Cal/OSHA Increases Enforcement

The heat is on as “Cal/OSHA” (California Division on Occupational Safety and Health [DOSH]) announced last week that it will step up illness prevention measures through the summer months.

Marking the first day of summer, Cal/OSHA Chief Ellen Widess’s press release cautioned that the agency “will be out there across the state, ensuring that all employers are complying with the heat standard.  These basic requirements—adequate water, shade, rest breaks, training and emergency procedures—can mean the difference between life and death to protect the most vulnerable employees working outdoors.”

Last year, Cal/OSHA ramped-up heat illness prevention requirements for days over 95 deg. F. for five specific industries including agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and transportation and delivery services dealing heavy equipment and material.  These include sufficient supplies of water, time for rest and close supervision by managers.

The agency plans to enforce these rules using “statewide traveling heat sweeps [and] local district actions when temperatures soar and workers are at greatest risk.”

For more information, including training materials, visit the Cal/OSHA website at www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html or the Water. Rest. Shade. campaign site at www.99calor.org/campaign/.

For legal assistance in ensuring Cal/OSHA compliance for your business, contact an attorney specializing in California employment law.