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Another Legislative Attempt at Silica Certification

After an Assembly bill last session that would have required fabricators of engineered stone to be certified and employees to certify through training failed, a state senator is reviving the measure in the new legislative session. Some see the bill as a legislative usurpation of Cal/OSHA’s responsibility to develop standards. Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando … Read More »

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Governor Vetoes One, Signs Four Safety Bills

California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed the most controversial occupational safety and health-related legislation while approving four others. Vetoed is SB 1299 (Dave Cortese, D-Campbell), which would have created a rebuttable presumption that an outdoor heat-related injury in agriculture is work-related for purposes of workers’ compensation, providing the employer is deemed to have violated any … Read More »

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Legislative Update – July 26, 2024

The bill that would have required shops that fabricate engineered stone—silica—to be licensed and registered is off the table following opposition from Cal/OSHA and the governor’s office. Assemblyman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) withdrew AB 3043 when it became clear that the bill would likely be vetoed. Since the California Legislature is near the end … Read More »

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Skepticism on Narcan Petition

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to essentially put off a petition requiring “opioid antagonists”—read Narcon—in first-aid kits that every California employer must have. It sent the idea to an advisory committee. Members and stakeholders have serious qualms about the idea, and there seems to be little likelihood that the Board will make any regulatory change … Read More »

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More Amazon Warehouse Troubles

The California Labor Commissioner is proposing more than $5 million in penalties against Amazon for alleged violations of AB 701, a 2021 law intended to curb warehouse quota abuse. The state alleges that Amazon warehouses in Moreno Valley and Redlands used a “peer-to-peer” quota system, which it says is exactly the kind of quota scheme … Read More »

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Narcan Petition Coming to a Vote

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board will vote next week on a petition requiring employers to have and maintain opioid-reversal medication at worksites. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health supports the petition in its entirety, but Board staff has reservations. The proposed decision takes a middle approach. The petition, filed by the National Safety Council, seeks … Read More »

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Legislative Update – May 31, 2024

Several bills of interest to California’s occupational safety and health community have been approved by their houses of origin and are now being considered by the other chamber. The most significant legislation is AB 3043 by Assemblyman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), which would prohibit the use of dry methods in fabricating engineered stone in order to … Read More »

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Breathalyzers Could Help Employers with New Pot Restrictions

New laws that became effective January 1st have restricted workplace inquiries about testing for cannabis use. However, employers can still check employees and potential hires through exemptions to the rules and new testing technologies. Under SB 700, employers are prohibited from asking job applicants about past cannabis use, but there are exceptions for jobs involving … Read More »

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