The following is not meant to be legal advice.
On October 14, 2006, Chris Baker, a partner at Thelen Reid & Priest, LLP, gave a talk in San Francisco on OSHA, which may stand for Occupational Safety and Health Act or Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
The Cal/OSH Appeals Board acts as the OSH court. It interprets OHS regulations and determines if the employer has violated the law. Cases are first heard by an administrative law judge.
The Cal/OSH Standards Board is responsible for granting variances, which are special rules for those who cannot comply with the standards.
Employers must keep OSHA form 200 logs, which are records of all occupational injuries and illnesses. Lockout/tagout violations are common serious or fatal occupational injuries. Lockout/tagout relates to employees working on machines. In serving or adjusting machines with energized parts, such as photocopiers, the machine must first be deenergized, and steps must be taken to prevent accidentally reenergizing the machine. Lock the product so no one can turn on the machine while someone is working on it.
Ergonomics involves employees suffering from muscular skeletal disorder. The disorder needs to affect 2 or more employees per year in order for the employer to be required to find a solution to the matter, such as offering more breaks, obtaining equipment, or training.
OSHA violations may result in criminal penalties.
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