Cal/OSHA & Workplace Safety Blog
Practical guidance on Cal/OSHA compliance, industrial hygiene, safety plans, and occupational health for California employers — from Michael Karl McNeil, REP, RIH, EPP, QSD.
Medical Surveillance in California: Which Cal/OSHA Standards Require It
Six Title 8 standards require exams, blood tests, questionnaires, or screening on a schedule. Which California employers are covered and how to run a program.
Wildfire Smoke at Work: Cal/OSHA Section 5141.1 Triggers and N95 Rules
Title 8 Section 5141.1 kicks in at a PM2.5 AQI of 151. What California employers must monitor, communicate, and provide, and when respirators become mandatory.
Permit-Required Confined Spaces: What Cal/OSHA Section 5157 Requires
Title 8 Section 5157 requires California employers to identify permit spaces, run a written permit program, post attendants, and arrange real rescue.
Workplace Violence Prevention Plans: What Labor Code 6401.9 Requires
Labor Code Section 6401.9 requires most California employers to keep a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, an incident log, and annual training.
Cal/OSHA Multi-Employer Worksite Citations: Who Is Liable and How to Defend
Cal/OSHA can cite general contractors and subs for hazards they did not create. Learn the four employer categories under §336.10 and how to defend a citation.
When a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Is Required in California Deals
California buyers and lenders need a Phase I ESA under ASTM E1527-21 to limit liability. When it is required, what it covers, and what triggers a Phase II.
A Tenant Reports Mold: What California Landlords Must Do and How to Document It
When a California tenant reports mold, the landlord’s response and records decide the habitability dispute. What to do and what an assessment covers.
Cal/OSHA ATD Standard §5199: What Skilled Nursing Facilities Must Have in Place
Cal/OSHA’s Aerosol Transmissible Diseases standard (§5199) requires a written ATD plan, respirators, vaccination offers, and training. What SNFs must have.
How to Investigate a Workplace Injury in California: A Root Cause Guide
Preserve the scene, interview witnesses, find root causes instead of blame, and build a record that holds up with Cal/OSHA and workers’ compensation.
Lockout/Tagout in California: Building a Cal/OSHA §3314 Energy Control Program
Cal/OSHA §3314 requires written energy control procedures, training, and periodic inspection. What manufacturers and maintenance crews must have in place.