Laguna Beach OSHA & Workplace Safety Compliance Lawyer

Laguna Beach OSHA & Workplace Safety Compliance Attorney

If you own or operate a business in California, it’s vital that you adhere to all safety compliance regulations set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Failure to comply can result in serious legal consequences that include hefty fines that may only get worse if you continue not to comply. It’s vital that you determine a path forward for your case, and a Laguna Beach OSHA & workplace safety compliance lawyer can help you do that.

The legal team at Engels-Janzen recognizes how difficult it can be to adhere to OSHA regulations and prioritize workplace safety compliance laws. When you ignore workplace safety compliance and refuse to follow OSHA regulations, people can get hurt, reputations can be ruined, and your future as a business owner can be jeopardized. Our firm can bring 25 years of experience to your case and help your business comply with state and federal regulations alike.

Common OSHA Violations in California

If you have a Cal/OSHA violation defense case in Laguna Beach, a traditional court will not handle your case. Instead, you’ll be ordered to attend a mandatory hearing before the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board. The board is located in Sacramento, but hearings are often done electronically or locally before an administrative law judge in Orange County. There were 419 fatal work injuries in California in 2024. Your case isn’t rare.

OSHA is dedicated to making sure workers all across the country are protected. The way they do this is by rigorously enforcing workplace safety. OSHA is a federal agency. The state equivalent in California is the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA. The maximum penalty for a Cal/OSHA violation can be $158,727 for a willful and repeat violation, so this is something you should take extremely seriously. Here are the most common violations:

• Respiratory protection. Every employer in California must provide respiratory protection to all employees when necessary. This is generally for factory, construction, and other jobs that involve potentially deadly fumes and airborne contaminants as a persistent hazard. A failure to provide basic respiratory protection is a common OSHA violation not just in California, but across the nation.
• Fall protection. Many construction sites across California have been cited by Cal/OSHA for having inadequate fall protection for workers. Falls happen on construction sites all the time. Over 8.3 million workers were employed in the California construction industry in 2024. That’s a lot of potential falls. Workers climbing scaffolding need to wear harnesses, and railings should be used whenever possible. A bad fall can lead to a violation.
• Industrial truck environment. OSHA regulations need to control the type of location in which industrial trucks are allowed to operate. Industrial trucks are commonly used in factory settings to transport materials. However, if those vehicles are around heavy machinery that produces sparks, it could cause a catastrophic explosion. Additionally, these trucks may produce fumes that are dangerous for employees to breathe in.
• Energy control. OSHA regulations require employers to use a lockout or target system that prevents dangerous machinery from abruptly turning on. Some machinery must be completely powered down or separated from its power supply when workers are present, but the equipment is not in use. Otherwise, somebody could get seriously hurt, and you could end up facing a violation.
• Hazard communication. Every employee must be aware of the presence of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Employers are required to provide knowledge, training, and safety data regarding any dangerous chemicals. If these chemicals are improperly labeled and employees are improperly trained on how to handle them, you could face a Cal/OSHA violation that could hurt your business.
• Protective equipment. California employers are required to provide adequate eye and face protection to employees who are facing a risk of injury from relevant hazards. These hazards include flying debris, radiation, sparks, and chemical splashes. A failure to provide adequate protection can result in a Cal/OSHA violation.

How to Comply With OSHA

Cal/OSHA generally requires much stricter standards than OSHA itself, as California’s labor laws are quite protective of the average worker. If you are found to be in violation of safety compliance laws, don’t panic. Hire an OSHA & workplace safety compliance lawyer to look over your case and give you advice on how to proceed. Then, you should do whatever you can to right the wrong and get back to being in compliance. Here are some key compliance steps:

• IIPP. If you don’t have one already, you should start implementing a detailed Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) for your employees. Every employer is required to have one tailored to their workplace. Your average IIPP will have eight core items: compliance, responsibility, communication, accident and exposure investigation, hazard assessment, hazard correction, recordkeeping, and instruction and training.
• Correct hazards. It goes without saying, but any safety hazards that Cal/OSHA has pointed out in your workplace need to be corrected as soon as possible. Conduct regular inspections to make sure these hazards don’t reappear. Implement detailed procedures on how to correct unsafe conditions as they arise.
• Training. Make sure every employee is provided with safety training in a language and vocabulary that they understand. If you have employees who only speak Spanish, you can’t get them a training session solely in English, or they might not learn what they need to be safe in the workplace.
• Reporting. It’s absolutely vital that you report any serious workplace injuries, illnesses, or fatalities to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) as they happen. Withholding any of these situations can result in severe penalties and consequences.

Be Sure to Hire an OSHA & Workplace Safety Compliance Lawyer Today

When your business comes under fire from government agencies, it’s understandable to feel cornered, worried, and defensive. Your first move should be consulting with a compliance lawyer who understands your position, then correcting any violations that can be corrected. If you do face legal trouble, the team at Engels-Janzen knows how to help you. Contact us to speak with a member of our team about how we can help.