Workers' Comp: Horseplay, Intoxication, and Other Circumstances That Can Let You Off the Workers' Comp Hook
Webinar
Thursday, January 21, 2010
In all 50 states, including California, employers are required to provide workers' comp benefits as prescribed by state law. Although the laws vary, each state penalizes and fines employers who fail to fulfill their obligations. But there are times you can legitimately, legally deny these claims -- for example, if a worker is intoxicated on the job, or fooling around in a reckless manner that leads to injury. If you don't know about these affirmative defenses, you could be spending a lot more than you should on your workers' comp bills. . . . more »

Hazardous Waste Management in California: Navigating Your Obligations Under Both State and Federal Law
Webinar
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Hazardous wastes are regulated by the federal government under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In addition, California has its own laws that govern both RCRA and non-RCRA wastes -- including waste oil - which makes compliance particularly difficult for California businesses. Additionally, while incorrectly characterizing your waste can jeopardize your compliance and put you at risk for six-figure or seven-figure penalties, these mistakes could also be costing your company money off the bottom line. For a variety of reasons, it makes sense to make sure that you're getting it right. . . . more »

Safety Onboarding: Shorten the Safety Learning Curve of New Hires for Increased Productivity and Decreased Accidents
Webinar
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
For new hires, safety should start the moment they report for duty on the first day of work. Not only is it a great way to let them know that you care about their well-being, it also sets the tone for how safety is viewed in your workplace. . . . more »

Employee-Driven Safety: How To Engage Employees and Get Them Thinking -- And Behaving - Proactively
Webinar
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Many safety managers wonder why they are able to make only incremental improvements when it comes to safety, but status quo seems to be the norm. Federal OSHA's "Top 10" list of citations, for example, has gone unchanged for nearly a decade. The behaviors -- and mistakes -- are consistent year after year, and so are the fines and citations . . . more »

Oil Spills: What California Facilities Must Know To Comply with State and Federal Rules
Webinar
Thursday, March 18, 2010
California facilities face high enforcement hurdles when it comes to oil storage and spill prevention rules. Not only are you required to prepare Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, but you must also deliver and document extensive oil-handling and emergency response training. . . . more »

When Cal/OSHA Comes Calling: How to Legally Protect Your Rights and Prevent Fines in the Event of an Inspection
Webinar
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The record-breaking OSHA fines in the news are eye-popping. New Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis -- a former California legislator - has vowed to "put enforcement back in the Department of Labor," and it seems she means business. While the spotlight is currently on compliance, you need to know your rights and obligations before the government shows up at your door. . . . more »

Unsafe Workers: Who Can Be Reformed, and Who Must Be Replaced -- and How To Know the Difference
Webinar
Monday, April 26, 2010
Chronically unsafe workers are a perennial problem for managers. Even after time-consuming coaching, counseling, and formal disciplinary action, these workers continue to throw caution to the wind and risk everyone's safety and security by ignoring procedures, playing pranks, or failing to report near misses or accidents. They may turn it around for a little while, but they seem to always slip back into their destructive ways. Worse yet, they could be influencing others. . . . more »

Job Hazard Analysis for Supervisors: How To Reduce Injuries, Prevent Workplace Hazards, and Save Money
Webinar
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
In the workplace, it's often preventable human error that leads to serious accidents and injuries. But it takes a well-trained person to accurately evaluate the relationship between worker, task, work area, tools and equipment, and fine-tune appropriate changes. . . . more »

Heat Illness: How To Prevent - and Treat - Dangerously Overheated Workers
Webinar
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
With over 4,000 people succumbing to heat-related illness every year, and thousands more suffering from heat stress, it's important to make prevention your first line of defense. Sometimes working in hot conditions is unavoidable, but having solid procedures and a well-trained and observant staff can go a long way toward avoiding injury and even death. . . . more »

Cal/OSHA Recordkeeping: 5 Key Concepts that Keep You in Compliance and Improve Your Safety Record
Webinar
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Last fall, federal OSHA launched a national emphasis program (NEP) on safety recordkeeping designed to enforce regulatory requirements - they're looking for employers who are underreporting injuries and illnesses. They've got their fine-toothed combs out, and now is the precisely the right time to get your recordkeeping in order. . . . more »

Preparing for Earthquakes and Other Catastrophic Events: 10 Things Every California Business Must Do Now
Webinar
Monday, July 12, 2010
The recent devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile should serve as wake-up calls for employers around the state to get their emergency preparedness plans together ASAP. Nobody disputes that the state is due for a big, potentially devastating quake of its own -- it's just a question of when. . . . more »

Contractor Safety: How To Keep Contractors Safe and In Compliance at Your Worksite
Webinar
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A federal court recently ruled that Summit Contractors, the general contractor on a college dormitory project, was liable for a hazardous work condition caused by one of its subcontractors. They may not technically be your employees, but if a contractor gets hurt on your job site -- or creates a dangerous condition that hurts someone else -- it's most definitely your problem. . . . more »

Respiratory Protection: Stepped-Up Cal/OSHA Enforcement Could Cost You Big; How To Prepare
Webinar
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, other diseases, or death. Cal/OSHA is currently stepping up enforcement actions and switching to a "per employee" citation system for violations of respiratory protection requirements. These changes significantly raise both penalties and risks for "egregious violators." You don't want to be one of them. . . . more »

Remote Employees: How To Protect the Safety of Off-Site Workers and Decrease Your Risk of Citations and Lawsuits
Webinar
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Protecting the people who work at your plant, facility or office is challenging enough. But how about those working remotely, such as inspectors, service or repair workers, sales people, home health care workers, drivers, and employees working at somebody else's facility? (Don't forget to factor in that in most cases these folks are working alone.) . . . more »

OSHA's Proposed I2P2 Standard: How Will It Affect California's IIPP Regulation and What You Will Need to Do to Comply
Webinar
Thursday, August 19, 2010
As employers in California, we are well aware of the California Code's requirement for an effective, written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Following California's lead, Federal OSHA now seems poised to require an injury and illness prevention program nationwide. (They're going to call it I2P2.) . . . more »