Rules intended to preserve procedures particularly peculiar to the professional diving community in California are set to become effective on January 1st, 2026. The revisions modify General Industry Safety Orders §§ 6050, 6051, 6052, 6054, and 6056. This regulatory saga dates back to 2014, when Fed-OSHA informed Standards Board staff that California’s regulations were not …
California’s Office of Administrative Law has given final approval to Cal/OSHA’s Confined Spaces in Construction revisions, which the Standards Board adopted in September. The rulemaking package takes effect on January 1st, 2026. The revisions to Construction Safety Orders §§ 1951, 1952, 1953, and General Industry Safety Orders § 5156 have a long history, dating back …
There is growing support in some circles in California for banning both the manufacture and sale of artificial stone, which is responsible for a serious number of silicosis cases among workers. Also known as “engineered stone,” these materials are packed with silica, and even Cal/OSHA’s ban on dry-cutting in favor of cutting with water doesn’t …
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board staff has recommended that Cal/OSHA require approval for all self-propelled autonomous equipment before it can be used in agricultural operations where workers are present. Board Chair Joseph Alioto, Jr., quickly dismissed that and other recommendations on the long-simmering issue at the rulemaking body’s recent meeting. “We’re not going …
The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) has honored three individuals and three organizations for their efforts to promote mine safety. The 2025 Excellence in Safety Awards winners were announced at the association’s recent annual meeting in Anaheim. “These awards acknowledge the companies and individuals who make safety a top priority every day through …
There are three new California workplace fatalities. In Oakland, the athletic director for Laney College was shot and later died. John Beam was a beloved East Bay football coach. His alleged assailant, Cedric Irving, Jr., has been charged with murder in the case. Irving, who once took a class from Beam, is reported to have …