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The leading cause of Cal/OSHA citations is lack of compliance with the SB 198 Injury and Illness Prevention program. This program is a standard and is one of the most complicated and misunderstood requirements for compliance with Cal/OSHA.

According to California law, most employers with 10 or more employees must establish, implement and maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). The repercussions of getting it wrong or failing to comply altogether can be costly.

Unless you’re up to date with SB-198 required compliance, you are at much higher risk for Cal/OSHA fines and citations, higher workers’ compensation costs, increased insurance rates and most importantly, you are risking employee safety. Start reducing those risks immediately by requesting a safety audit from one of our Risk Management Consultants today.

What happens during a Cal/OSHA inspection?

Inspections are surprise visit, as Cal/OSHA is not required to notify you of an upcoming inspection. During this visit, Cal/OSHA inspectors are required to review your SB 198 Injury and Illness Prevention Program and associated records during every inspection. Here are some statistics to keep in mind:

  • 1 out of 3 workers hurt on the job have been employed at that company less than a year.
  • 70 percent of Cal/OSHA inspections are triggered by employee complaints.
  • California businesses have to comply with more than 3,000 pages of additional regulations.
  • Disabling workplace injuries have decreased since the SB 198 standard went into effect.
  • On average, 18 fatal workplace accidents occur each workday.
  • 60 percent of all fall-related injuries occur from heights under 10 feet.

Insight into SB 198 Requirements with a Safety Inspection Audit:

  • The elements every Injury and Illness Prevention Program must cover
  • Components you need to include in your written plan
  • Ensuring your company’s SB 198 program is manageable
  • Specifics a Cal/OSHA inspector will look for in your prevention program

Take Proactive Safety Measures

  • Setting safety goals and objectives that tie into Cal/OSHA compliance
  • How to get workers to come to you with their safety concerns before they call Cal/OSHA
  • Smart self-assessment techniques — and how to evaluate your compliance status ongoing
  • Safety practices you can use to avoid accidents and citations

Maintain Critical Records With Supportive Documentation

  • How to maintain injury and illness recordkeeping requirements
  • Determining if an incident is recordable
  • Retention and maintenance of Cal/OSHA records
  • How to calculate your OSHA incident rate and your company’s lost workday injury rate
  • What specific documentation techniques you should be using in your Cal/OSHA files

Identify & Control Potential Workplace Hazards

  • How to develop a hazard control system that meets Cal/OSHA standards
  • Cultivate and prioritize a Safety Culture among staff
  • Reducing your employer liability

Train Employees To Stay In Compliance

  • Making safety meetings a priority to employees
  • Training techniques for workers who don’t read/speak English
  • How to get management buy-in on new safety practices and expenditures

Improve Handling Of Accident & Injury Investigations

  • Identify and execute the first action to take when you arrive on the scene
  • Questions you need to ask those involved — and what to do if their answers don’t match
  • How to correctly interpret and apply the information you’ve gathered

For more information on how to get started, contact one of our Risk Management Consultants today.

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