State News

Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Industrial Relations has issued a new guidance document to help familiarize employers on the state’s updated heat illness prevention rules, which are set to go into effect May 1.

Frankfort, KY – Heart attacks are the No. 1 killer of workers in Kentucky, prompting the state to encourage employers to promote good health among employees.

Washington – A new database represents the first comprehensive collection of all unique state occupational safety and health rules and laws.

Oakland, CA – The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s heat illness prevention Special Emphasis Program led to 3,575 inspections in 2014 – about one-third of which resulted in heat-related citations – the agency has announced.

Portland, OR – Logging and construction industry deaths in Oregon continue to occur despite widely known preventive measures, according to the State Plan state’s administrator.

Oakland, CA – California’s occupational safety and health agency has launched a campaign aimed at protecting roofers from falls and other hazardous conditions.

Augusta, ME – Occupational injuries from falls and illnesses due to chemical hazards can cost thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation, according to two reports released Feb. 25 by the Maine Department of Labor’s Research and Statistics Unit.

Lansing, MI – Michigan OSHA will conduct targeted inspections in the wholesale, non-durable goods industry this year in an effort to lower the business sector’s higher-than-average injury and illness rate.

As expected, OSHA has rejected Arizona’s fall protection standards for residential construction, meaning the state’s employers must immediately comply with federal standards.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry needs to more effectively implement a law intended to protect meatpacking workers, and the legislature should make changes to clarify the law, according to a report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor.