The death of a seven-year-old Marin County boy and a spate of workplace fatalities throughout California from gate accidents have converged to reform gate safety. Both a petition to amend Cal/OSHA’s rules and a legislative effort are underway. The Cal/OSHA petition was submitted by Standards Board public member Joseph Alioto, Jr. He seeks to revise …
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has adopted a slightly modified version of the silica emergency temporary standard (ETS), first adopted in December 2023. The Board intends to readopt the ETS in August before voting on the permanent version, which will have its public hearing in June. The adoption is slated by the end of the year. …
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has adopted Fed-OSHA respirator fit-testing procedures, which are designed to simplify things for employers while maintaining employee safety. The rulemaking change now goes to the Office of Administrative Law and will take effect as soon as OAL approves it. The regulatory change is to General Industry Safety Orders §5144, Appendix A, …
Cal/OSHA’s budget for the coming fiscal year calls for a 1% decrease, as confirmed by the governor’s May revise, but increases authorized positions. The final picture has yet to be drawn, though, as the state legislature must finalize the state budget by June 30th for the governor’s signature. The big question is, will the agency …
The state Office of Administrative Law has rejected Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat illness prevention regulatory proposal because it lacks an approved fiscal impact statement—Form 399. The rejection was expected and required by law. The California Department of Finance objected to the standard at the last minute, citing what it describes as excessive costs for California’s prisons …
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, effectively Cal/OSHA’s parent, is strategically rearranging its regions to concentrate on the growing Southern part of the United States. This move is not only taking advantage of the fact that most of the Western states have effective, fairly self-governing, state programs, but also ensuring that the Southern United …
Here are the results of 10 workplace fatality cases that were recently finalized in settlement agreements between the respective employers and Cal/OSHA’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The Appeals Board approved the deals. Crushing Incidents Hi Grade Materials Co.: This Hesperia construction materials producer will pay $51,030 (68%) of Cal/OSHA’s proposed $75,000 for citations …
There are five new fatalities at California workplaces from late April and early May. In Fremont, trucking company Santa Clara Transfer Service driver was hospitalized after falling from his truck. He died later that evening. The company has an EMR of 97; its workers’ comp coverage is with Insurance Company of the West. In Pittsburg, …