take action.

CASES

COTTI FOODS CALIFORNIA DBA WENDY’S

49 COR 40-9103 [¶23,420]

INJURY AND ILLNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §3203(a)(2)
The proffered evidence showed Employer ensured employee compliance with safe and healthful work practices.

HAZARD ASSESSMENT –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §3380(f)(1)(A) –
The evidence proffered by the Division established that Employer failed to adequately assess the hazards in the restaurant kitchen and select the proper PPE to protect against those hazards.

PROTECTION FROM SLIPPERY FLOOR SURFACES –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §3272(d) –
The proffered evidence showed that Employer effectively protected its employees from the hazard of slippery floors.

ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES –
Citation 1, Item 1 and Citation 2 and their associated penalties were vacated.  Citation 1, Item 2, and its associated penalty was affirmed.

Digest of COSHAB ALJ’s Decision dated July 14, 2026, Inspection No. 1808018 (Simi Valley)

 

AMIRIAN MANAGEMENT COMPANY DBA POPEYE’S

49 COR 40-9103 [¶23,419R]

PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION – VERIFICATION
Labor Code §6616 –
Employer’s Petition for Reconsideration was not verified.

Digest of COSHAB’s Denial of Petition for Reconsideration dated July 24, 2026, Inspection No. 1637991.

 

City of Los Angeles – Department of General Services

49 COR 40-9095 [¶23,416]

MACHINE GUARDING –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §4002 (a) –
The evidence proffered by the Division established that the mixer was guarded by location.

SERIOUS CLASSIFICATION, ACCIDENT-RELATED AND REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §334(c)(1) –
The causal nexus between the Serious violation and the injury was sufficient to sustain the Accident-Related classification. Employer did not rebut the presumption.

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE –
Independent Employee Action Defense –
IEAD does not apply to guarding violations.

ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES –
Citation 1 and its associated penalty were affirmed.

Digest of COSHAB ALJ’s Decision dated June 26, 2026, Inspection No. 1731627 (Los Angeles)

Republic Electric West, Inc. dba Nevada Republic Electric West, Inc.

49 COR 40-9096 [¶23,417R]

FALL PROTECTION and LADDER SAFETY –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §1670(a) and §1675(b)
The Appeals Board concluded that Employer’s work required fall protection and Employer was not entitled to the “greater hazard” defense.  The Appeals Board concluded that Employer failed to ensure proper ladder use.

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE – INDEPENDENT EMPLOYEE ACT
The Board found that Employer failed to establish three elements of the IEAD.

LABOR CODE §6432(c) –
Employer failed to rebut the presumption of a serious citation. As a result, Citations 2 and 3 were properly classified as serious and the Board reinstated the proposed penalties.

PENALTIES – DUPLICATIVE VIOLATIONS
The Board concluded that Citation 1, Item 3, and Citations 2 and 3 were duplicative.

Digest of COSHAB’s Decision After Reconsideration dated July 13, 2026, Inspection No. 1355061.

Sturgeon Electric California, LLC 

49 COR 40-9100 [¶23,418]

FALL PROTECTION –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §2940.6(b) –
The proffered evidence established that employer failed to ensure the use of fall protection while work was performed at an elevated location.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS –
Labor Code §6317(e)(1) –
The citation was timely issued given the Governor’s Executive Orders, which extended the statute of limitations under the Emergency Services Act.

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE –
Independent Employee Action Defense –
Employer established all five elements of IEAD. 

ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES –
Citation 1 and its associated penalty were dismissed.

Digest of COSHAB ALJ’s Decision dated June 30, 2026, Inspection No. 1499128 (Idyllwild)

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT

49 COR 40-9091 [¶23,414]

INJURY AND ILLNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §3203(a)(4) and (a)(7)
The proffered evidence showed Employer had procedures for identifying hazards and implemented them with respect to the work that gave rise to the accident.  There was no evidence that Employer failed to provide adequate training to its employees.

ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES –
Citations 1 and 2 were dismissed, and the penalties were vacated.

Digest of COSHAB ALJ’s Decision dated June 19, 2026,  Inspection No. 1531603 (San Francisco)

 

MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES, INC.

49 COR 40-9092 [¶23,415R]

INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM (IIPP) –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §1509(a)
The Appeals Board concluded that Employer effectively implemented its IIPP which included methods and/or procedures for correcting unsafe or unhealthy work hazards. Citation 2 was vacated.

 CONTROL OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES – DUSTS, FUMES, MISTS, VAPORS AND GASES, RESPIRATORY PROTECTION, PERMISSIBLE PRACTICE –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §5144(a)
The proffered evidence showed that the Division failed to demonstrate employee exposure to the hazard.  Citation 3 was vacated.

Digest of COSHAB’s Decision After Reconsideration dated July 9, 2026, Inspection No. 1235941.

CALIFORNIA FARMS MEAT COMPANY, INC. DBA GOLDEN WEST FOOD GROUP

49 COR 40-9089 [¶23,413]

INJURY AND ILLNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §3203(a)(7)
The proffered evidence showed Employer had properly trained its employees. 

MACHINE GUARDING –
Title 8, California Code of Regulations, §4002 (a) –
The evidence proffered by the Division established that the mixer was guarded by location.                                                                                                

ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES –
Citations 1 and 2 and their associated penalties were vacated.

Digest of COSHAB ALJ’s Decision dated June 18, 2026, Inspection No. 1568216 (Vernon)