Blog Archives

Another Bill To Ban Diacetyl; ILWU Seeks To Regulate Indoor Heat Illness

California’s legislative season is under way, with a number of bills related to occupational safety and health, including a new measure to ban the flavoring chemical diacetyl, and legislation that would extend California’s heat illness standard to indoor workplaces. The diacetyl bill, AB 514 by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), follows a state Senate bill … Read More »

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Builders’ Exchange Expo March 27-29

Up to 3,000 construction contractors are expected at this year’s Pacific Builders’ Exchange Safety Expo, March 27-29 at Cal State-Sacramento. The event, which features more than 100 educational sessions and a trade show, costs just $35 for all three days for those who pre-register, and $50 for the entire show at the door. Expo organizers … Read More »

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Latest Golden Employers

The Cal/OSHA Consultation Service announces the latest participants in its Golden Partners recognition and exemption programs, as listed below. Golden State is Cal/OSHA’s exemption program for non-fixed-site employers, primarily construction firms. It is similar to the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Both Golden State and VPP recognize superior safety programs. SHARP is a limited exemption program … Read More »

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State Water Agency Suspends Dives While February Deaths Investigated

California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) has suspended all diving activities and is assembling a task force of diving experts to review its program after the Feb. 7 deaths of two employees who mysteriously succumbed at a pumping plant south of Los Banos. DWR issued an internal report Feb. 27 that announced the actions. Agency … Read More »

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Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Proposal Nearing Rulemaking Stage

California’s current groundbreaking standard-setting effort – a regulation protecting employees at health care, emergency and other workplaces from so-called aerosol transmissible diseases (ATDs), appears close to being formally proposed. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) recently distributed the latest draft of the proposal, which tentatively has been designated as General Industry Safety Orders … Read More »

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Double Crane Pick Goes Wrong – Operator Injured, DOSH Investigating

Two cranes toppled attempting to lift a 39-ton rebar cage Feb. 23, sending a crane operator to the hospital and Cal/OSHA investigators to the scene to determine what went wrong. The incident was at a highway project at the Interstate 205-580 interchange near Tracy. Contractor MCM Construction of North Highland is constructing a truck bypass … Read More »

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Dana Point Funicular Approved

Cal/OSH Standards Board has given its blessing to a vertically inclined elevator that will carry residents of a Dana Point development to a nearby beach. The variance to Title 8 elevator requirements was granted at the board’s Feb. 15 meeting. The board also granted more than 50 other variances to the Elevator Safety Orders (ESO) … Read More »

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Simitian Bill Would Ban Diacetyl

A Silicon Valley legislator is proposing to ban the flavoring chemical diacetyl within 18 months. State Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) introduced SB 456 Feb. 2. Simitian’s bill would amend the California Hazardous Substances Act to add diacetyl as a banned hazardous substance. Manufacturing, processing or distributing the chemical, associated with the potentially deadly lung … Read More »

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