Blog Archives

Workplace Violence — No Easy Answers (Part 1)

SAN FRANCISCO – On December 7, nine people with varied backgrounds held a wide-ranging discussion with Cal-OSHA Chief John Howard about possible approaches to prevention of workplace violence. The COR editor invited the participants based on their level of knowledge and tape-recorded the conversation (with permission). Participants are identified at the end of the story. … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

Workplace Violence — No Easy Answers (Part 2)

SAN FRANCISCO – MR: I like AB 508 because it’s not prescriptive but programmatic. It says you have to look at past incident records and analyze your vulnerabilities and figure out what you’re going to do because every building is different, every town is different. So it gives the employer the ultimate in flexibility to … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

Workplace Violence — No Easy Answers (Part 3)

SAN FRANCISCO – RL: Yes, employees speak of the high level of day-to-day stress on the job. Why are harassment laws limited to sexual harassment? VC: We live in a threatened and threatening society. People use intimidating language. JH: But how can we evaluate what is a credible threat? MR: If you feel threatened, it’s … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

Workplace Violence — No Easy Answers (Part 4)

SAN FRANCISCO – WANTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE: I only know my bit, MR commented. I agree it’s complicated. I would like an advisory committee to discuss all the pieces. SJ: I do know this. There are certain skills an employee needs to stay safe in the workplace: how to meet an agitated person without making the … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

No Rules Are Good Rules, GOP Says

SAN FRANCISCO – The joint Republican leadership in Congress has asked the Clinton administration to impose a moratorium on all federal rulemaking to run through the first 100 days of 1995. According to The Wall Street Journal, the freeze would provide a window for consideration of the GOP’s ambition to change the process whereby agencies … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

Roundup of 1994 Legislation

SAN FRANCISCO – The Department of Industrial Relations has issued its 1994 legislative summary. It was compiled by Deputy Director Roberta Mendonca. It includes descriptions of 50 bills signed and vetoed on the subjects of occupational health and safety (not all with an impact on Cal-OSHA), wages and working conditions, workers’ compensation and three in … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

Standards Board Refuses to Adopt OSHA Fall Protection Regs – Without Advisory Committee Review (Part 1)

SACRAMENTO – At its December 15 meeting and hearing, the Cal-OSH Standards Board heard of continued concern about rules for underground construction, was thanked by the business community for its reluctance to regulate ergonomic hazards and got expressions of extreme distaste for Fed-OSHA’s fall protection in construction standard. The members (all six of whom were … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »

Standards Board Refuses to Adopt OSHA Fall Protection Regs – Without Advisory Committee Review (Part 2)

SACRAMENTO – “The federal regulations are not and will not be as effective as Cal-OSHA’s,” Banister said. He was referring to Construction Article 30. “A practical regulation which is apt to be followed is more effective than an impractical regulation which is extremely likely to be extensively ignored.” He asked the board to appoint an … Read More »

This content is only available to premium subscribers. Please login here log in

Read More »