The nation’s most populous state continues to emphasize that employers must make for safe working conditions for those under their employ.
In late April, Workers’ Memorial Day 2015 honored the men and women who were injured or died on the job in California and throughout the world. This international day of remembrance and action is held annually on April 28, the date when Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 which promises every worker the right to a safe job.
“On this day we renew the nation’s 45-year commitment to workplace safety and remember the California workers who lost their lives while on the job,” said DIR director Christine Baker. “Employers who maintain safe working conditions are building a more prosperous California by protecting workers and preventing costly injuries.”
Cal/OSHA, which is a division of DIR, was established in 1973 as a state-run program to enforce effective standards, assist employers to establish and maintain safe working conditions, and to provide information, research, education and training in occupational safety and health.
It was the first in the nation to adopt an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) standard in 1991 and the first to adopt a heat illness prevention regulation in 2005, followed by high-heat regulations for some industries, including agriculture, construction, landscaping, and oil and gas extraction, in 2010. This innovation is part of Cal/OSHA’s ongoing effort to identify workplace hazards before they result in trauma and loss.
“Cal/OSHA is dedicated to preventing workplace injuries and illnesses through a multifaceted approach that includes education, outreach, permitting, licensing, consultation services, and development of new occupational health and safety standards, as well as strong, clear, and consistent enforcement,” added Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.
Cal/OSHA has initiated other significant safety programs.
Worker Heat Illness Major Summertime Focus
The heat illness prevention campaign “Water. Rest.Shade. – The work can’t get done without them” has increased employer awareness and compliance and significantly reduced outdoor-related illnesses and deaths since its introduction in 2010.
Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web Department of Industrial Relations pages include resources and updates on state-wide training sessions, as well as a guide to new requirements with additional safeguards starting May 1.
And three years ago, Cal/OSHA launched a state-wide Confined Space Initiative following the deaths of seven workers due to confined space hazards in various industries.
The website has resources on confined space hazard prevention. Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California.
Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Service provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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