Join us for Expo’s 10th Anniversary event, April 15-17 at Cosumnes River College! Check back for information on an expanded exhibitor program: “Meet the Industry Partners,” which will include general contractors and suppliers.
Expo will soon distribute the Presenter Proposals and topic recommendations. This information will be posted on-line in early June or contact us directly to receive the Request for Presentations – 916-442-8991 – ask for Lisa Frederiksen.
The purpose of the Safety Innovations Award is to recognize companies whose products and/or procedures that have or will significantly improve safe practices in the workplace, whether its construction segments or other industry environments. On behalf of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange, Construction Industry Educational Foundation and the Safety Advisory Council, it is with pleasure that we announce the 2013 Safety Innovator of the Year Award to Helix Electric for the Stockton (CHCF) Project, “Stepping-In/Mentoring Safety Passport-Process.”
Carlos E. Ruiz II, Manager of Safety and Health for Helix Electric, Inc. stated, “as a company with deep rooted beliefs that workplace safety will never be compromised, we dedicate many hours of detailed planning and innovative thinking in order to prevent any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts. As part of that effort, we developed and implemented our “Stepping In/Mentoring Safety Passport-Process on the CHCF project. Strongly supported by upper management, our project team of engineers, managers and superintendents along with hundreds of dedicated craftsmen engaged all aspects of this process and achieved extraordinary results at the CHCF Project. Our record on this project of having worked more than 300,000 total man-hours, while utilizing our Stepping In/Mentoring Safety Passport-Process, without a recordable or loss time injury is a significant accomplishment.”
Ruiz explained that as a result of recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a workforce consisting of new workers, less than six months on the job have a greater chance of being injured on the job compared to experienced employees due to the following:
“With this in mind, a plan was established which addressed each of the critical areas, with the goal of eliminating the potential for an unwelcome event on the project site. Implementing a process that addressed the above potential risks to employees and those of other trades working along side us, in conjunction with our existing culture of safety, significantly contributed to our craftsmen working safely on this fast paced, and complicated project.”
Nick Cloud, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Carlos E. Ruiz II, Helix Electric
“…As one of two Clark/McCarthy Safety Director’s, I’ve spent a great deal of time at the California Health Care Facility (CHCF) project in Stockton California. The CHCF project is not your normal construction project. The CHCF project consist of 31 separate buildings totaling 1.2 million square feet, spread across 75 acres. We topped-out with 1,500 trade workers while orientating more than 6,000 workers over the course of construction. And, this all occurred in less than two years. Given all these challenges, I can attest that Helix Electric excelled in safety and health, and they deserve our recognition and deserve receiving the 2013 Safety Innovators of the Year Award…” - Nick Cloud, Northern Pacific Division Safety Director, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
Congratulations to Helix Electric, the recipient of the 2013 Innovator of the Year Award and for their support of the Safety Expo program!
Expo sponsorship in the form of a cash commitment, or advertising your company, products and services, offers you the opportunity to achieve several objectives at once – consider sponsorship of the 2013 Safety Expo. If you are a supplier of products and services, you will also have the opportunity to exhibit! For more information please download the following forms for further information:
SponsorAdvertisingForm and 2013ExhibitorForm
2013 Building Codes out for public comment:
Find out more at www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/. Signing up for email notification is an easy way to stay current on Energy Commission actions.
|
The 2013 Safety Expo welcomes back the following trainers:
Tom Burke, Schetter Electric
Bob Downey, RED Safety Consulting
Eliseo Garcia, Lakeview Professional Services, Inc.
Jack Kastorff, SBK Consultants
John McCoy, Lakview Professional Services, Inc.
Vincent Puterbaugh, Center for Healthcare Education, Inc.
Cindy Tait, National Safety Council
Rudy Schroeder, Western Safety Institute
David Johnson, SkyLine Scaffolding
Check back for updated information on trainers and topics.
Cal-OSHA Reporter® – FLASH REPORT!
Repeat LOTO Violations Trigger Cal/OSHA Willful Action
Despite being on “full notice” by Cal/OSHA of deficiencies in its lockout/tagout program, a Southern California employer failed to take adequate precautions, leading to a second serious injury within three months.
And it also led to a second willful violation against the employer in a little over six months. California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has hit EDCO Waste and Recycling Services for alleged willful and accident-related violations in an incident last December. DOSH seeks almost $112,000 in penalties in the case.
The latest incident was on New Year’s Eve 2011 at the company’s Lemon Grove facility, when a worker was hurt while standing on a “packer” inside a refuse truck that was being repaired. Workers were connecting a hydraulic cylinder to the packer, which compacts trash in the truck. The crew needed to activate the cylinder so it could be connected to the packer, but it instead struck the device, causing the worker to fall between the packer and the truck body wall, where he was crushed. He survived, but suffered “severe” injuries, Cal/OSHA says.
The incident bears similarities to an October incident at the same facility where a mechanic also suffered severe injuries when the control levers on a refuse truck were not blocked as required. That alleged serious violation turned into a willful when DOSH learned of the December incident, then petitioned the Cal/OSH Appeals Board to reclassify the violation. EDCO had appealed its original citation and the matter is pending before the board
Cal/OSHA also cited EDCO in 2003 for failing to have employees “use lockable controls on a compactor” and having inadequate written safety procedures.
The serious and willful citation issued in the December incident alleges the employer “had been previously notified of the requirements of periodic inspections through citations that had been issued in prior cases,” a violation of General Industry Safety Orders ﾧ3314(h). DOSH seeks a $67,500 penalty for the violation. In addition, the Division cited the company for three other serious violations, two general violations and a regulatory violation.
Visit www.cal-osha.com/Subscribe.aspx to order the premium version of the Cal-OSHA Reporter.
Legal Notice:
The editors have made efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information published in each issue. Opinions on financial, legal or other matters are those of the editors and others; professional counsel should be consulted before any action or decision based upon this material is taken.
Copyright 2012 Providence Publications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Cal-OSHA Reporter may be forwarded, copied or distributed subject to the following conditions: (1) The full report including text, graphics and links must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; (2) All copies must contain Providence Publications copyright notice; (3) This document may not be distributed for profit.”
For information about how we protect your personal information see our privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Providence Publications, LLC can be contacted by snail mail at PO Box 2610 Granite Bay, California 95746-2610; by telephone at 916-774-4000; or by email by clicking feedback.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGING ASPECT FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES AND INDUSTRIES.
With progressive changes from both Federal and California OSHA, coupled with economic variables, employers are challenged with compliance while maintaining a competitive business advantage. Training is one key area that cannot be compromised even in difficult times. The 2012 Safety Expo is presenting a dedicated Regulatory Track of presentations that may be of interest to employers, industry professionals and trade workers.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3 – REGULATORY TRACK SESSIONS
Cal/OSHA Just Showed Up! What Now? 8:00 am – 9:30 am – Marty Tamayo, Cal/OSHA Standards Board – What to do when OSHA knocks on your door; what to say to minimize your exposures; how to prepare for an OSHA inspection; how to appeal citations and fines.
Regulatory Section-Heat and Illness Prevention Program 8:00 am – 9:00 am – Richard DaRosa, Cal/OSHA Consultation – This course is to educate the participants as to the regulatory requirements for an effective Heat Illness Prevention Program (T8 CCR 3395) with the emphasis to the Cal/OSHA Enforcement procedures.
New Ladder Regulation 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Jennifer Martin, State Fund – Did you know there were updates to the Cal/OSHA safety orders on the use, inspection, training, care and maintenance of ladders in 2011? Learn what the changes were and what you need to do to comply with the new regulation.
Cal/OSHA – Dos, Don’ts and Truth 10:00 am – 12 Noon – Rhyanne Truax, Cal/OSHA Consultation – Sacramento District Enforcement – A Cal/OSHA Inspection from the Inspector’s point of view – what you should expect and what you should and should not do; how to keep your inspection from getting expanded; how rumors can hurt you when it comes to inspections.
Regulatory Section-Injury and Illness Prevention Program 10:00 am – 11:00 am – Richard DaRosa, Cal/OSHA Consultation – This course is to educate the participants as to the regulatory requirements for an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (T8 CCR 3203) with the emphasis to the Cal/ OSHA Enforcement procedures.
Cal/OSHA Fall Protection – 10:00 am – 11:30 am- John Ford, Cal/OSHA Consultation – Learn what Cal/OSHA expects for compliance with Fall Protection Standards, including fall rescue in commercial and residential construction.
Understanding CDAC – The New Construction Crane Regulations 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Mike Donlon, Cal/OSHA Consultation – Federal OSHA’s Crane and Derrick Advisory Committee (CDAC) developed new crane regulations for the construction industry. Cal/OSHA adopted its own version of these regulations which went into effect on July 7, 2011. There are many changes and new requirements you need to know if you operate, use or work around cranes. Learn what equipment is covered under this new standard and what is excluded. Topics include: general contractor responsibilities; assembly/dis-assembly; working near power lines; crane inspection and certification; wire rope; safety devices; qualification for crane operators, signal persons, and riggers; forklifts used in lifting service; additional proposed changes and more. This critical information is for anyone who works with cranes in the construction industry.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 REGULATORY TRACK SESSIONS
Regulatory Section-Heat and Illness Prevention Program 8:00 am – 9:00 am – Richard DaRosa, Cal/OSHA Consultation – This course is to educate the participants as to the regulatory requirements for an effective Heat Illness Prevention Program (T8 CCR 3395) with the emphasis to the Cal/OSHA Enforcement procedures.
Regulatory Section-Injury and Illness Prevention Program 10:00 am – 11:00 am – Richard DaRosa, Cal/OSHA Consultation – This course is to educate the participants as to the regulatory requirements for an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (T8 CCR 3203) with the emphasis to the Cal/OSHA Enforcement procedures.
Click here to register electronically
On January 1, 2011, AB 2774 amended the California Labor Code Section 6432 to alter the way Cal/OSHA issues serious violations to employers for safety violations. The new labor code changes the definition of serious injury or illness or serious physical harm as cited by Cal/OSHA. (This does not change the definition of a serious injury for reporting purposes under title 8, section 342.) It also changes how a serious violation is determined and investigated and the appeals process for Cal/OSHA citations.
The California Legislature applied these changes to respond to federal OSHA concerns about the serious violations issued by Cal/OSHA. Federal OSHA suggested that Cal/OSHA and the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB) could improve their handling and processing of serious violations.
Cal/OSHA issues regulatory, general, repeat, or serious citations to California employers for safety violations in the workplace. The definitions for regulatory and general citations have not changed.
Keep in mind that serious violations can have penalties up to $25,000 compared to the $7,000 maximum for a general violation. Penalties may also apply for failing to correct a violation by the abatement date. Serious and willful violations may also result in criminal charges and higher worker’s compensation liability.
A copy of AB 2774 is posted at the following url:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2751-2800/ab_2774_bill_20100930_chaptered.html
“Construction has gotten so complex and regulated that companies can only succeed when they know the rules of the game. For the cost of a night at the races, contractors can get what they need over three short days and be ready to work profitably all year – Contractors get top quality information, spend time with people who speak their language, and save a bucket of money. It’s like being at a sports bar with 25 big screens tuned to different games, and all the food and beverages are priced as if it’s 1978. Contractors can hear in three short days what takes me all year to write about in our Newsletter articles.”
˜ Kate Leyden, Valley Contractors Exchange ˜
“Everyone associated with the construction industry understands that our business can be extremely dangerous. Whether working in excavation; at extreme heights erecting steel; building our highways or building homes; our workers are always at risk of being injured. However, we also understand that the industry can be made much safer when our workers are properly trained and educated. To that end, the Sacramento Builders Exchange has developed a truly unique event that provides safety training and education to all construction workers. The Safety Expo offers a comprehensive training and education curriculum that’s presented by some of the country’s most knowledgeable trainers. Further, the Expo incorporates a trade show element where employers and workers alike have access to safety suppliers, manufacturers, and other safety related stake holders. We appreciate having access to such a great program and look forward to attending the next Expo.”
˜ Nick Cloud, Northern Pacific Safety Director, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. ˜
