Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V WCalifornia Apprenticeship Council (CAC)
Established in 1939 by the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act. The council is composed of 17 members, 14 of whom are appointed by the governor to four-year terms. Six of the appointed members represent management, six represent labor and two represent the public. The remaining three are ex officio members representing the director of the California Department of Industrial Relations, the chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the superintendent of public instruction. The chief of the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards serves as secretary to the CAC and DAS provides staff services.
California Code of Regulations
The California Code of Regulations contains the regulations of approximately 200 state regulatory agencies. These regulations have been formally adopted by state agencies, reviewed and approved by the Office of Administrative Law, and filed with the secretary of state.
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS)
The state program which oversees California's apprenticeship system by registering apprenticeship programs and apprentices, monitoring the quality of program and enforcing laws protecting apprentices. Their home page can be found at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/das.html.
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health protects workers and the public from safety hazards by enforcing California's occupational and public safety laws and providing information and consultative assistance to employers, workers and the public about workplace and public safety matters. DOSH includes three programs:
- Cal/OSHA - responsible for enforcing California workplace safety and health laws and regulations and providing assistance to employers and workers about workplace safety and health issues.
- Elevator, Ride and Tramway Unit - responsible for ensuring the public's safety in elevators, permanent and portable amusement rides, and aerial tramways and ski lifts.
- Pressure Vessel Unit - responsible for ensuring the safe operation of boilers, air tanks and other types of pressure vessels.
camp counselor or program counselor
A staff member whose main responsibility involves either direct supervision of living-group campers or direct program relationships with campers.
certain exceptions (complaint handling process)
Nonformal complaints alleging serious hazards are investigated within 14 calendar days by telephone contact instead of an onsite inspection unless:
- The complaint is about a workplace that's part of one of Cal/OSHA's special emphasis programs.
- The complaint is about a hazard that's already resulted in a permanently disabling injury or illness and there is a reason to believe that the hazard still exists.
- The complaint is about an employer that has a Cal/OSHA history including willful, repeat or failure-to-abate citations.
- The complaint references an employer whose identity cannot be determined.
- The Cal/OSHA district manager believes the complaint should be investigated by an onsite inspection.
claim form
A form to report a work injury or illness to your employer.
claims administrator
Term for insurance companies and others who handle your workers' compensation claim.
code of safe practices
A set of workplace rules that stipulate how to perform job duties safely and to keep the worksite safe. It must be specific to the employer's operations, posted at each jobsite office or be readily available at the jobsite. Workers must be directed to read it when they are first hired.
collective bargaining agreement
An agreement negotiated between a labor union and an employer that details the terms of employment for the employees subject to the agreement. This agreement may include provisions governing wages, vacation time, working hours, working conditions and health insurance benefits.
commission
Compensation paid to any person for services rendered in the sale of the employer's property or services and based upon the amount or value thereof. If the employee's compensation is based upon a sale, then the compensation plan is a commission.
commutation
An order by a Workers' Compensation administrative law judge for a lump sum payment of part or all of your permanent disability award. Payment can be made to either the injured worker or the injured worker's attorney. This order can only be requested after you have either settled your case with a stipulation with request for award or received a findings and award.
compromise and release (C&R)
Generally, a final settlement of your workers' compensation case in which the parties agree on a single lump sum payment. It usually settles all outstanding issues including some but not all vocational rehabilitation.
confined spaces
Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered confined because their configurations hinder the activities of any employees who must enter, work in and exit them. If existing ventilation is insufficient to remove dangerous air contamination, oxygen enrichment and/or oxygen deficiency which may exist or develop, and ready access or egress for the removal of a suddenly disabled employee is difficult due to the location and/or size of the opening(s), this is a confined space.
consultative rating
A rating of permanent disability provided by the DWC Disability Evaluation Unit when a claim is litigated or if the injured worker has an attorney. See Permanent Disability Rating.
contaminated
The presence or reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on a surface, in or on an item.
crew member, commercial passenger fishing boat
Under IWC wage order 10-2001, Section12(C), a crew member employed on a commercial passenger fishing boat who is on an overnight trip shall receive no less than eight hours off-duty time during each 24-hour period.
cumulative trauma (CT)
An injury or illness that occurs over a period of time. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome.