Blog Archives

Owner and Employees of Oakland Electroplating Plant – Jailed on Criminal Charges

SAN DIEGO – The headline on the press release from the Alameda County District Attorney’s office summed up the charges faced by Robert and Barbara McSkimming. It read: “Owner and employees of Oakland plating company charged with manslaughter, reckless handling of hazardous waste, payroll tax fraud, workers’ compensation insurance fraud and money laundering.” The DA’s … Read More »

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

Read More »

Shea-Kiewit-Kenny Socked With Jumbo Penalty

SAN DIEGO – On July 29, the Cal-OSHA Mining and Tunneling Unit completed its inspection and investigation of the runaway locomotive accident in MTA tunnel #4 on March 11 and cited the joint venture for 20 violations of Title 8 safety orders. The proposed penalty is $302,625—only the second “jumbo” penalty ever issued by the … Read More »

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

Read More »

Procedures Cal-OSHA Follows for – Informal Conferences and Formal Appeals

SAN DIEGO – Policy & Procedure C-20, updated on June 27, 1994, is headed “Informal Conference.” It instructs Cal-OSHA field compliance staff to be sure that all citations they issue are stamped in red ink with the words “Informal Conference Available—Contact the Cal/OSHA District Office Listed on the Citation.” The district manager (DM) is the … Read More »

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

Read More »

Tom Rankin Will Head New Commission

SAN FRANCISCO – At its first meeting on July 28, the new Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) elected Tom Rankin of the California Labor Federation as chairman. Christine Baker of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) was named interim executive officer. And the members decided to hold monthly meetings on Fridays. … Read More »

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

Read More »

Directory Correction

SAN FRANCISCO – We have just learned that we listed the wrong telephone number on Directory page 50-001. Under Health and Technical Services, Deputy Chief Frank Ciofalo’s department, the correct number for the Occupational Carcinogen Control Unit is 415-703-5301.

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

Read More »

Late Night Retail Violence Prevention

SAN FRANCISCO – This week, as a Safety Aid, we are reproducing the sample checklist for preventing late night violence in retail stores that Cal-OSHA Chief John Howard developed from a variety of sources. Please file the checklist, page 62-035, immediately following page 62-033 behind the SAFETY AIDS tab in your COR binder. This is … Read More »

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

Read More »

Dir Offers Smaller Employers – the Self-Insurance Option

SAN FRANCISCO – For the first time, a group of medium and smaller-sized businesses within the same industry may seek permission to self-insure for workers’ compensation rather than purchase coverage from a workers’ comp carrier. The change in California law is part of last year’s workers’ compensation reform package. Self-insured employers can, if the Department … Read More »

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

Read More »

Welders Burned, Freeway Construction Worker Killed, – in Separate Accidents

SAN FRANCISCO – Cal-OSHA is looking into two construction accidents in southern California. One sent three subway construction workers to the hospital. The other killed a freeway worker. On July 18 a welding-related explosion in a tunnel under construction in downtown Los Angeles put Dale Gibson, 37, and Andy Gutierrez, 52, into the burn unit … Read More »

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

Read More »