A trench collapse can end a construction worker's life very quickly. Cave-ins can happen without any warning -- and the dirt is often so heavy and deep that successful rescues are rare.
Cal/OSHA fines contractors for serious safety violations
Underground construction requires workers to face dangerous working conditions on a daily basis. One of the dangers is the occasional failure of employers to require workers to follow safety regulations. A fatal construction accident in August of 2018 in the Twin Peaks Tunnel rehabilitation project demonstrates just how dangerous such work can be.
Cannabis maker faces heavy OSHA fines for safety violations
The debate over the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in California involved many "pro and con" arguments about the effect of legalization on the state's population. One issue that was not debated at length was the hazards involved in making the drug itself.
Court affirms Cal/OSHA order assessing $25,560 in workplace fines
When a California worker is injured on the job, the employer's first concern is usually the amount of workers' compensation benefits that it may be required to pay. Because workers in California cannot sue their employers for on-the-job accidents, employers often overlook the actual cause of the accident. An agency in the California Department of Industrial Relations was created to ensure that employers were held accountable for their failure to remedy unsafe working conditions. The agency's formal name is the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, but it is better known as Cal/OSHA. Cal/OSHA frequently investigates the cause of industrial accidents, and it has the power to issue fines for safety regulation violations.
Cal/OSHA begins investigation of fatal construction site accident
The California Department of Industrial Relations includes an important agency that is responsible for ensuring workplace safety. The formal name of agency is the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, but it is informally known as "Cal/OSHA" in a nod to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Cal/OSHA is responsible for many tasks, but none is more important than the investigation of workplace accidents and the enforcement of the state's workplace safety laws.
OSHA appeals court's decision on citation practices
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is appealing an administrative law judge's decision regarding how it chooses to cite employers for safety violations.
New proposed OSHA rule stirs some employers
The federal Occupations Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has proposed some guidelines regarding the reporting of workplace accidents which have caused some consternation among some employers, particularly those who would like to conduct drug and alcohol tests after an accident.
NSC survey reveals many workers have real concerns about safety
The National Safety Council, the renowned nonprofit advocacy group, recently released the results of a fascinating study gauging employee feelings about workplace safety, a truly important topic given that 4,836 people lost their lives in work-related accidents in 2015 alone.
