Summary Governor Newsom Signs SB 1159 Relating to COVID-19 & Workers’ Compensation On September 17, 2020, Governor Newsom signed SB 1159 into law. For employers with more than 5 employees, the bill establishes a workable presumption of compensability for employees…
Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers with outdoor workers of California’s heat illness prevention standard, which states that employers must implement high-heat procedures prevent heat illness when the temperature is 95 degrees or more. Heat Illness and COVID-19 Precautions While taking…
In an interesting California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board reconsideration, a serious violation citation was upheld for a company’s failure to properly inspect fall protection arrest systems prior to use. Cal/OSHA Construction Safety Order Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Personal…
Lift trucks (forklifts) are frequently used to elevate employees and there are certain requirements that must be followed to protect employees from falling off forklifts. Title 8, CCR, Section 3657(b) states Where a forklift is used to elevate personnel…A work…
Falls from ladders account for about 20,000 injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. each year. The Cohen Group commonly finds a few of the Cal/OSHA requirements overlooked during our safety inspections at construction job sites. Cal/OSHA General Industry Safety…
Unprotected skylights can be dangerous and lead to deaths. A worker may trip, lean, or back into a skylight and fall to the ground below. For this reason alone, protection from these hazards is of primary concern. Cal/OSHA treats a…
Unions and union front organizations are promoting a nationwide “Strike for Black Lives” at noon on Monday, July 20, 2020. These groups are encouraging employees to take at least eight minutes and forty-six seconds of their workday to: (1) “take…
On May 6, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-62-20 declaring that COVID-19-related illness of an employee shall be presumed to have occurred in the place of employment for purposes of awarding workers’ compensation benefits, if specific requirements are satisfied. The…
Determine if credit can be taken for sick leave previously paid March 4, 2020 through September 18, 2020 (assuming there was no legal obligation to pay) for purposes of reporting supplemental paid sick leave balances on paystubs. This can be…
Key Points Following the California Family Rights Act, this bill enforces employers to grant an employee’s request of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid protected leave during any 12-month period for family care and medical leave. Furthermore, the bill includes…
