Established in 1980		June 1999

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Voice your concern on AB 1127 to your State Assembly Member and Senator:

In my opinion, AB 1127 is a bill that is very dangerous to our profession and it is also dangerous to every employer in California.

Every member should take a look at the latest version of the bill in the CIHC site listed below. I have provided here just a few of the comments I sent to CIHC after reading the bill.

1. There will no doubt be increased litigation in the personal injury field because this bill modifies the admissibility of Cal-OSHA standards or orders as evidence in other personal injury or wrongful death actions. Now that all occupational safety and health standards and orders are admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal matter, naturally lawsuits against employers will increase with respect to, at least, third parties. These third parties could be you.

2. The bill defines employer to include anyone who creates or controls or even contracts to control a hazard - even as to other employees. The definition would surely include IHs working for the employer or contracting with the employer. (i.e. our members can now be construed to be employers.) This is significant because of what follows.

3. The bill defines any exposure over the PEL as being a serious exposure if such exposure exceeds the PEL. This is problematic because a serious exposure or exposure of an employee above the PEL can bring criminal liability. While no one wants to expose their employees at or above the PEL, if it happens you , as an IH, could go to jail.

4. Just about anyone with any direct or indirect connection to the work site, including attorneys with an interest in the safety and health conditions of a particular workplace, can file an Cal-OSHA complaint. If an attorney is investigating a case at your facility and needs a little back up she/he will now be able to call on Cal-OSHA for help.

5. This bill makes any violation of Cal-OSHA standards or orders evidence of negligence. This a bonanza for trial lawyers in personal injury lawsuits from third parties. Remember, we can now be the target of such suits. Violations of the standards = negligence per se. These comments are just some thoughts I had. Please read the bill.

Bill Collier

Secretary's Notes ...

NOTES FROM THE APRIL AND MAY 1999 BOARD MEETING:

We are seeking volunteers to help coordinate the September 23rd Annual Symposium. Help is needed in the following areas: publicity, vendor booth coordinator, symposium registration desk, etc. If you can assist with these activities, please contact Carol Barake.

To accommodate the AIHA National Conference and the summer vacation season, no section symposiums will be held until after August.

Distressingly, several of our members still have not paid their dues. If you have not paid, please do so. If you are not sure, contact Mark Cameron to verify that you are current. Note: a dues notice is available on our web page.

Our next board meeting will be held on Monday, July 19th at the Olive Garden from 11:30 to 12:30 pm.

In order to update our directory, and to ensure timely delivery of our newsletter, please notify Alan "Rocky" Rockswell about any address and e-mail changes.

If you are interested in advertising in our newsletter, or know someone who might be, contact Audrey Eng.

Mark Your Calendars!

1999 Meeting Planner
June 5-11	AIHCE - Toronto, ON ( possible 6.5 cm pts)
September 23	Annual Symposium (1 cm pt) & Vendor's Event
Nov	CIHC Conference
Dec 10	Holiday Meeting

National News

Check out their new web page at: http://www.aiha.org/aihce99/info.html

Our National Board Coordinator is Monty Herr. You can reach Monty at Lawrence Livermore Labs:
	LLNL-L379 PO Box 808 Livermore, CA 94551 (519)422-8744 (519)422-5176 FAX e-mail: herr2@llnl.gov

CALIFORNIA UPDATE

New Website:

Save a Tree. Get your newsletter off the web or by email. The board has recommended that newsletters be sent by electronic means when available. If you have a new email address please forward that information to Rocky Rockswold at rockyone@pacbell.net

CIHC

Please contact Ed Klinenberg or Steve Smith if you need more information about CIHC.

Ed Klinenberg, Ph.D., CIH
643-0311 ext. 342
klinenberg@juno.com

Steve Smith, CIH
916-322-3640
ssmith@hq.dir.ca.gov

Alternate CIHC Representative

CIHC Update

Ed Klinenberg and I attended the last CIHC meeting here in Sacramento on April 29th. A majority of the meeting was spent reviewing legislation but there was also some other business I wanted to update you on.

Outreach. To help all of us who have to try and explain what is an IH, a powerpoint presentation was developed entitled: What is an Industrial Hygienist? This short presentation is available by contacting the CIHC office (447-7341) and will be posted on the CIHC website soon.

By-laws. In order to qualify for non-profit status, CIHC voted to add some minor changes to it's by-laws. In response to one of our members request, a copy of the by-laws will also be posted on the CIHC website.

Biannual report. A detailed accounting of CIHC's activities for the last two years is being finalized and will be sent to local section presidents soon.

Legislation. A number of bills that could potentially impact our profession or relate to Industrial Hygiene were reviewed. In addition to the bills mentioned last month, CIHC is closely watching and considering taking a position on the following bills:

AB 737 (Baldwin) Liability protection for IHs. As reported in last month's newsletter, this bill is sponsored by CIHC and would add some liability protection language to the IH definition in the Business & Professions Code. As of last week, this bill did not pass out of the Assembly Health Committee. The bill is now considered a 2-year bill and no further action will probably be taken until next year.
AB 934 (Steinberg) Workers compensation/independent contractors.
AB 850 (Torlakson) & AB 983 (Correa) Amusement ride safety.
AB 1127 (Steinberg) Employee safety: violations.
    *HOT BILL* - All members should review & provide input. CIHC will likely take a position and recommend changes.
AB 1207 (Shelley) Environmental hazards: schools.
AB 1216 (Flloyd) Workplace smoking.
AB 1400 (Honda) Childhood lead poisoning prevention.
AB 1599 (Torlakson) Student work permit safety.
AB 1653 (Bock) Safe jobs for youth.
AB 1680 Environmental Health policy committee.
SB 812 (Brulte) H&S and WC Commission.
SB 1216 (Hughes) Home inspector registration.
SB 1304 Environmental laboratories.
SB 1306 Professional & vocational licenses.

CIHC symposium. CIHC is planning a 2 day conference for early November in the Bay Area. Proposed topics include legal aspects of industrial hygiene, ergonomics, psychosocial factors associated with illnesses/injuries, mold in the workplace, a respirator update, multi-employer workplace responsibilities, and a legislative update.

The next CIHC meeting is scheduled for July 22nd in San Diego. If you have any questions or need more detailed information on CIHC or the legislation being followed please contact Steve Smith (322-3640) or Ed Klinenberg (643-0311). Thanks.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES As a service to our members, we offer the opportunity to post employment announcements. Job ads will run for one month unless renewed. Send your job announcements to: Larry Bellani, CIH State of California 1304 O St. Rm 300 Sacramento. CA 95814 email: Larry.Bellani@dgs.ca.gov State Personnel Board 24 Hour Job Info 916-445-0538 website: http://www.spb.ca.gov/ or see our Job Listings Page

Coherent Medical Group Coherent Medical Group, a leader in laser technology, has an exciting and challenging opportunity for an Environmental, Health & Safety professional to work at our Santa Clara, California facility. The opportunity is for a professional with 5-8 years of Environmental, Health and Safety experience in a manufacturing environment. Responsibilities will include development and conducting EH&S training, ergonomic/workplace evaluations, laser safety, air and noise monitoring, Prop 65, MSDS management, hazardous material/waste management and Workers' Compensation program; primary responsibilities will be in Safety and Industrial Hygiene. The successful candidate will have experience in a manufacturing environment, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and excellent interpersonal skills. Experience with PC word-processing and database programs is required. This position requires a B.S. degree in Chemistry, Biology, or related science; a Master's degree in EH&S/Industrial Hygiene is preferred. Coherent - Auburn Coherent is seeking candidates with 2-5 years of Environmental, Health and Safety experience in a manufacturing environment. Responsibilities include developing and conducting EH&S training, ergonomic/workplace evaluations, employee wellness programs, respirator training and fit testing, and Workers' Compensation case management. Primary responsibilities will be in Safety and Industrial Hygiene, reporting to the Manager of EH&S. The qualified candidate will have strong ergonomic evaluation skills and be willing to learn Workers' Compensation case management or have the expertise. The position requires someone who is detail oriented, has excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and thrives on multi-tasking. Experience with PC word-processing and database programs is also required. This position requires a BS degree in Chemistry, Biology, or related science; an Occupational Nursing degree or Master's degree in EH&S/Industrial Hygiene is preferred. Coherent's Auburn Group offers high-tech challenges with all of the benefits of a large corporation while maintaining the feel and intimacy of a small company. Our Auburn Group is located in the beautiful Sierra Foothills, an ideal location to live and work. Coherent offers competitive wages and benefits package including opportunities for advancement. To become a member of our team, please send resume, with salary history, and indicating position desired to: 2303 Lindbergh Street, Auburn, CA 95602. Fax (530) 887-5961, e-mail: cag.hr@cohr.com. Visit our website at www.cohr.com. Coherent is an equal opportunity employer.

ARTICLES FROM OUR MEMBERS

You may submit an article or advertisement to Audrey Eng, editor, at AEng@dmhhq.state.ca.us or fax (916) 653-5165.

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It was first posted on June 25, 1999.