The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and the American Power Association are reminding employers and homeowners that trees planted too close to power lines pose a number of dangers, from power outages to shock hazards. ESFI Executive Director Michael Clendenin noted that trees can hinder utility repair work and make hazards hard to recognize. An …
A federal law signed last year in response to financial reporting and auditing scandals may have implications for occupational safety and health reporting, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was designed to address the reporting abuses uncovered in cases like Enron and Arthur Andersen. But, says ASSE’s …
By a majority vote following public hearings, the Cal/OSH Standards Board has adopted the following revisions to Title 8 safety orders. They have been approved by the Office of Administrative Law and now are in the California Code of Regulations. CRANE OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION: Revisions to General Industry Safety Orders 5006 and new 5006.1 …
Several bills of interest to California’s occupational safety and health community are making progress in the state Senate after having been approved by the state Assembly. AB 572, the latest attempt to provide additional protection for workplace safety and health whistleblowers, was approved by the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations (L&IR) committee July 14, after …
Baseball honored its top players this week, which gives us a good excuse to update you on California’s safety all-stars, as recognized by the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service. The honorees are companies that have been accepted in Cal/OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), the Golden State version of VPP for non-fixed-site employers such as construction contractors, and …
Contact information for monthly meetings of the Greater San Jose Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has changed – Joe Hourigan now can be reached at 415-954-3481. Chapter information also can be found on the Internet at assesj.org.
California’s Supreme Court has ruled that a homeowner who hired a tree trimming service is not liable as an “employer” for injuries a trimmer suffered after a fall from a tree on the property, and not required to comply with Title 8. “Imputing OSHA liability to a homeowner under the circumstances of this case violates …
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a fact sheet outlining the rights of airline employees who raise concerns about carrier safety. OSHA said employees of air carriers, contractors or subcontractors can contact the agency for help if their employer retaliates against them for raising concerns or reporting violations of airline safety …