Blog Archives

Cal/OSHA Keeping Pressure On Employers To Prevent Heat Illness

Professing “zero tolerance” toward employers who fail to protect employees from workplace hazards, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has launched heat illness prevention enforcement sweeps in several counties during this week’s heat wave, and will continue its sweeps in other counties next week. With triple-digit heat settling over much of the Golden … Read More »

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Farm Labor Contractor Surrenders License

Just three days before it was scheduled for a hearing on a Labor Commissioner move to revoke its labor contractor’s license, Merced Farm Labor Contractor (MFLC) has voluntarily surrendered its license, according to California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The action is the latest blow to the company that employed 17-year-old Maria Vasquez Jimenez, who … Read More »

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California Fatalities Drop Sharply In ’07 – Or Do They?

Statistics just released by California’s Division of Labor Statistics and Research show sharply reduced workplace fatalities for the Golden State in 2007 over 2006. The question is, when the final tally is produced, how will the state look? The preliminary data show 407 California worker deaths last year, down 9% from the 448 reported by … Read More »

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July Farm Fatality Confirmed As Heat-Related

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has received confirmation that the July 8, 2008, death of 42-year-old Abdon Felix was due to heat illness. In an announcement this morning, DOSH said the Kern County Coroner made the determination. Felix, an employee of Sun View Vineyards, had been loading grape boxes and driving a … Read More »

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Seven Citations, $260,000-Plus In Cal/OSHA Penalties To Farm Labor Contractor

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has cited Merced Farm Labor Contractor (MFLC) for three alleged serious/willful violations and proposed almost $263,000 in penalties following the heat illness death of a 17-year-old farmworker in San Joaquin County in May. The citations allege serious/willful violations of Cal/OSHA’s heat illness standard, General Industry Safety Orders … Read More »

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As Heat Wave Looms, Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers On Heat Illness Prevention

With the weather forecasts of triple-digit temperatures in the Central and Inland valleys next week, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to educate managers and supervisors on protecting workers from heat illness. Division of Occupational Safety and Health Chief Len Welsh urges employers to take precautions and apply safety measures outlined in the state’s heat illness prevention … Read More »

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Cal/OSHA Publishes Landmark Transmissible Diseases Standards

The Cal/OSH Standards Board has started the public comment period on two new standards intended to protect a variety of workers from so-called “aerosol transmissible” diseases and infectious agents spread from animals. Comments on the proposals, which would add new sections to the General Industry Safety Orders, culminate in a public hearing before the Standards … Read More »

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Senate Confirms Welsh As DOSH Chief (2)

Len Welsh, who has spent virtually his entire career with California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, was confirmed June 25 as Division Chief by the state Senate Rules committee, 4-0. Welsh was lauded by a parade of supporters before the committee, including labor and employer representatives. Employer lobbyist Julianne Broyles of California Advocates praised … Read More »

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