SAN DIEGO – Deputy Chief Mark Carleson was asked, the day after a deadly accident in Los Angeles, to provide members of the Cal-OSHA Advisory Committee with an account of what was known about the explosion on November 5 at the Imperial Toy Corporation. Toy industry observers have estimated that more than 60 percent of …
SAN DIEGO – In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court has upheld an appellate court holding that a child injured in utero could sue the mother’s employer for civil (tort) damages. The child, Mikayla Snyder, was born with cerebral palsy and other disabling conditions. Her mother Naomi was two months pregnant when her retail …
SAN DIEGO – Like Freddy Kreuger, AB 1015 by Knox was killed this year but is sure to be back in 1998. The California Chamber of Commerce newsletter hailed the governor’s veto. The Chamber had labeled AB 1015 a “job killer” due to new subcontractor liability issues, two new levels of fines, and increased personal …
SAN DIEGO – Attorneys with strongly divergent views spoke about AB 1015 (Knox), the vetoed “corporate homicide” bill still being promoted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to punish employers for egregious violations of occupational safety and health rules. The forum was the California Manufacturers Association’s 1997 safety and health conference. Jim Provenza, …
SAN DIEGO – The USEPA has a national advisory committee developing Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) on an ongoing basis to assist federal and state agencies and private sector organizations who need information about chemical exposures during emergency situations. Proposed AEGLs for 12 chemicals have been prepared and are ready for comments, which are due …
SAN DIEGO – Each year, California’s workers’ compensation system processes well over 100,000 permanent partial disability (PPD) claims filed by injured employees. According to researchers at the Rand Institute for Civil Justice, annual paid benefits peaked in 1993 at $7 billion. Insured 1994 PPD claims based on first reports of injury accounted for $2.4 billion …
SAN DIEGO – The Scaffold Industry Association in Van Nuys, CA, is developing a fall protection assessment plan to help erectors comply with the OSHA regulations that require a competent person to make an access and fall protection evaluation for scaffold erectors at each work site. The SIA is asking experienced erectors to review the …
SAN DIEGO – On December 2, from 1 to 4 p.m., industrial hygienists and other interested professionals are invited to attend a presentation by three industrial hygienists on research topics in the bioaerosol field. The pre-registration deadline is November 18 and the tuition cost is $40. To register, contact the Center for Occupational and Environmental …