Four occupational safety and health bills have advanced from their houses of origin in the California Legislature, two in the Senate and two from the Assembly. The most prominent (or some would say ominous) is SB 606, by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). Among its many provisions, the legislation would apply Fed-OSHA’s “egregious” employer provisions …
The California Office of Administrative Law has approved Title 8 revisions that officially recognize technical diving in California. It takes effect on October 1st. The Cal/OSHA Standards Board adopted the revisions at its April meeting. The revisions have been several years in the making. While the Board was in the process of adopting Fed-OSHA diving …
There are five new workplace fatalities – only one new COVID case. The pandemic fatality occurred at El Proyecto Del Barrio, a community healthcare center in the Los Angeles Area. The non-pandemnic fatalities include: An employee of National Technical Systems in Fullerton who died in an explosion at what is believed to be a testing …
It was as if reality was suspended. The Cal/OSHA Standards Board rejected revisions to the COVID emergency temporary standard on a narrow vote Thursday, June 3rd. And then, after a recess came back, reversed itself, and approved the DOSH proposal amending the standard unanimously. Confused? It was that kind of day. The vote came after …
The May 26th massacre at Santa Clara County’s Valley Transportation Authority rail yard is one of the deadliest acts of workplace violence in California history, but by no means an isolated incident. Since 1976, when seven people were killed at Cal State Fullerton and the latest shooting, which killed ten employees, there have been numerous …
The latest iteration of the readoption of the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) from the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) is now being reviewed by the Office …
Cal/OSHA Chief Doug Parker faced persistent questioning from conservative U. S. senators at a recent hearing as his confirmation process to become Assistant Secretary of Labor for Fed-OSHA begins. Parker appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Retirement. The panel has not yet voted on his nomination. While the questioning was at …
There are four new workplace fatalities. The non-COVID fatalities are from as-yet unknown causes. In Murrieta, an employee of Rancho Springs Medical Center collapsed and died while at work. In Dixon, an employee of Platinum Pipeline, an employee was found unresponsive next to their work truck. The COVID-related fatalities include employees of: Oceanside Unified School …