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 …
Unless the Department of Homeland Security intervenes or a timely repeal gets to the presidentâs desk, the Real ID Act of 2005 will take effect Jan. 1, 2010. For those statesâCalifornia includedânot yet compliant with its standards, it will mean that legal residents of those states will not be able to use their driversâ licenses …
Safety was a major plank in the California workersâ comp rate decision recently released by Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. In fact, it was one of 27 points Poizner cited in his decision. The good news for safety professionals is that he is strongly encouraging California insurance companies to increase loss control and safety, not only …