Click here For Students and Young Employees | FOR TEACHERS AND EMPLOYERS

As trainers of your students and young workers, you are responsible for educating them on workplace health and safety including (but not limited to): safe work practices, worker's rights, the importance of learning in safety meetings and other trainings, and complying with rules and regulations. To reduce the risk of injury and increase productivity, see the information below:

• What is Cal/OSHA?
• What Are Students and Young Workers Rights Under the Law?
• What is Required by Cal/OSHA

What is Cal/OSHA?

Cal/OSHA is a state program in the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (see www.dir.ca.gov). The state of California requires that every employer provide and maintain a safe and healthful workplace for employees. Cal/OSHA protects workers from unsafe and unhealthful work conditions.

• Cal/OSHA is responsible for enforcing California laws and regulations related to workplace safety and health and for providing assistance to employers and workers about workplace safety and health issues.
• Cal/OSHA Consultation Services - provides assistance to employers and workers about workplace safety and health issues through on-site assistance, high hazard consultation and special emphasis programs, telephone support, publications, eTools and educational outreach. All services provided by Cal/OSHA Consultation are free of charge to California employers. Cal/OSHA Consultation's telephone number is 1-800-963-9424.

   What Are Students and Young Workers Rights Under the Law?

• Under Cal/OSHA regulations they have the right to:
  • Work in a safe and healthful workplace
  • Refuse working in unsafe conditions that violate the law
  • Training on recognizing hazards and doing their job safely
  • Be provided personal protective equipment (free of charge) that is right for the job and that fits properly
  • File a complaint about unsafe or unhealthful working conditions with Cal/OSHA (see www.dir.ca.gov and click on File a complaint with Cal/OSHA)
• What other rights do they have?
  • They may not be fired or punished in any way for filing a complaint about unsafe or unhealthful working conditions. They may file a complaint with the nearest office of the Department of Industrial relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (State Labor Commissioner) or the San Francisco office of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • They are prohibited from working in hazardous occupations under child labor laws (see Work Prohibitions).

When training your students and young workers make sure and review with them their information on Laws to Know.

What Is Required by Cal/OSHA

The specific Cal/OSHA safety requirements that apply to your trainees depend on the types of construction activities they will actually be performing. Cal/OSHA's regulations related to safety in construction are in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (T8CCR) in Chapter 4. Division of Industrial Safety, mainly in three different Subchapters. The following is an overview of the Cal OSHA regulations related to safety in construction (not all applicable regulations are given below):

1. Subchapter 4. Construction Safety Orders (Sections 1500 - 1938).

• Article 1. Application (Section 1502) states, in part:
  • These Orders establish minimum safety standards whenever employment exists in connection with the construction, alteration, painting, repairing, construction maintenance, renovation, removal, or wrecking of any fixed structure or its parts.
  • At construction projects, these Orders take precedence over any other general orders that are inconsistent with them, except for Tunnel Safety Orders or Compressed Air Safety Orders
• Article 11. Vehicles, Traffic Control, Flaggers, Barricades, and Warning Signs (Sections 1597 - 1599)
• Article 14. Construction Hoists (Sections 1604 - 1605.21)
• Article 16. Standard Railings (Sections 1620 - 1621)
• Article 17. Ramps, Runways, Stairwells, and Stairs (Sections 1623 - 1626)
• Article 21. Scaffolds - General Requirements (Sections 1635.1 - 1637)
• Article 22. Scaffolds - Various Types (Sections 1640 - 1655)
• Article 24. Fall Protection (Sections 1669 - 1672)
• Article 25. Ladders (Sections 1675 - 1678)
• Article 30. Roofing Operations and Equipment (Sections 1723 - 1731)
• Article 31. Demolition (Sections 1733 -1737)
• Article 33. Electrical Requirements for Construction Work (Sections 1760)

2. Subchapter 5. Electrical Safety Orders

• Low-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders
  • Article 3. Work Procedures (Sections 2320.1 - 2320.9)
  • Article 13. Temporary Wiring (Sections 2405.1 - 2405.4)
  • Article 49. Flexible Cords and Cables (Sections 2500.7 - 2500.25)
• High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders
  • Article 15. Temporary Wiring (Sections 2797 - 2799)
  • Article 36. Work Procedures and Operating Procedures (Sections 2940 - 2945)
  • Article 37. Provisions for Preventing Accidents Due to Proximity to Overhead Lines (Sections 2946 - 2949)

3. Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders

• Article 2. Standard Specifications (T8CCR 3209 - 3239)

The complete set of Title 8 regulations can be found at: www.dir.ca.gov/samples/search/query.htm