OSHA

Subscribe to OSHA via RSS

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has approved a much-needed dose of revisions to California’s workplace first aid requirements for construction and general industries. For general industry employers, the most notable change removes a longstanding pain point that first aid kit contents be approved by a consulting physician. Instead, employers may now comply by providing a…

Continue Reading Beyond the Band-Aid: California Overhauls Employers’ First Aid Obligations

Seyfarth Synopsis: With the Governor’s September 30 deadline to sign bills behind us, we review the employment bills that made the cut to become laws, as well as those that didn’t survive the season. The most notable new laws read intersectionality into FEHA protected categories, recast victims’ time off provisions, adjust paid family leave, and impact protections for freelance workers…

Continue Reading Legislative Update: Bills That Made the Final Cut For 2024

Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 24, 2024, Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat rule was approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and filed with the Secretary of State (SOS), rendering the rule effective immediately.

If you’ve been following our postings, you know that last month the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to approve Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat rule. Before a rule can become effective…

Continue Reading Hot Fun in the Summertime: Cal/OSHA Indoor Heat Rule Effective Immediately

Seyfarth Synopsis: As of January 14, 2022, California employers must ensure that their COVID-19 health and safety protocols are compliant with Cal/OSHA’s Latest COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the nationwide Federal OSHA ETS vaccine mandate does not impact these separate California-specific requirements, which employers must still comply with here.

Once The Rage, …
Continue Reading Beat Goes On In California Though Federal ETS On Mute

Seyfarth Synopsis:  On Saturday, October 9, 2021 Governor Newsom signed the last of 2021’s pending employment-related bills, including a bill imposing even more restrictions on settlement agreements. The new laws will become effective on January 1, 2022. This post summarizes the new approvals as well as other new key employment laws with which California employers will need to comply.

On…
Continue Reading New Restrictions in Settlement and Severance Agreements Headline Governor Newsom’s Final 2021 Legislative Approvals

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Department of Industrial Relations’ Office of Administrative Law has approved a California OSHA emergency temporary standard regarding COVID-19, effective November 30, 2020. The temporary standard brings with it new documentation, COVID-19 testing, earnings continuation, and reporting obligations affecting most companies.

As we have previously blogged, Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) was adopted at the…
Continue Reading Cal/OSHA Approves Emergency Temporary COVID-19 Standard

Seyfarth Synopsis: September 30 was Governor Newsom’s last day to sign or veto bills the Legislature passed by its August 31 deadline. Some new laws—including COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave and workers’ compensation presumption—became effective immediately upon signing. Others—such as an expansion of CFRA and other leave rights, an EEO-1-like annual pay data report, and (believe it …
Continue Reading Pen Down, Governor Newsom: California’s Newest Employment Laws

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Legislature has passed a series of employment-related bills for Governor Newsom to consider. He has until September 30 to approve or veto these bills, most of which relate to leaves of absence and COVID relief.

Monday, August 31st (or, really, the wee hours of September 1) marked the Legislature’s last day to pass bills to Governor…
Continue Reading California Employment Legislative Update: Time for Governor Newsom to Get to Work

Seyfarth Synopsis: As the mercury rises, California employers must comply with regulatory requirements to keep their employees cool.  Employers should be aware of Cal/OSHA’s existing requirements for outdoor workplaces and proposed rules which could turn up the heat on indoor employers.

California Keeps It Cool

For many years, Cal/OSHA has distinguished itself from Federal OSHA by, among other things,…
Continue Reading Cool For the Summer

Seyfarth Synopsis: Although the concept of working remotely may seem simple, employers must consider several issues before allowing employees to work from home.

 

There’s No Place Like Home

Today’s technology allows many employees to work nearly as well in their pajamas at home or in their jeans at a local coffee shop as they can…
Continue Reading Home Sweet Home Office: Considerations With Remote Employees