July seems an incongruous time to discuss avalanche protection on California’s ski resorts, but the ski industry insists it’s past time. Time, they say, is running out on the traditional system of using howitzer cannons to clear snow masses. The howitzers are commissioned by the U.S. Army, but the Army wants to end the program. …
Almost half of the most-cited Title 8 violations in 2021 involved the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) standards, and specific regulations related to airborne infectious diseases due to the COVID pandemic. And it was those safety orders which were among the most appealed violations of the year. Traditionally, the IIPP standards, General Industry Safety …
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has authorized an advisory committee to recommend changes to Title 8 rules regulating the safety of pressure vessels. The current regulation references a national consensus standard that is more than 20 years old, and the latest standard addresses “damage mechanisms” that aren’t in the old one. The petition was filed by …
Cal/OSHA’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s announcement that it intends to start work on a permanent version of the Title 8 COVID regulation raises several questions. Stakeholders at a Thursday, September 23rd advisory got some answers and gave DOSH constructive comments on shaping the potential regulation. First and foremost, the Division clarified the timing …
Four bills related to occupational safety and health – some controversial, some not – have reached the governor’s desk. The governor has until October 10th to act on them. First, the controversial. The state Senate and Assembly have agreed on the final version of SB 606 and sent it to the governor. Authored by Senator …
Several significant pieces of legislation affecting occupational safety and health are close to passage in California’s statehouse. Here is a status update, including major revisions to three of the bills. AB 701: This bill by Assemblyman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) has been revised in the state Senate, where it is in its second reading. It …
The California Office of Administrative Law has approved Title 8 revisions that officially recognize technical diving in California. It takes effect on October 1st. The Cal/OSHA Standards Board adopted the revisions at its April meeting. The revisions have been several years in the making. While the Board was in the process of adopting Fed-OSHA diving …