Tag Archives: osha

Are California Safety Inspectors Doing Enough for Workers?

According to a survey conducted by the non-profit Research ANd Development (RAND) organization, employers in California only follow federal safety regulations after they have been fined and cited. RAND works to help find solutions to improve occupational safety standards. The RAND study indicates that safety regulations are only effective for companies that have been cited. Once a facility is called out on a specific violation, the facilities respond to it. The California Injury and Illness Prevention Program (CIIPP) was founded in 1991 and mandates safety regulations and procedures for employers in California, much like the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to the study, the CIIPP cites the violations after inspections, but does not necessarily follow up to ensure they are being followed. “We found the safety effects to be real, but not very large,” says RAND researcher John Mendeloff. “We think that the most…
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California Worker Killed at Construction Site, Contractor Ignored Safety Orders

California state regulators continue to investigate a fatal workplace accident from January 28 in Milpitas, California, according to sources. 39-year-old carpenter Raul Zapata was buried alive at the site when a hillside collapsed, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner. Zapata was working at the site, which is for a private residence. According to the San Jose Mercury News, three days before the accident the city had ordered the contractor to pause the project because of heavy rainfall and an absence of shoring in the foundation hole, which made the site unsafe. U.S.-Sino Investment, the contractor based in Fremont, did not comply with the city’s orders. The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched an investigation through its regional office. According to a spokesperson for OSHA’s California office, Zapata was working in a 12-foot-deep ditch when it caved in. Rescuers were unable to even retrieve his…
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Posted in Personal Injury Accidents | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment