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Cal-OSHA Standards Board Approves New Ladder Safety Rules

(Click here for amended regulation)

 

On March 9, 2012 a new ladder standard went into effect. Here is a summary of Title 8, CCR, Section 3276. Portable Ladders: 

Subsection (b) of this section consists of definitions of terminology used in the standards that comprise this section. An amendment to add a definition for the term “single-rail ladder” was added. This definition will clarify to the employer the meaning and application of the proposed standard prohibiting single-rail ladder use in new subsection (d). An amendment for Section 3276(d)(1) which pertains to the selection and use of portable ladders to add language that prohibits single-rail ladder use. The amendment will require employers to use conventional two rail portable ladders.

Read more: CalOSHA Ladder Rule March 2012

Posters from
New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH)

In addition to farm safety services, NYCAMH offers a wide variety of bilingual print materials that are appropriate for short, informal training sessions held on the farm or in the field. Our posters and flyers are designed for easy readability and are offered in English and Spanish with select materials also available in Haitian Creole. Posters can be requested by calling 800-343-7527, emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or PDF files can be downloaded and printed. We also have farm safety articles on a number of topics.

Read more: Safety Posters from NYCAMH

OSHA Videos Demo Safe Respirator Use

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has posted a series of 17 videos to help workers learn about the proper use of respirators on the job.

Read more: OSHA Respirator Videos

Employer Guide to OSHA Inspections

Introduction
Every employer should strive to maintain a good OSHA record. Not only are
customers, insurers, and others increasingly scrutinizing employers’ OSHA
records as a condition of doing business, but OSHA penalties and citations
can be substantial – as much as $70,000 for a single willful or repeat
violation. Citations and penalties not only impact a company’s bottom line,
but also its ability to do business.

Read more: Employers Guide to OSHA Inspeciton

New Driver Hours of Service Rules in Place

Revised hours-of-service (HOS) rules announced by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are now in place.  The new rule reduces to 70 hours – a 12-hour reduction – the number of hours a driver can work during a seven-day week, but keeps the 11-hour daily driving limit – a move strongly opposed by the American Trucking Assn. (ATA).

Read more: Drivers Hours of Service Changes

To 1BY, Or Not To 1BY


By Lisa Prince, Walter & Prince, LLP - February 4, 2011

I just got off the phone with Employer Smith. I have never talked to him before; he had seen our website and just called with a "quick question." I should have told him that there are few quick answers in the law.

Read more: Cal OSHA Form 1BY

AEM Prints Limited Supply of OSHA-Approved Rough Terrain Forklift Safety Decals

Due to overwhelming demand, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has printed a limited supply of new safety decals for rough terrain forklifts. This new decal - "Employer-Certified Operators ONLY" - was developed by AEM and approved by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The decal signifies that the machine should be operated only by personnel who have received employer certification of training and evaluation according to relevant OSHA standards.

Read more: Equipment Operator Decal

Cal/OSHA Encourages All Employers to Verify Inspector's Credentials

The California Department of Industrial Relations' Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is investigating several incidents involving a man impersonating a Cal/OSHA inspector and suspected of defrauding restaurant owners. Several similar incidents have occurred across Southern California, in the costal region near Santa Barbara and in Roseville. An investigation is ongoing and is being coordinated with local law enforcement where the incidents occurred.

Read more: Check Inspector's Credentials

DPR Respiratory Protection Rules

DPR amended sections 6000, 6720, 6738, and 6793, and adopted section 6739 of Title 3, California Code of Regulations. See: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/legbills/calcode/chapter_.htm. The regulatory action pertains to respiratory protection worn by employees working with pesticide materials. In summary, the action revised the written respiratory protection program that employers must establish when employees are required by pesticide label, restricted materials permit, or regulation to use respirators in the workplace.

Read more: DPR Respirator Rules

Hand-Weeding

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopted a regulation to ban unnecessary hand weeding. (It applies equally to hand thinning and hand hot-capping, but for brevity's sake, only the term "hand weeding" is used in the rest of this summary.)

Read more: Hand Weeding