Blog Archives

Fed-OSHA Wants Chemical ‘Dialogue’

Acknowledging that its efforts to update permissible exposure limits on chemicals have been “largely unsuccessful,” Fed-OSHA administrator Dr. David Michaels says the agency is starting a national dialogue on better ways to control workplace exposures. OSHA is seeking comment from stakeholders around the nation during the next six months on current practices for updating PELs, … Read More »

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Cal/OSHA Helps Rescue Window Washers in Frayed Rope Drama

Two Irvine window washers had a close call Oct. 1 when their suspended scaffold became stuck . It took coordination by Cal/OSHA, the Orange County Fire Department and the scaffold manufacturer to get them safely off the scaffold The near miss has lessons for building owners on making sure equipment is inspected before it is … Read More »

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Employers Become Liable for Labor Contractors’ Transgressions

Against the urging of California’s business community, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that will make most employers jointly liable for wage, safety and workers’ comp violations of the labor contracting firms they use to run their businesses. AB 1897 by Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) was dubbed a “job killer” by the … Read More »

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No Criminal Charges in Central Valley Confined-Space Deaths

The employer of two brothers, who died in a drainage ditch three years ago, in a case that sparked Cal/OSHA to focus on confined space hazards will not face criminal charges, the Kern County District Attorney has announced. District Attorney Lisa S. Green said, “Our ability to take action is limited by the confines of … Read More »

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Two Worker Deaths in Early October

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating two workplace fatalities in the first days of October, including a death from a fall, and a mysterious vehicle incident. The latter incident occurred Oct. 1 in Santa Paula, involving a contractor hired by MSFG, Inc., doing business as Affordable Plumbing. “The contractor took the company … Read More »

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Time to Settle Cases: It’s Complicated

In our Sept. 26 story about the Cal/OSH Appeals Board’s pilot project to see if it can get cases to settle earlier, Cal-OSHA Reporter described the time frame cases are taking as 17 months to get to hearing, which we said was a “significant increase from the 10-month time frame that the board achieved several years … Read More »

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SoCalCOSH Activist Feted

The National Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has recognized Rosemarie Molina, a board member of the Southern California Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, with its Health and Safety Activist Award. Molina was among five individuals from around the country honored for their work to promote safety, empower workers and build coalitions. In her … Read More »

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No Need for MPHC – Just Lengthen the Appeal Deadline

Commentary by Ricardo Beas   While the Appeals Board’s plan to create a “Mandatory Pre-Hearing Conference – In Person” (MPHC) is a well-intentioned plan to minimize the backlog of appeals cases, the approach being considered is only focusing on the needs of the board to expedite cases and does not take into full consideration the … Read More »

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