Quote of the day
"Elevated platforms using rope as the positioning rail are not safe."
Safety consultant and former Cal/OSHA inspector Scott McAllister, on a petition he has filed to require better protection for pole climbers.
New California Safety Legislation
The legislative season has begun, and here’s what has sprung up in California’s statehouse on occupational safety and health.
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Two Workers Killed in Crushing Incidents; Tower Plunge a Suicide?
Two workers just miles apart in the Sacramento area are killed in similar circumstances. In the Southland, a worker’s plunge off a high-rise project raises questions.
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Willful Violation Upheld in Controversial Trash-Collection Case
The death of a worker collecting refuse in Carlsbad sparked a controversy that led to regulatory changes and a lawsuit on those changes. Here’s how the original case was decided and what happens next, plus the status of the lawsuit against Cal/OSHA.
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High-Hazard Inspection Alleges Major Machine Guarding Violations
What does it take to attract a willful citation from Cal/OSHA? Here’s a case where no workers were hurt, but the employer faces almost $100K in penalties. Find out why by clicking here.
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Six-Foot Fall Protection Rule Controversy Continues
Under pressure from Fed-OSHA to change California’s fall protection rules, the Standards Board responds with draft rules. But the big question is how is the fight developing. Here’s how to weigh in.
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Former Inspector Says Rope Platforms for Pole Climbing are Unsafe, Still Used
A near-fatal fall by a utility worker led to changes by his company on fall protection. But are other employers making the same mistake? A retired inspector says yes, and here’s what he wants to do about it.
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