Concerns Over Fed-OSHA Emergency Response Proposal

A Fed-OSHA initiative to revise an almost 45-year-old standard concerning emergency response is raising questions about whether the proposal goes too far and whether it fails to consider potential unintended consequences and costs. The Feds’ response to these questions matters because Cal/OSHA will eventually have to revise its standards to comply with ‘at least as’ … Read More »

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Fall Protection: Fed-OSHA Ups the Ante

Fed-OSHA and California’s residential construction industry remain at odds over the Feds’ insistence on a strict six-foot trigger height for fall protection. The latest salvos come in response to the Cal/OSHA Standards Board’s recent 15-day notice of modifications to its proposal that would revise the longstanding residential rules. The new Fed-OSHA Oakland area director says … Read More »

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Harwood Grants Available Now

Fed-OSHA has announced the availability of $12.7 million in funding for safety, health, and training education under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. California organizations received about $886,000 in 2023, 7% of the national total. The program includes grants for: Targeted topics to identify and prevent OSHA-designated workplace hazards. Applicants are required to conduct training … Read More »

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Fed-OSHA Updates Hazcom Reg

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is updating its hazard communication standard to improve the “amount and quality” of information on labels and data safety sheets. Cal/OSHA will be required to update its hazcom standard, as well. The revision is aligned with the seventh revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling … Read More »

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Final Cal/OSHA Inspection Stats for 2023

Cal/OSHA’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health initiated 10% more workplace investigations in 2023 than in 2022, including 6% more onsite inspections, according to the final data for the year. Conversely, those inspections yielded 11% fewer alleged violations than in 2022. Violations are down 42% from the 22,011 alleged in 2016 and have been in … Read More »

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Streamlined Fit-Testing Protocols Approved

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has adopted Fed-OSHA respirator fit-testing procedures, which are designed to simplify things for employers while maintaining employee safety. The rulemaking change now goes to the Office of Administrative Law and will take effect as soon as OAL approves it. The regulatory change is to General Industry Safety Orders §5144, Appendix A, … Read More »

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Fed-OSHA Reorganizing its Regions

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, effectively Cal/OSHA’s parent, is strategically rearranging its regions to concentrate on the growing Southern part of the United States.  This move is not only taking advantage of the fact that most of the Western states have effective, fairly self-governing, state programs, but also ensuring that the Southern United … Read More »

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