As temperatures rise across California, employers should revisit their obligations under Cal/OSHA’s heat illness prevention standards. California continues to regulate both outdoor and indoor heat exposure, and those requirements remain important in 2026. By contrast, federal OSHA still has not issued a final nationwide heat-specific standard. OSHA’s proposed rule, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in
California
Proposed Changes to California’s Walkaround Rule
By Sierra Vierra & John Cohen on
Posted in Cal/OSHA
California is considering changes to its workplace inspection rules that would expand who may accompany inspectors during on-site Cal/OSHA inspections. Read more about the proposal: California’s Proposed “Walkaround” Changes.
California’s Proposed AI Bill and Workplace Safety Implications
By Joseph J. Lazzarotti & Sierra Vierra on
Posted in Workplace Safety
California legislators have introduced a new bill aimed at regulating the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. While the proposed law is designed to safeguard employees, it has sparked concern about the potential effects on operational efficiency and innovation, including workplace safety. Read what this may mean for California employers.
California Face Covering and Vaccine Requirement Round-Up
By Cressinda D. Schlag on
Posted in COVID-19
In June, with much fanfare, California announced it was reopening and lifting many of the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place through state executive and health department orders. However, as there have been surges of COVID-19 across the state, many state and local orders requiring COVID-19 controls have changed in response. Mask mandates and…