California’s Office of Administrative Law has given final approval to Cal/OSHA’s Confined Spaces in Construction revisions, which the Standards Board adopted in September. The rulemaking package takes effect on January 1st, 2026. The revisions to Construction Safety Orders §§ 1951, 1952, 1953, and General Industry Safety Orders § 5156 have a long history, dating back …
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board staff has recommended that Cal/OSHA require approval for all self-propelled autonomous equipment before it can be used in agricultural operations where workers are present. Board Chair Joseph Alioto, Jr., quickly dismissed that and other recommendations on the long-simmering issue at the rulemaking body’s recent meeting. “We’re not going …
The debate about what should and shouldn’t be in Cal/OSHA’s general industry workplace violence prevention regulation will continue into 2026. But a recent advisory committee narrowed down many of the remaining issues. But the affected communities remain somewhat factious. And it’s not only about safety regulations, it’s also about workers’ compensation coverage. What hasn’t been …
The California Industrial Hygiene Council (CIHC) states that it will submit a petition to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to clarify responsibilities for conducting workplace monitoring of airborne contaminants. It’s unclear when the organization will formally request regulatory language, but it made its intentions clear at the recent Standards Board meeting. The council …
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board lost a “bright light” with the passing of Bernardine Osburn, 72. She was known to all as Bernie, and for her sweet, friendly demeanor. Osburn was a 21-year associate governmental program analyst for the Board and served 32 years total in state employment. “She played an outsized role …
DART rates – “Days Away, Restricted or Transferred” – are down in California, according to the 2025-26 High Hazard Industry List, just released by Cal/OSHA’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The list, which follows on the next two pages, is for the new fiscal year, which began on October 1st. The list is established …