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Featured Resource: February Is American Heart Month; Is Your Workplace Heart Healthy? February 2012 Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. While employers have no control over many factors affecting heart health--including workers' weight and overall health status, genetic heritage, and health behaviors like diet, exercise, and smoking--some conditions in your workplace may play a role. . . . more » Featured Resource: Visitor Safety Checklist January 2012 How many nonemployees are on your worksite at any given moment? Do you know where they are, what their business is, and whether they pose a risk to your workers or themselves? . . . more » Featured Resource: Stop Absenteeism Cold with Hand Hygiene October 2011 The common cold is the most frequent reason why employees miss work, and each year more than one billion colds hit the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. . . . more » Featured Resource: Dust Off This Combustible Dust Checklist September 2011 It can obscure your vision and clog your nose and throat. It can coat surfaces, making signage hard to read and contaminating materials. But dust poses another serious hazard, too--it can explode. And materials you might not ordinarily think of as fire hazards, such as foodstuffs, can be extremely hazardous when they are present as dust. . . . more » Featured Resource: Portable Fire Extinguisher Use Policy August 2011 Many workplaces are equipped with portable fire extinguishers that can control small fires, preventing property damage and loss of life. However, General Industry Safety Orders Section 6151(g) prohibits workers from using fire extinguishers unless they have received training in their proper use. . . . more » More

Online Exclusive: Sample Healthcare Worker Injury Prevention Policy COCA Online Exclusive February 2012 California has adopted the Hospital Patient and Health Care Worker Injury Protection Act in Section 6403.5 of the Labor Code. The act covers the lifting, repositioning, and transfer of patients by healthcare workers in acute care hospitals. . . . more » Online Exclusive: Sample Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention Policy COCA Online Exclusive February 2012 Slips, trips, and falls are the leading cause of lost-worktime injuries in California, so it makes sense for employers to have a policy in place to prevent these accidents. A formal policy that involves everyone in the organization in identifying and controlling slip, trip, and fall hazards can help you prevent these accidents. . . . more » Federal OSHA issues chart on large vehicle tire servicing February 2012 In last month's issue of COCA, we told you about new guidance on servicing tire rims on large vehicles. Now federal OSHA has gotten into the act by revising its tire servicing materials. The updated i . . . more » OSHSB takes action on diesel filters February 2012 The California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) has unanimously approved changes to several safety orders to help ensure that workers aren't run over by off-road diesel vehicles re . . . more » Appeals Board Decisions: Worker Suffers Partial Amputation; Employer Escapes Liability but Still Must Address Hazard February 2012 On Aug. 30, 2010, the operator of a textile machine at Hollander Home Fashions in Vernon, outside of Los Angeles, told the production supervisor that the machine was not feeding properly. The supervisor, Rigoberto Rendon, turned off the machine and waited, knowing that the machine's spindle took about four minutes to come to a complete stop. . . . more » Older Workers: Addressing Age-Related Health and Safety Concerns in Your Workforce February 2012 The days of retiring at age 62 or so are over for many. Instead of playing golf and gardening, a significant number of older Americans are still at work. These workers bring valuable experience, but they also may be at greater risk for certain kinds of work-related injuries. . . . more » Ergonomics: Sprains and Strains Top 2010 Work-Related Injuries; Identify and Control the Hazards Behind These Injuries February 2012 In 2010, more California workers missed worktime because of sprains and strains than any other work-related injury. Nearly 54,000 California workers had to stay home for one or more days due to this type of injury. . . . more » Trainer's Handbook: Slips and Falls Pose Hazards to Roofers; Train Them to Work Safely February 2012 A roof over your head. It's a metaphor for security and safety. Unfortunately, putting that roof in place involves significant fall risks for workers. Providing proper training and equipment can help ensure that the people who work on a roof are as safe as the people who will be protected beneath it. . . . more » Personal Protective Equipment: Cowboy Boots Cause Deadly Slip and Fall; Are Your Workers Wearing the Right Shoes for Their Jobs? February 2012 After a 60-year-old California nursery owner loaded a tractor onto a semi-trailer in August 2010, he stepped out of the tractor's cab, slipped, and fell backwards. He struck his head on the asphalt, eight feet below, and died later that evening. . . . more » Mine Safety: Catalina Island Mine Cited for Failing to Observe 'Most Basic Methods' of Hazard Control; What the Employer Did Wrong February 2012 The Pebbly Beach Quarry is an open surface mine on Catalina Island, with a highwall (the excavated edge of the mine) that ranges from 200 to 300 feet in height. In May 2011, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspected Pebbly Beach and issued three citations to the mine operator, Connolly-Pacific Company. . . . more » Featured Resource: February Is American Heart Month; Is Your Workplace Heart Healthy? February 2012 Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. While employers have no control over many factors affecting heart health--including workers' weight and overall health status, genetic heritage, and health behaviors like diet, exercise, and smoking--some conditions in your workplace may play a role. . . . more » Online Exclusive: Your Fundamental Cal/OSHA Compliance Checklist COCA Online Exclusive January 2012 In sports, coaches talk a lot about the fundamentals--basic footwork, ballhandling, offense and defense. These are the skills that all players should master early in their careers, before working on their highlight-reel moves. . . . more » ERI is now California Employer Resources! January 2012 To better reflect our focus on helping California employers with their unique compliance challenges, the Employer Resource Institute (publisher of COCA) will now be known as California Employer . . . more » Special Report included with this issue: What's New for 2012 January 2012 Workplace Developments Affecting California Employers—And How to Comply. Gov. Brown signed a flurry of employment-related bills into law this past fall, most of which took effect January 1, and t . . . more » Appeals Board Decisions: Recent Cases Highlight Excavator Hazards; Beware Of Equipment and Site Hazards January 2012 Workers on and around excavators are exposed to hazards created by the equipment itself as well as hazards that vary by worksite--and either type of hazard can cause serious injuries or death. Two recent cases illustrate these hazards. . . . more » Electrical Safety: An Overview of Required Safe Work Practices and Signage for High-Voltage Overhead Lines January 2012 Exposure to high-voltage hazards is not limited to employees of electrical utilities--workers in industries like construction and agriculture can also be exposed to them. . . . more » Trainer's Handbook: Safe Work Practices for Lead-Acid Battery Charging Can Prevent Explosions and Burns January 2012 There are a lot of ways to be injured or killed around forklifts: Workers can be run over, impaled, crushed by falling loads, or crushed when the forklift rolls over. . . . more » Hazard Identification: Federal OSHA Issues Guidance on Laboratory Safety; Addressing Hazards in 4 Major Categories January 2012 Laboratories are dangerous places, and university laboratories have proved deadly with disturbing regularity in recent years. . . . more » Fleet Safety: Worker's Death Prompts Updated Guidance on Servicing Single, Split-Rim, and Multi-Piece Rims January 2012 On Jan. 18, 2010, a 27-year-old leased laborer working at a California tile company was changing a flat forklift tire with a co-worker. The two men assembled and inflated one wheel assembly with no problems. . . . more » Training: Get More Bang for Your Training Buck with Targeted Toolbox Talks January 2012 Which do you suppose a worker will remember more clearly: the weeklong safety course he completed six months ago or the 15-minute safety chat the foreman gave at the beginning of the shift addressing the specific job tasks the worker would do that day? . . . more » Featured Resource: Visitor Safety Checklist January 2012 How many nonemployees are on your worksite at any given moment? Do you know where they are, what their business is, and whether they pose a risk to your workers or themselves? . . . more » Online Exclusive: Checklist for Protecting Against Criminal Flash Mobs COCA Online Exclusive December 2011 The media have given a lot of coverage lately to flash mobs--crowds that appear to spontaneously assemble and perform, usually for some entertainment or advertising purpose. Unfortunately, some of these mobs are intended to facilitate mass shoplifting by overwhelming staff in retail stores. The situations are potentially dangerous for workers. . . . more » California bans use of personal electronic devices by transit drivers December 2011 The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has adopted a first-of-its-kind regulation prohibiting the use of wireless or portable personal electronic devices—such as cell phones—by r . . . more » AOEC releases video on dangers of silica dust December 2011 The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) has developed a video designed to increase awareness of silica dust issues and controls. With funding from the National Institute of O . . . more » Multi-Employer Worksites: Appellate Court Says Cal/OSHA Need Not Show Controlling Employers Could Have Abated Violations; What You Need to Know December 2011 In 2003, Harris Construction was the general contractor on a project at Madera Community College in Madera. Jeff Gilkison was an apprentice pipefitter for Champion Industrial Contractors, Harris's subcontractor on the project. . . . more » Workplace Violence: Recent Shootings Illustrate Sources of Violence; What's Your Greatest Risk? December 2011 It was allegedly a contentious divorce that pushed Scott Dekraai over the edge. On October 12, just one day after he appeared in court to ask for more time with his 8-year-old son, Dekraai put on body armor, armed himself, and went to the Seal Beach beauty salon where his ex-wife worked as a hairdresser. Dekraai opened fire, killing eight people, including his ex-wife. . . . more » Appeals Board Decisions: Board Weighs in on Winery's Tank Press; Tank Press Is Not Exempt from Confined Spaces Rules December 2011 After a worker suffered a fingertip amputation while working with a tank press at Foster's Wine Estates America (dba Chateau St. Jean) in the Sonoma County town of Kenwood, Cal/OSHA inspected and found that workers periodically entered the tank press to hose it out. . . . more » Legislation: Governor Signs Occupational Safety-Related Laws; New Requirements For Safe Patient Handling, Body Artists, and Pipelines December 2011 The Legislature had a busy session in 2011, and Gov. Jerry Brown signed a flurry of bills into law this fall--including three that will affect occupational safety and health in California. We'll provide an overview of those laws. . . . more » Trainer's Handbook: Safe Work Procedures Can Prevent Deadly Nail Gun Injuries; Train Workers to Safely Handle This Powerful Equipment December 2011 Nail guns are used every day on many construction jobs. Although they boost productivity, nail guns also cause tens of thousands of painful injuries each year. . . . more » Standards Update: Cal/OSHA Adopts Updates to Ship Building Rules and First Aid for Electrical Workers December 2011 Cal/OSHA recently adopted two federal rules that bring its regulations into line with new and existing federal rules. Both rules were "Horcher adoptions," meaning that the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has made only editorial and format changes necessary to conform the federal standards to California's other state laws and standards. . . . more » More

Toxic Mold: Preventing Mold-Related Problems in Indoor Workplaces; Guidance from Federal OSHA and California November 2006 California was the first state in the nation to pass a law addressing the hazards of toxic mold in buildings: the Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001. This act required the California Department of Health Services (DHS) to present a study to the legislature evaluating . . . more » Roofing Safety: A Review of Cal/OSHA's Requirements; Prevent Slips, Falls, Serious Injuries, and Deaths November 2006 Workers on roofs are at risk for serious injuries and death from falls. Not only do they perform their jobs at substantial heights, but they may also be working on surfaces that are . . . more » Best Practices: Federal OSHA's Fundamentals of a Workplace First Aid Program; Are You Ready to Respond to Medical Emergencies? September 2006 Employers in California are required to ensure that medical treatment is readily available to sick or injured workers under General Industry Safety Order Section 3400, Medical Services and First Aid. . . . more » Sign up for a trial and access more articles like these