Blog Archives

DIR Chief Baker: ‘We Would Like to Fix Cal/OSHA Funding Permanently’

OAKLAND – The emergency regulation that the Division of Occupational Safety and Health has filed to fund its  Process Safety Management Unit is one of the first salvos in an effort to end Cal/OSHA’s chronic under-funding, Department of Industrial Relations Director Christine Baker said at the Oct. 3 meeting of the Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee.  The emergency … Read More »

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Another Fatality at 49ers’ Field

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the second fatality in the past several months at Levi’s Stadium, the new home of the San Francisco 49ers. DOSH had little to say about the incident at press time. “The Cal/OSHA Oakland office reported a fatality involving an employee of Gerdau Ameristeel,” Department of Industrial … Read More »

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Feds Recall Fiberglass Propane Tanks

The federal Department of Transportation has issued an emergency recall on fiberglass propane cylinders manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Co, based in Franklin, Tenn. In issuing a finding of “imminent hazard,” the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) says Lite Cylinders marked “DOT-SP 14562” have shown an increasing propensity to leak, a defect the … Read More »

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CDPH Calls for Sharply Lower Lead PEL; Berkeley Symposium Set for Nov. 13

California’s Department of Public Health is recommending a revised permissible exposure limit for lead that is sharply lower than Cal/OSHA even contemplated in recent discussions on exposure. The recommendations by CDPH’s Occupational Health Branch (OHB), based on research conducted by Cal/EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, will be the subject of a daylong symposium … Read More »

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Worker Crushed in Conveyor Belt; Another Fatality in the ‘Cone Zone’

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating several recent workplace fatalities. Oct. 7: An employee of R. J. Noble Co. in Orange was “sucked into a conveyor belt, crushing him,” according to Department of Industrial Relations public information officer Fred Chico. Oct. 4: DOSH learned about the death of a worker for Valley … Read More »

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Decisions Correction

In the Oct. 4 edition of our Decisions section, the Silva Trucking case lists Clement Hsieh as representing the employer. In fact, Hsieh represented the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, for which he is manager of the High Hazard Compliance Unit-North, based in Oakland. Silva Trucking was represented by Steve Rand.

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Board: Tank Rules Need Updating

A Title 8 regulation covering the safeguarding of storage tanks in flood-prone areas is seriously outdated, the Cal/OSH Standards Board staff says in proposing an update to the safety order and cross-reference to another regulation. The proposal is in a 45-day comment period that ends with a Nov. 21 public hearing in San Diego. General … Read More »

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Cal/OSHA Inspections Were Down in 2012, but Violations Were Higher

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health conducted almost 250 fewer on-site inspections in 2012 over the previous year, but it issued more citations and significantly more for serious violations. The information comes from data released by the DOSH Program Office. In all, DOSH conducted 7,720 on-site inspections last year, versus 7,962 in 2011, a … Read More »

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