Health and Safety Rules

Cal/OSHA Issues Updated Guidance to Employers on Respiratory Protection from Wildfires

With the Southern California wildfires still raging, Cal/OSHA issued an advisory providing updated guidance to employers with outdoor workers who may be exposed to wildfire smoke.

The advisory states: When outdoor workers are exposed to air quality that is designated “Unhealthy”, “Very Unhealthy” or “Hazardous” by local air quality management districts, employers are required to provide filtering respirators such as masks labeled N95 and certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Jason Resnick Dec 19 2017 in Regulations

Wildfires Provoke Cautionary Advisory to Employers on Worker Safety

Cal/OSHA issued an advisory yesterday reminding employers of the dangers posed by wildfire smoke and the special precautions that must be taken to protect workers.

Jason Resnick Dec 07 2017 in Work Place Regulations

FMCSA Expected to Publish Guidance to Ag Industry on Electronic Logging Device Requirements

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Electronic Logging Device (ELD’s) rule is scheduled to go into effect on December 18, 2017, requiring commercial drivers to maintain hours-of-service logs electronically instead of using handwritten logs. However, in recent days, FMCSA has announced a 90-day waiver from the ELD requirement for agriculture, pending the publication of formal guidance to the agricultural industry in the Federal Register.

Ken Gilliland Nov 29 2017 in Regulations

California Contractors Fined over $240k by Cal-OSHA for Valley Fever Violations

In a press release issued today, Cal/OSHA announced it cited six employers $241,950 for workplace safety and health violations after reports that workers contracted Valley Fever on a solar project construction site in Monterey County.

“Employers who work in areas endemic to Valley Fever must take preventative measures to protect workers who may be exposed,” said Juliann Sum, Chief of Cal/OSHA said in the release.

The agency took the opportunity to provide tips to employers for reducing the risk of Valley Fever exposure, which include:

Jason Resnick Nov 20 2017 in Work Place Regulations