California Seeks to Deter Mishaps by Annual Employer Posting Requirement, February through April

In an effort to deter workplace health and safety hazards, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health requires employers with more than 10 employees to visibly post between February 1, 2017 through April 30, 2017 a summary of certain 2016 work-related injuries and illnesses (Cal/OSHA Form 300A). Even if the employer had no such recordable work-related injuries or illnesses in 2016, it must insert zeros in each of the total lines and post it regardless.

All covered companies, including “establishments classified in agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation, communication, electric, gas and sanitary services, or wholesale trade, and those establishments in the retail, service, finance, insurance and real estate industries” must also annually compile and maintain in its files more detailed information on such occupational injuries and illnesses on Cal/OSHA Form 300.

Unless otherwise requested by Cal/OSHA, California establishments in low-hazard industries as classified under these Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes are exempt from these posting requirements.

All California employers, whether exempt from the above notice requirements or not, shall immediately report “by telephone or telegraph” to the nearest Cal/OSHA district office any serious occupational injury, illness, or death no more than eight hours after the employer first becomes aware of the incident.

More information on Cal/OSHA recordkeeping requirements is available at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/recordkeeping/index.html.

For further information, please contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.

Cindy Bamforth

March 10, 2017