Cal OSHA safety training courses for Workers

California State requires additional safety training aside from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory program. It also has separate standards and health/safety policies known as Cal OSHA. The Cal OSHA safety training module ensures that workers are eligible for workplace safety for their positions regardless of industry.

Official State Plan

California’s official state plan includes all state, local, and private sector workers. In fact, Cal OSHA Training is more stringent compared to the federal program. The state government initiated coverage or protection for the workforce in the following areas where no federal guidelines are imposed. 

• Aerosol Transmissible Disease
• Diacetyl (chemical formula) Exposure
• Ergonomics/Repetitive Motion Injury (RMI)
• Heat Illness Prevention
• High-Rise Window Cleaning
• Injury and Illness Prevention (Program)

Furthermore, Cal OSHA started innovations such as certifications or notifications, state requirements, partnership programs, and special advisory committees. The enforcement body of Cal OSHA is called the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. It is under the Department of Industrial Regulations.

Training Requirements

The State’s occupational health and safety benchmarks considerably differs from the federal regulations. This means that employers must be discerning in choosing a Cal OSHA safety training courses. For those under federal control, the OSHA issues a document containing explicit safety measures that require training course. Each of these standards details the scheduling and frequency of the program. Workers should be taught all standards related to potential workplace risks while on the job.

On the other hand, Cal OSHA circulates a general direction on the obligations of employers understandable in the English language, together with a list of instruction and training courses pre-requisites organized according to training topics. The guidance depend on the kind of work an individual actually performs. Aside from the required training, there are also Cal OSHA outreach courses. These are the 10-hour or 30-hour programs that will enable the workers to secure a Department of Labor (DOL) card. The federal OSHA suggests to employers to use said programs as an introduction to safety courses. Yet, this is not a legal obligation. Even then, some companies make these courses compulsory. Workers covered by California state have to undergo the 10-hour or 30-hour training.

Training Benefits

The objective of the Cal OSHA Training Materials is to help enhance the understanding and responsiveness of workers regarding workplace hazards. This will make them better prepared to prevent or minimize accidents and fatalities. Ideally, California employers should invest in training programs for these reasons:

• Stay away from sanctions or penalties that the Cal OSHA may impose.
• Boost productivity and financial performance.
• Reduce the costs of workers’ compensation.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that there were more than 2.3 million deaths per year as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases. This translates to 6,300 deaths on a daily basis. Meanwhile, the ILO also reported that there were 317 million accidents that occur on the job yearly. Computing the economic impact of poor occupational safety and health practices, it is estimated that the toll to the global Gross Domestic Product is 4% annually.

When incidents such as these do occur, human factors such as failure to implement procedures properly are often a root cause. These failures are often attributable to a lack of training or understanding of the Permit to Work  (PTW) systems.  It’s important to note that a safe work permit does not reduce risks of incidents by itself. Rather, it specifies the hazards and the risk control measures that workers must be aware of before they start work. A Safe Work Permit is an effective vehicle for communicating critical safety information.

OSHA investigators determined JHOS Logistics and Transportation Inc. violated the whistleblower provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) when the company terminated the employee. Two months prior to the termination, the employee received a violation for operating an overweight commercial motor vehicle. The size of the previous load was similar to the size of the current load, which led the employee to reasonably believe the commercial motor vehicle was overweight.

In addition to the monetary penalties, the company must also train managers and post a notice informing their employees about workers’ rights under the STAA. JHOS Logistics and Transportation Inc. may appeal the order to the Department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges. “This order underscores the U.S. Department of Labor’s commitment to protect employees who report violations under Surface Transportation Assistance Act,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Barbara Goto. “OSHA enforces the legal provisions of the act, which protects employees who exercise their right to report health and safety concerns with commercial motor vehicles.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered JHOS Logistics and Transportation Inc. to reinstate an employee terminated for refusing to drive what the employee reasonably believed to be an overweight vehicle at the company’s Wilmington, California Labor Laws Poster facility. OSHA also ordered the company to pay more than $190,000 in back wages, $25,000 in punitive damages, $5,000 in compensatory damages and attorney’s fees.

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than 20 whistleblower statutes protecting employees from retaliation for reporting violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, securities, and tax laws and for engaging in other related protected activities. For more information on whistleblower protections, visit OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs webpage.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. The mission of the Department of Safe Lifting Poster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

 PCS Safety Inc

Address: 441 West MacKay, San Bernardino, CA 92408 USA

14001 N 7th St, E109 Suite D #3 Phoenix, AZ 850223

Work Email: Email: info@pcs-safety.com

Phone No.: (866) 413-4103