Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order today to create a rebuttable presumption that Californiaâs essential employees who contract COVID-19 did so in the course of their employment and therefore are eligible for workersâ comp benefits. The presumption will be in place for the next 60 days and covers claims dating back to March 19, …
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed AB 2334. It deals with workersâ comp and self-insurance issues but also has provisions about employer injury and illness recordkeeping, one of which could become a big deal concerning electronic reporting. The author is Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Oakland), chair of the Labor and Employment committee. The billâs sponsor is the …
While California got a âBâ from the National Safety Council for the overall state of safety in the state, when it comes to workplace safety, it rates no more than a âC,â NSC says. Only two states received top grades for occupational safety and health, while more than half got âDâsâ or worse. The State …
Legislation that would require state hospitals to update their Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPPs) at least once a year with the particular goal of tracking and reporting patient assaults, passed the Senate Health Committee 8-1 with no opposition testimony on June 20. AB 2399, authored by Assemblyman Michael Allen (D-Napa), is in response to …
Do flat sheets really cause hotel housekeepers more injuries than fitted sheets? A consortium of applicant attorneys and labor seems to think so, and it backs a bill that would require Cal/OSH Standards Board to adopt rules requiring use of fitted sheets and long-handled tools for workers cleaning rooms in hotels, motels and inns. While …
California employers are concerned that Cal/OSHA will use as precedent a federal courtâs decision in Illinois that workersâ  comp insurance carriers can be compelled to hand over documents to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration about their clients. The court said that insurers could be ordered legally to provide Fed-OSHA with findings from safety inspections, …
During his confirmation hearing yesterday, Marty Morgenstern, Governor Jerry Brownâs choice to be Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, told California Senators that he thinks the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) could benefit from some slimming down. Morgenstern testified on a number of topics before the Senate Rules Committee including a re-organization within …
The Senate Labor and Industrial Relations committee is the primary Senate policy committee for workersâ compensation and occupational safety and health issues. It has six members and from a workersâ comp perspective has served as a battleground over regulations such as medical treatment guidelines and the permanent disability rating schedule. Unlike workersâ comp, occupational safety …