SACRAMENTO – In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on November 15, Fed-OSHA announced it would modify its existing standards for respiratory protection. OSHA seeks written comments on the proposal by February 13, 1995. It has scheduled informal public hearings from March 7 to March 24 in Washington, D.C. Information is available from Anne Cyr, Office …
SACRAMENTO – Cal-OSHA Chief John Howard has advised regional, area and district managers about their role in enforcement of AB 13 (T. Friedman), which added new section 6404.5 to the Labor Code. The statewide ban on tobacco smoking in an enclosed work space will be enforced by local law enforcement agencies including local health departments. …
SAN DIEGO – REMINDER: This is the last issue of COR for 1994. We start up again on January 2 with Vol 22 No. 1. What does the new year portend for federal OSHA and Cal-OSHA? At the federal level, Democratic appointees at Fed-OSHA and other regulatory agencies face a bleak two years. The Wall …
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new, expanded rules for alcohol and drug testing for commercial drivers were described on NEWS p. 00-6093. They take effect on January 1. On that date, two other sets of new DOT regulations also click in. According to Utility Reporter of IBEW 1245: “Regulations affecting pipeline workers …
SAN DIEGO – Oakland lawyer Frederick L. Walter wrote to say he enjoyed our reporting of the Cal-OSH Appeals Board’s pre-hearing conference procedure (NEWS p. 00-6085). “I applaud the Board for being pro-active in its attempt to speed up the appeals process. The use of pre-trial conferences may also solve another problem: identifying issues and …
SAN FRANCISCO – At the December 1 meeting of the Cal-OSHA Advisory Committee, Chief John Howard introduced Hami Kazerooni, a mechanical engineering professor at UC-Berkeley’s Human Engineering Laboratories, who was there to discuss his research into the role of human extenders in preventing ergonomic injuries. The professor is a robotics expert. He has a small …
SAN FRANCISCO – Concerning indoor air quality, the Cal-OSHA Advisory Committee met twice. Fed-OSHA’s hearings are still going on. The division (DOSH) will probably call another advisory committee meeting later, Ciofalo said. Two previously-heard standards packages have been sent back to the board for 15-day notices, he said. They are airborne contaminants and contact lenses …
SAN FRANCISCO – A leaflet the CalEPA’s pesticide enforcement branch sent to county agricultural commissioners (CACs) will, Cal-OSHA hopes, keep CACs from inspecting and citing bars and restaurants for use of antimicrobial products (disinfectants, sanitizers and medical sterilants). It is dated July 1994. The leaflet explains that the Division of Occupational Safety and Health is …