Cal/OSHA has proposed new regulations that would incorporate California’s new workplace violence prevention law — which took effect July 1 — into Title 8, the set of regulations that covers workplace safety in the Golden State. However, the proposed rules add a number of new requirements that some safety observers say would be unworkable in…
Cal/OSHA has published a model plan to help California employers comply with a new law requiring that they have in place a workplace violence plan. The model is designed to provide structure for employers to create their own plans. Businesses have the option to use the model plan, create their own or use another plan…
By July 1, 2024, most California employers with ten or more employees must have a compliant Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) in place. What do California employers need to know about the WVPP requirements? It must be in writing and include detailed information and effective procedures for identifying and correcting workplace hazards specific to each…
Violence in the workplace is a growing problem for which many U.S. employers are unprepared. Business owners may believe that their workforces are like families and that a violent outburst could never happen at work. They may also think that they have adequate security in place to stop an outsider from launching an attack or…
Work-related stress claims cost U.S. companies $200 billion to $300 billion a year, according to the American Institute of Stress. Stress can result in a number of secondary mental and physical illnesses and direct physical injuries, which directly affects health care costs, worker productivity — and can even result in workers’ compensation claims. In fact,…
Studies show that for every major workplace injury or fatality, there are nearly 10 minor injuries — and more than 30 accidents that lead to property damage. While minor injuries may not seem consequential, they can be indicators of structural problems in an employer’s safety standards. Capturing data even on minor incidents that may seem…
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued proposed language to update its guidance on harassment in the workplace. The proposed guidance “reflects notable changes in law, including the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock vs. Clayton County (which held that LGBTQ individuals are protected from workplace discrimination under Title VII), the #MeToo movement and emerging issues,…
A controversial bill that would require every employer in California to have in place a workplace violence prevention plan has been passed by the State Senate and is now in play in the Assembly. The bill — SB 553 — would require any company with at least one worker to “establish, implement and maintain” a…
Workplace bullying is on the increase, and it constitutes a major risk to companies that fail to take action. If you learn of a bully in your ranks, you need to take immediate steps to mount a serious investigation and take action if the accusations turn out to be valid. The financial future of your…
A significant share of overall workplace injuries occur during new employees’ first year on the job, according to a recent study. The report by Travelers Cos., Inc. found that over a five-year period, injuries to new employees accounted for 35% of all workplace injuries. These injuries resulted in more than 6 million lost workdays, accounting…