A total of 419 California workers lost their lives on the job in 2024, according to data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) cited April 28 by the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). The state agency honored workers who lost their lives on the job, as well as those who have been injured or become ill in the workplace, on Workers’ Memorial Day, the anniversary of the passage of the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970.

Governor Gavin Newsom issued a Workers’ Memorial Day proclamation recognizing the state’s achievements in improving working conditions for fast-food workers, protecting warehouse workers from unsafe production quotas, and ensuring vulnerable workers aren’t exploited or put in dangerous situations.

A National Council for Occupational Safety and Health report raises alarm over increased heat-related jobsite risks as the construction industry enters “the most dangerous time of year for heat exposure.”

Released during Workers’ Memorial Week, noting those who have died or suffered work-related injuries and illness, the 2026 Dirty Dozen report says it has identified 12 companies that “put workers’ lives at risk through unsafe practices, inadequate protections, and systemic neglect.” Among those are home builder D.R. Horton and Massachusetts contractor Revoli Construction, which is facing a $4.6 million fine after a fatal trench collapse.

The School Bus Safety Company announced today they have just completed the recreation and updating of their OSHA Compliance Training Course for both school bus technicians and drivers.

The OSHA Compliance Course is a single source management tool designed specifically for school bus operations. This course will help managers quickly and easily achieve compliance with OSHA regulations. There are many hazards in a bus workshop and the technicians deserve the required safety training to make their workplace safer.

This 2026 edition of “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect” marks the 35th year the AFL-CIO has produced the only comprehensive report on the state of safety and health protections for America’s workers. This report features national and state information on workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses, as well as workplace safety inspections, penalties, funding, staffing and public employee coverage under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). It also includes information on the state of mine safety and health, key topics such as artificial intelligence, and prevention of workplace violence, musculoskeletal disorders, chemical exposures and heat illness, and transitions in policies on government occupational data reporting, transparency and equity.

OSHA is revoking its standard on house falls in marine terminals.

According to 1917.2, house falls are “spans and supporting members, winches, blocks, and standing and running rigging forming part of a marine terminal and used with a vessel’s cargo gear to load or unload by means of married falls.”

In a final rule published April 17, OSHA says the marine terminal industry no longer uses house falls because most cargo is shipped in containers and moved by cranes. The agency adds that it has no records of any citations for a violation of the standard since 2012.

OSHA is seeking to eliminate its November 2036 deadline for employers to install personal fall arrest or safety systems on certain fixed ladders.

A proposed rule/request for comments published April 6 asks for public input on whether to repeal or revise that requirement and continue allowing the use of cages or wells on ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level.

The deadline was established in OSHA’s 2016 update to its standards on walking-working surfaces and fall protection for general industry, and was listed under 1910.28(b)(9)(i)(D).

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) has issued a proposed regulation (Section 331.8. Representatives during the Inspection) that allows employees to designate a representative, including another employee, a third party, or the collective bargaining representative, during workplace safety inspections conducted by Cal/OSHA.

OSHA and NIOSH have released an updated version of their joint hazard alert on respirable crystalline silica exposure in countertop manufacturing, finishing and installation.

Respirable crystalline silica exposure can lead to scarring and inflammation in the lungs, and result in incurable (and often fatal) silicosis, among other health problems.

The alert includes a table that lists the typical crystalline silica content by product, such as engineered stone and quartzite. It also outlines the requirements of a worker exposure assessment.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new Safety Champions Program is the agency’s latest effort to move employers beyond reactive compliance and toward building durable, prevention-focused safety cultures.

Launched on March 16, 2026, the voluntary program provides a structured, self-guided framework to help employers develop and implement effective safety and health programs aimed at preventing workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. For HR leaders, the initiative reflects a broader regulatory trend: compliance is no longer just about meeting standards — it’s about embedding safety into organizational culture.