Compliance Stuff

California employers should take note that the Cal/OSHA workplace posting titled “Safety and Health Protection on the Job ” was updated in April 2026. The poster summarizes key workplace safety and health obligations under California law and must be displayed in a conspicuous location where employee notices are customarily posted. Failure to display the notice may result in penalties. The posting reminds employers of their obligation to provide safe and healthful workplaces, comply with applicable Cal/OSHA standards, and maintain a written and effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). It also emphasizes that employees and their authorized representatives must have access to the IIPP. Employers should confirm their IIPP is current, implemented, and supported by documentation, including records demonstrating that employees have been trained on hazards specific to their job assignments. The poster also highlights several critical employer obligations. Employers must correct...

As summer approaches, California employers should remember that it’s time to review their workplace violence prevention plans and conduct their annual workplace violence prevention training . As a reminder, Labor Code section 6401.9 requires employers to review the effectiveness of their workplace violence prevention plans at least annually, after a workplace violence incident, and whenever a deficiency becomes apparent. The law went into effect on July 1, 2024, so for many employers, the annual compliance deadline is right around the corner. Employers must, at a minimum, review the violent incident log, the procedures for obtaining the active involvement of employees, and the effectiveness of the plan. To evaluate effectiveness, employers should confirm that the plan is still correct: the person responsible for the plan is correctly identified, reporting channels remain clear, emergency and incident response procedures still work in practice, and that investigation and communication ...

On Friday, April 24, 2026, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board released a  revised draft  workplace violence regulation for general industry that clarifies the definition of small employer and specifies the elements of a workplace violence prevention plan. 0:00 5:12 Quick Hits O n April 24, 2026, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board released a revised draft workplace violence rule that includes employer-provided transportation providing that the regulation applies to “all employers , employees, places of employment, employer-provided housing, and employer-provided transportation.” The revised draft clarifies that the regulation will not apply to employers when places of employment are not accessible to the public and the employer has fewer than a total of ten employees at the place of employment at all times during the preceding 365 days and is in compliance with the California injury and illness prevention plan regulations. The deadline for comments on the r...

Consistent with its tradition of dropping surprise regulatory proposals near the end of the day before a holiday weekend, Cal/OSHA published a formal proposal on Friday the 13th, 2026, to promulgate a California version of federal OSHA’s so-called “worker walkaround rule.” That rule allows non-employee third parties to serve as an employee representative during an OSHA workplace inspection provided that third party is reasonably necessary to conduct an effective and thorough inspection. California employers should take note of this development and monitor it closely. There is a public hearing scheduled for April 1, 2026, whereby interested individuals will have the opportunity to present statements or arguments on the rule. The Procedural Posture and Timing of the Proposed Rule Raise Eyebrows and Concerns The proposal is framed as a so-called “Horcher amendment.” Such proposals involve rulemaking that allows Cal/OSHA to ensure it complies with its state plan approval from federal OSHA...

The employment law universe is full of developments these days.  Below are some important (but unrelated) items you should spend some time contemplating… Cal/OSHA’s New Posting Yes, it’s the middle of the year.  But Cal/OSHA recently r eleased an update to its required  “Safety and Health Protection On the Job” notice .  The notice provides employees with information about employer safety obligations and employees’ rights, such as reporting unsafe working conditions. It also includes the addresses and telephone numbers of Cal/OSHA’s division offices throughout the State. Remember:  you must post at least one Notice along with the other workplace posters at each physical location where business is conducted or where services or industrial operations are performed.  One complication:  it’s 11×17… New Federal DOJ Memo Highlights DEI Risks The  DOJ issued a new memo  outlining the circumstances in which DEI programs may violate federal law. There...

  On July 17, 2025, the California State Auditor’s Office released a comprehensive report ( Report No. 2024-115 ) highlighting significant deficiencies within the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). The audit, which reviewed sixty case files from fiscal years 2019–20 through 2023–24, exposed alleged critical weaknesses in Cal/OSHA’s enforcement processes and staffing levels, and in very plain language, raised concerns about the agency’s ability to protect California’s nearly 20 million workers effectively. Quick Hits On July 17, 2025, the California state auditor released a report identifying significant deficiencies in Cal/OSHA’s enforcement processes and staffing levels. The audit reviewed sixty case files from fiscal years 2019–20 through 2023–24 and found critical weaknesses in Cal/OSHA’s inspection and documentation practices. The report recommended that Cal/OSHA update its policies, improve inspection processes, enhance abatement verification, address staff...