National workplace injury and illness statistics released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2002 show that more than 4.7 million workers suffered non-fatal injuries or illnesses last year, for an overall rate of 5.3 per 100 employees. That could translate to a continued downward trend, but BLS noted that the change in …
A rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases in the mid-1980s and early 1990s that may have been due in part to a laxity in institutional procedures, and a drop in current TB rates, convinced the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that there is no need to proceed with a proposed TB standard that dates back …
Administrative law judge Manuel Melgoza has upheld a citation for an alleged willful/general violation and $10,000 penalty against Kimes Morris Construction of Hayward in a case involving a remodeling project in which workers were allegedly exposed to asbestos with no protection. The employer was engaged in the project in the East Bay and a Bay …
This poster is from David Wolf of the Kern County District Attorney’s office and was forwarded to COR by Chris Vochoska of the Bakersfield chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers. Vochoska notes that updated “Wanted for Workers’ Compensation Fraud” posters are available, at no cost, to businesses and others to use as a …
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration has asked for the resignation of three of the top officials of the Department of Industrial Relations, COR has learned. Acting Director Chuck Cake, Acting Chief Deputy Director Suzanne Marria and Labor Commissioner Art Lujan, all political appointees, were asked to resign. Their replacements had not been named at press time. …
It might consist of only a simple change to a single line of a standard in the Construction Safety Orders (CSO), but it could mean the difference between life and death, according to a petitioner who wants Cal/OSHA to specify the types of personal flotation devices required by Cal/OSHA. An advisory committee will meet Jan. …
SACRAMENTO — Taking a theme from “reality” television, The Safety Center, Inc., will hold its 9th annual Occupational & Regulatory Symposium on Safety & Health Jan. 27 at the Red Lion-Sacramento Inn. The symposium called “Surviving Safety: A Reality Symposium” aims to help safety professionals become “survivors.” Keynote speaker for the one-day symposium will be …
SACRAMENTO — With approval from the governor’s office, the Cal/OSH Standards Board adopted a rule-making package designed to give construction workers greater protection from the hazards of rebar and other projections. State agencies may request exceptions to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s executive order halting all regulatory action until proposed rules are reviewed for their affect on California …