California Division of Occupational Safety and Health

Cal/OSHA Cites Contractor for Fatal Trench Collapse at Residential Construction Site

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Occupational safety and health, Safety

Cal/OSHA determined that Empire Equipment Services, Inc. did not properly classify the soil and failed to correctly slope the excavation.

Key Points: 
  • Cal/OSHA determined that Empire Equipment Services, Inc. did not properly classify the soil and failed to correctly slope the excavation.
  • On May 9, two Empire Equipment Services workers were installing sewer pipes at a Lake Forest residential construction site when a 30-foot-wide section of the trench's sidewall sloughed and collapsed.
  • In August 2017, Cal/OSHA had cited the employer $24,670 for serious safety violations after conducting an inspection at another site in Lake Forest.
  • Cal/OSHA offers information and resources on working safely in the construction industry, including how to safely perform trench and excavation operations .

Cal/OSHA Issues Advisory on Worker Safety for Regions with Wildfire Smoke

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 9, 2018
Occupational safety and health, Safety, Health, Industrial hygiene, Safety engineering, Environmental social science, Working conditions, Employment, Wildfire, Workplace, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA is advising employers that special precautions must be taken to protect workers from hazards from wildfire smoke.

Key Points: 
  • OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA is advising employers that special precautions must be taken to protect workers from hazards from wildfire smoke.
  • Smoke from wildfires contains chemicals, gases and fine particles that can harm health.
  • When exposure to wildfire smoke is considered harmful, employers are required to take the following measures to protect workers:
    Implement feasible modifications to the workplace to reduce exposure.
  • Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California.

Superior Court Affirms Fall Protection Safety Order for Elevated Telecommunications Structure

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Industrial hygiene, Safety engineering, Working conditions, California, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational safety and health, Alameda, California, Alameda County Superior Court, Safety

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The Alameda County Superior Court recently affirmed that fall protection safety orders apply to elevated indoor telecommunication structures.

Key Points: 
  • SACRAMENTO, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The Alameda County Superior Court recently affirmed that fall protection safety orders apply to elevated indoor telecommunication structures.
  • Cal/OSHA citations issued after an employee suffered serious head injuries from a 7-foot fall from a telecommunications structure were appealed by the employer.
  • Pinnacle Telecommunications, Inc. asserted that the safety order was too vague and did not apply.
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB) upheld the citations and the employer subsequently filed a petition in Alameda County Superior Court.

Cal/OSHA Issues Citations to Framing Contractor for Willful Violations of Nail Gun Safety Regulations

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Woodworking, Nail gun, Fasteners, Nail, Carpentry, Visual arts, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Learning, Human behavior

SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA has issued citations to Circle M Contractors, Inc. for willful violations of nail gun safety regulations after a carpenter was seriously injured at a residential construction site.

Key Points: 
  • SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA has issued citations to Circle M Contractors, Inc. for willful violations of nail gun safety regulations after a carpenter was seriously injured at a residential construction site.
  • On April 17, a carpenter was using an air pressure-powered nail gun to frame wood at a construction site in Lake Forest.
  • The worker was carrying the nail gun in his right hand with his finger on the trigger when a nail was unintentionally discharged into his left arm.
  • Cal/OSHA's review of the employer's injury log showed 34 instances of nail gun injuries suffered by employees since 2016.

Cal/OSHA Issues Citations to Outdoor Advertising Company for Billboard Electric Shock Accident

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Occupational safety and health, Health, Safety, Electrical safety, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Electrical injury, Overhead power line, Ladder, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

One of the metal poles touched an energized high-voltage power line located near the edge of the billboard, which resulted in serious burns to 25 percent of the sign-hanger's body.

Key Points: 
  • One of the metal poles touched an energized high-voltage power line located near the edge of the billboard, which resulted in serious burns to 25 percent of the sign-hanger's body.
  • Cal/OSHA also issued a general citation to the employer for an inadequate heat illness prevention plan for its outdoor workers.
  • Since 2015, Cal/OSHA has opened 11 inspections with outdoor and display advertising employers.
  • Among those inspections were six accidents, including an electric shock incident last year when a worker's ladder came into contact with overhead power lines during preparations to hang a sign.

Cal/OSHA Urges Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers as Temperatures Rise across the State

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 23, 2018
Occupational safety and health, Health, Safety, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Heat illness, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Emergency management, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OAKLAND, Calif., July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA urges all employers with outdoor workers to protect their employees by ensuring they are properly trained on how to prevent heat illness.

Key Points: 
  • OAKLAND, Calif., July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA urges all employers with outdoor workers to protect their employees by ensuring they are properly trained on how to prevent heat illness.
  • "Supervisors and outdoor workers must be trained on how to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of heat illness," said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.
  • "Cal/OSHA continues our outreach, consultation and training for workers and employers to ensure that workers are protected from the heat."
  • California's heat illness prevention regulation requires employers with outdoor workers to take the following four steps to prevent heat illness:
    Plan Develop and implement an effective written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.

Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illness as Temperatures Rise Statewide

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Health, Occupational safety and health, Safety, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Heat illness, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Meteorology, Heat wave, Emergency management, Occupational heat stress

OAKLAND, Calif., June 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness and to encourage their workers to take preventative cool-down breaks in the shade as temperatures rise throughout California.

Key Points: 
  • OAKLAND, Calif., June 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness and to encourage their workers to take preventative cool-down breaks in the shade as temperatures rise throughout California.
  • "During heat waves, employers must closely observe their employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness," said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.
  • California's heat illness prevention regulation requires employers with outdoor workers to take the following four steps to prevent heat illness:
    Plan Develop and implement an effective written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.
  • Online information on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are available on Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention web page and the Water.