News

Volume 32, Issue 1, May 2021

 

Heat Illness: Water. Shade. Rest.

With weather temperatures heating up and as we approach the summer months, the Cal/OSHA slogan “Water. Shade. Rest” is imperative.  In general heat related illnesses include the following: Heat Stroke Heat Exhaustion Heat Cramps Heat Rash The severity of symptoms pertaining to heat illnesses vary with early signs including, fatigue, heavy sweating, headaches, cramping, dizziness...

Cal/OSHA COVID ETS Status

In case you haven’t heard, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board will hear the final proposed revisions to the COVID Emergency Temporary Standard at its May 20th meeting.  The revisions are expected to be released this week.  There will be about two weeks to review and make comments to the Standards Board. Stay tuned.

Complying with Internal Safety Requirements and Cal/OSHA

It is not uncommon for employers to add requirements to their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) that may go beyond (or be more protective) than Cal/OSHA requires.  But, can an employer be cited by Cal/OSHA for violation of internal safety requirements? Recently there was a Cal/OSHA Appeal where an employer (a contractor) had an...

OSHA Proposing Changes to HazCom

The Hazard Communication Standard, now referred to as Globally Harmonized System (GHS), may be undergoing a change.  The impact of this change by federal OSHA on Cal/OSHA 8CCR5194 is unknown at this time, as well as whether Federal OSHA will continue its path to amend GHS. From Right-to-Know in 1981 to HazCom in 1983 to...

ACGIH 2021 Changes to TLV’s and BEI’s

On January 7, 2021, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) released the 2021 Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs). The Board also approved recommendations for additions to the Notice of Intended Changes (NIC). While TLVs and BEIs are not to be used as standards, they...