OSHA

OSHA Offers Grant Programs to Nonprofits

Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Nonprofit leaders who want to make workplace safety training more accessible may be surprised to learn about a unique grant program through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since 1978, OSHA has offered grants to nonprofit organizations for safety training. Specifically, grants are awarded on a competitive basis to provide employees with training on the recognition and prevention of safety/health hazards in the workplace. The intent of the program is to reach audiences who might not otherwise receive safety training.

CAL/OSHA Emergency Rule Adopted for Wildfire Smoke

Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Author, Steve Hamilton, Loss Control Supervisor, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

On Thursday, July 17 2019, the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board voted to adopt an emergency standard requiring employers to take action when air quality particulate matter measures greater than 150 and when there is reasonable expectation that employees will come in to contact with wildfire smoke. 

RM365 Safety Star Program May Lower Risk of Receiving OSHA’s Most Frequently Cited Violation

Author, Kevin Howard, CRIS, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services’ RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ checks several boxes for contractors who are looking to improve their safety culture and lower risk. The program provides safety training designed to reduce an organization’s probability of work-related injuries; thus, minimizing the likelihood of an OSHA citation when used in conjunction with the Risk Management Center tools.

Stay Off OSHA's Radar with an Effective Ladder Safety Program

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Year after year OSHA publishes the “Top 10 Most Cited Violations” and it always seems to include violations dealing with falls. Fall protection, scaffolding, ladders, and fall protection (training requirements) all made this list and all of them have been on this list perennially for over a decade. How can a company that is using ladders keep from becoming just another name on the list of violators? How can you ensure that your employees are using provided equipment properly?

OSHA Amends Electronic Submission Requirements to Exclude Forms 300 & 301

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

OSHA published a final rule through the Federal Register on January 25, 2019 stating, “To protect worker privacy, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is amending the recordkeeping regulation by rescinding the requirement for establishments with 250 or more employees to electronically submit information from OSHA Forms 300 and 301.”

Reporting Serious Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ CompensationClaims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Workers’ Compensation injuries occur every day. The majority of these injuries are minor incidents which require no medical treatment or loss of time from work. For others, the injury is reported to the insurance carrier, the injury is addressed, forms are provided, and the recovery from the injury is monitored until the employee is released back to work and a discharge from care is provided.

Developing an Effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

If you have operated a business in the state of California for any period of time, you have very likely heard about or run across the acronym IIPP. Wherever you stand with your knowledge within the world of safety, injury, and illness, it is important for every organization to understand the mandatory parts of an IIPP. What is often overlooked is how developing an effective safety program can create positive change and truly impact your bottom line.

Cal/OSHA Issues Electronic Filing Requirement For 2017 OSHA 300A Form

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In April 2018, federal OSHA announced all affected employers are required to submit injury and illness data (i.e., Form 300A data) via the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) online portal by July 1, 2018, even if the employer is covered by a state plan like those in California, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, Utah, Washington or Wyoming.

Key Steps to Take Before, During, and After an OSHA Inspection

Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

An OSHA officer can show up to your facility or worksite for any number of reasons: employee complaints, accidents, programmed inspections, sweeps, follow-up or a drive-by observation. In order to ensure a smooth inspection, we suggest you prepare before OSHA appears at your door. Here are some key steps to take before, during and after an OSHA inspection.

Risk Management Center Streamlines Electronic OSHA Reporting

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) now require certain employers to electronically submit their completed 2016 Form 300A.  OSHA has created a website that allows employers to manually complete the information or upload a formatted CSV (comma-separated values) file

Federal OSHA Asserts Electronic Data Reporting Requirement Applies to Employers Across All States

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Monday, April 30, 2018 it has “taken action to correct an error that was made with regard to implementing the final rule” which required some employers to electronically submit their injuring and illness reports via the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) online.

Workplace Violence Insurance Surges in Aftermath of Shootings

Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In response to the hundreds of mass shootings taking place each year, the insurance marketplace has produced new workplace violence products to help employers and employees recover from a crisis.

Simple Steps to Developing a Personal Protective Equipment Program

Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In the workplace, employees can be exposed to potentially harmful hazards. Identifying these hazards and using precautionary measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) can mean the difference between a safe jobsite and an injury.

Reminder: 2017 OSHA Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illness Must Be Posted

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

According to a recent memo, the State of California Department of Industrial Relations would like to remind employers that they are required to physically post their 2017 annual summaries of work-related injuries from February 1, 2018 through April 30, 2018. 

Building an Effective Fall Protection Program

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In a Census summarizing fatal occupational injuries from 2016, those originating from falls continued a steady upward trend that began in 2011 and increased another 6% in 2016.  More specifically, falls increased more than 25% for roofers, painters, carpenters, tree trimmers & pruners.  Since 2013, fall protection citations have been #1 or #2 on OSHA’s most cited violations.  Now, more than ever, it is essential for employers with personnel who work at heights to provide comprehensive fall protection.

OSHA Accepting Electronic Form 300A Data Submissions Through End of Year

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In a recent news release from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be accepting electronically submitted 2016 OSHA Form 300A data through midnight on December 31, 2017.  The previous deadline had been December 15, 2017.  

OSHA Pushes Back Electronic Reporting Deadline

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In a recent news release from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it has extended its electronic reporting deadline from December 1, 2017 to December 15, 2017.  

OSHA Announces Top 10 Cited Violations for FY 2017

Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
 
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its preliminary top 10 citation list for fiscal year 2017 at the annual National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo, held in late September 2017.

Is your Company Prepared for OSHA’s new Silica Rule?

Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On September 23rd 2017 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new silica standard for construction will go into effect.  This means contractors who engage in activities that create silica dust or are known in the industry as respirable crystalline silica, must meet a stricter standard for how much dust there workers inhale.

DHS Alerts OSHA of Possible Electronic Reporting Security Breach

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On August 1, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched its online electronic data filing application.  It was designed to collect and publish injury data on companies throughout the United States in order to comply with a new requirement.