Group Insurance #351

Worker compensation group insurance #351

Roberto Mancia
(323)981-6620

Heat Illness Prevention

Loss Control Staff

154 citations totaling?$301,000 were issued to 220 businesses?in the counties of?San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange. No Occupational Safety & Health?citations are mentioned but be aware that sweeps continue throughout California.?Two press releases appear below.

Here is a reminder of resources and links that might assist you when determining which Workplace Postings are needed for your accounts.
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SCIF All in One:
? ? ? ?The "All In One Posters" are current and are available in English and Spanish from the State Fund warehouse. The SCIF numbers are 17354 (English) & 17355 for the (Spanish) version.
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Workplace postings:
? ? ? ?http://www.dir.ca.gov/wpnodb.html
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SCIF Hazards Check Lists:
? ? ? ?http://www.scif.com/safety/HazardChecklists.html
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A reminder to you that updated sign requirements are maintained within Division of Occupational Safety and Health - Title 8 regulations. Find the applicable regulation(s) and the signage equirements will appear within the text of that reg:
? ? ? ?http://www.dir.ca.gov/samples/search/query.htm

Labor Commissioner Cites Bay Area Garment Businesses for Labor Violations

http://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2008/IR2008-11.html

San Francisco—February 26, 2008— Officials with the State Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner’s Office) issued 41 citations totaling more than $113,000 in fines to Bay Area garment manufacturers in a recent two-day enforcement sweep.

Seven teams of investigators conducted the sweeps of 80 clothing manufacturers, silk screen businesses and embroidery companies located in San Francisco, Alameda and San Mateo counties.

The recent enforcement actions uncovered violations including failure to have workers’ compensation insurance, failure to provide itemized deductions and failure to pay overtime or minimum wage. In addition, 20 of the companies failed to keep accurate records as required by labor code, and five shops were not registered as required under state law. As a result, garments were confiscated at three businesses.

?“We are here to ensure that the garment industry properly pays its employees and that the rights of these workers are safeguarded,” said California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet. “Garment manufacturers that operate outside the law should understand that we are serious. We will conduct detailed payroll audits and will seek additional back wages and penalties in addition to the fines assessed during this two-day enforcement action.”

Under California labor law, garment manufacturing is defined as sewing, cutting, making, processing, repairing, finishing, assembling or otherwise preparing garments, wearing apparel or accessories for sale or resale. In addition, the law requires everyone engaged in garment manufacturing to be registered with the state, pay a registration fee and post a bond. The law provides for penalties of $100 per employee for an initial violation, and $200 per employee for any subsequent violation, and allows the Labor Commissioner to confiscate garments as well as manufacturing equipment for failure to register.

The DLSE adjudicates wage claims, investigates discrimination and public works complaints, and enforces state labor law and Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders. To learn more about the functions of the California Labor Commissioner, visit our web site at www.dir.ca..gov/dlse.

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Labor Commissioner Cites Southern California Garment Businesses for Labor Violations

http://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2008/IR2008-10.html

Los Angeles—February 26, 2008— Officials with the State Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner’s Office) issued 113 citations totaling more than $188,000 in fines to Los Angeles and Orange County garment manufacturers in a recent two-day enforcement sweep.

Seventeen investigators conducted the sweeps of 140 businesses that included clothing manufacturers, silk screen businesses and embroidery companies in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Orange counties. The recent enforcement action uncovered violations, including failure to register, failure to provide itemized deductions and failure to pay overtime. Additionally, the inspections found 36 companies cited did not have workers’ compensation insurance and were closed down.

?“Silk screening and embroidery companies need to know that they are included in the garment industry as manufacturers, and must comply with garment industry labor and registration requirements,” said California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet. “Garment manufacturers that operate outside the law should understand that we are serious. We will conduct detailed payroll audits and will seek additional back wages and penalties in addition to the fines assessed during this two-day enforcement action.”

Under California labor law, garment manufacturing is defined as sewing, cutting, making, processing, repairing, finishing, assembling or otherwise preparing garments, wearing apparel or accessories for sale or resale. In addition, it requires everyone engaged in garment manufacturing to be registered with the state, pay a registration fee, and post a bond. The law provides for penalties of $100 per employee for an initial violation, and $200 per employee for any subsequent violation, and allows the Labor Commissioner to confiscate garments as well as manufacturing equipment for failure to register.

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Tips to Prevent Strains and Sprains
by Judy Kerry
State Compensation Insurance Fund

Strains and sprains account for a majority of workplace injuries and lost work time.? The injuries are often caused by lifting, pushing or overreaching and usually affect the back, shoulders, and arms. Although it only takes a moment to cause one of these injuries, it can take many painful days or months to heal. Preventing strain and sprain injuries is a lot easier than correcting them.

Reaching
Strain increases in proportion to the distance of the work from your body.? There’s less strain on your body if the work is positioned directly in front of you and between your shoulders and waist, with a waist-high level being the most neutral and comfortable.? So, try to work with your arms below your shoulder level and stay as close to the work area as possible. You may need to raise or lower yourself with a stool or ladder for better positioning.? When reaching down, ‘build a bridge’ by putting one hand on a nearby surface to support your back.

Bending
Strains and sprains can occur from activities performed in awkward positions or when bending over and relying on your back for support rather than your leg muscles.? When performing activities below your waist, bend your knees and squat down to position yourself closer to the work.? If the task requires you to maintain a squatting position for a while, alternate kneeling down on one knee to transfer the load off your legs and back.? Use a kneeling pad to reduce trauma to your knee.

Pushing or Pulling
Sometimes equipment can put more strain on your body if you push or pull it incorrectly.? If given the choice, push rather than pull a load.? But, in both cases, get as close to the load as possible.? When pushing a load, use both hands and arms keeping them in close to your body; keep your back straight and lean into the load; then, use your whole body weight and leg muscles to walk the load as you push.? If pulling a load, use both hands and arms; keep your back straight and lean away from the load; and again, use your whole body weight and leg muscles to walk the load as you pull.

Your body works best when it’s used as it was designed.? When you force your body to do things beyond its capability, you risk a strain or sprain injury.? How can you prevent these injuries?? The obvious thing is to keep yourself in good physical condition and work within your limits. ?

Be Prepared for Heated Work Conditions
by Judy Kerry
State Compensation Insurance Fund

As temperatures rise, employers should have their Injury and Illness Prevention Program and emergency response procedures in place and ensure that all their workers are prepared for heated work conditions. Employers must also comply with California’s Heat Illness Prevention Standards which requires mandatory training for employees and supervisors on specific heat-related topics. Cal/OSHA studies show effective reduction of heat illness depends on written procedures, access to water, access to cooler areas, acclimatization and weather monitoring, emergency response, and employee and supervisor training.

Under the heat illness prevention regulation, employers are required to take four basic steps to prevent heat illness at all outdoor worksites that include developing and implementing written procedures on heat illness prevention and providing heat illness training to all workers--especially those who are not proficient in the English language. In addition, employers must provide their workers accessible, clean drinking water and proper shade or cooling areas. They should encourage workers to drink four 8-ounce cups of fresh water per hour. Other prevention measures include increasing the number of water and rest breaks or preventative recovery periods on hot days and encouraging the use of a "buddy system" to monitor workers in the field. Employers may consider starting the work day early and pacing work activities for their workers.

For those who work outdoors, the hot sun with high temperatures can be life-threatening. The risk of dying from heat illness appears to be highest for workers who just begin working in extreme heat because the body needs to adapt gradually to exertions in the heat and humidity. It’s, therefore, imperative to monitor workers at all times during hot weather and allow those who are new to working in hot weather—especially during the first exposure to the high temperatures—to gradually adapt to the daily routine. Allowing workers to acclimate to the heat is one of the best defenses against heat-related illnesses and fatalities. According to Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention data, most people adjust to the weather or acclimate within four-to-14 days of regular work levels. Letting workers adjust to changes in weather by gradually increasing their exposure and physical activity reduces the risk of heat-related issues. Those who work indoors in high-heat conditions should take the same precautions as those who work outdoors and follow similar measures under (section 3203 of Title 8) their employers' Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

Raising awareness is another important element in preventing heat illness. Whenever temperatures start to rise, close attention must be focused on the effects of heat on workers who don't work in air-conditioned environments—particularly those who engage in physical or strenuous activity. Some early symptoms and signs of heat illness to watch for are headaches, muscle cramps and unusual fatigue. If left untreated, these symptoms can rapidly progress to nausea and/or vomiting, weakness, excessive sweating or hot dry skin, mental confusion, seizures, and fainting or loss of consciousness.

Cal/OSHA offers employers free consultative services and can help reevaluate Injury and Illness Prevention Programs. For information regarding heat illness prevention, training materials, and free workshops go to http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html Employees with work-related questions or complaints may call the California Workers’ Information Hotline at 1-866-924-9757.

Links

Group Insurance #351