Norcal Lost its Only BOI Investigator

Cal/OSHA’s Bureau of Investigations (BOI) will have no personnel in Northern California following the resignation of Julio Alfaro, a senior investigator who was the lone BOI representative in the north … Read More »

Nola Contender?

As Cal/OSHA’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health searches for its third chief in the past several years, candidates are starting to surface. Three internal DOSH candidates have applied. Now, a member of the Standards Board has thrown her hat in the ring. Nola Kennedy, PhD., CIH, the Board’s occupational health representative, appears to be … Read More »

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New Bill Adds Silica Requirements

As Cal/OSHA works to address a growing number of workplace silicosis cases, a newly proposed California Assembly bill aims to up the ante for engineered stone fabricators. AB 3043 by Assemblyman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) would establish a statewide licensing program for fabrication shops, require workers to undergo training, prohibit the dry-cutting of engineered … Read More »

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Hoist Petition Decision

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has denied a petition by a safety equipment company to allow the use of load detection devices on construction personnel hoists instead of the currently mandated calculations for load capacity versus net platform area. The petitioner is a company that provides CPHs, scaffolding, and other equipment at construction sites. It says … Read More »

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Walking / Working Surfaces Committee

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board will reconvene its “walking/working surfaces” committee to continue work on matching Title 8 to Fed-OSHA requirements – and prevent falls. The committee will meet in early March to discuss fall protection, falling object protection, and stairway safety. There have been three other meetings, beginning in October 2022. The rulemaking effort is … Read More »

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Public Hearing: Fit Test Update

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board is adopting a Fed-OSHA update to respirator fit-testing protocols to ensure the Title 8 standard is at least as effective as its federal counterpart. The Board is holding a public hearing on the proposal in March, even though it is not required under the “Horcher” process for adopting federal language verbatim. … Read More »

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Historic Decision about Lead

After more than two hours of testimony by stakeholders and a more-than 13-year rulemaking effort, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board approved highly controversial revisions to the Title 8 lead standards. It … Read More »