In a horrific week by California standards, 10 employees suffered workplace fatalities. Several have a familiar ring: falls, tree trimming, drownings, and struck-bys. The most high-profile fatality in recent days was the death of Robert Gill, 54, who was struck by a dump truck as he was working cleanup and repair on state Highway 17 …
Government affairs consultant Dan Leacox has petitioned the Cal/OSH Standards Board to revise the Injury and Illness Prevention Program standard to clarify just what an employers’ obligation is relative to providing employees access to IIPPs. Leacox, who represents businesses before the board, says the petition is a matter of clarifying the standard. But, it also …
The National Demolition Association seeks a revision of the Construction Safety Orders. It wants to allow contractors to use a cable restraint system to prevent heavy equipment from falling through floor openings while removing debris. Current requirements in CSO §1735(v) calls for curbs or stop-logs at the edge of openings to prevent plunges, but the …
California employers, already facing the highest fines in the nation for occupational safety and health violations, are about to see them ratcheted up, all thanks to actions by the U.S. Congress last year. According to budget language proposed by the state Department of Finance for the 2017-18 legislative season, potential penalties for general violations will jump …
The Cal/OSH Standards Board has published the long-awaited revisions to its controversial process safety management reforms. Comments are due to the board on the 15-day notice of proposed modifications by March 3rd. The state undertook the reforms in the wake of the 2012 Chevron Richmond refinery explosion and fire, and the 2015 explosion at ExxonMobil …
Winter is winding down, but California’s legislative season is officially here, with several new bills related to occupational safety and health. Here’s what the solons will be considering in the coming months. Give Small Employers a Break? AB 442 would give small businesses a grace period for non-serious offenses from Cal/OSHA. Authored by Jim Frazier …
It was late September 2016 when Goodwill Industries roll-off driver Dave Goudie witnessed the ultimate workplace nightmare. He was sitting in a truck at the start of his shift picking up containers of refuse from a drop-off location in Sacramento and assisting the previous driver so he could go home. He asked a compactor operator …
Gov. Jerry Brown has named industrial hygienist Chris Laszcz-Davis to the Cal/OSH Standards Board. She fills the the second management member seat formerly held by John Sacco, who was killed in a light plane crash in December 2015. Laszcz-Davis’ appointment comes none too soon, as the board is poised to vote on a controversial permissible …