Huntington Beach OSHA & Workplace Safety Compliance Lawyer

Huntington Beach OSHA & Workplace Safety Compliance Attorney

It is absolutely vital to your business’s continued operations that you adhere to all safety compliance regulations ordered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA. Any time they notify you of noncompliance of any kind, it is imperative that you react accordingly and correct it. Otherwise, you could face significant fines. A Huntington Beach OSHA & workplace safety compliance lawyer can help you figure out a path forward.

The legal team at Engels-Janzen understands the inherent difficulties of figuring out your state’s workplace safety compliance laws and making sure that your company is adhering to OSHA regulations. Without the help of a Huntington Beach OSHA & workplace safety compliance attorney, you could end up facing reputational harm, financial losses, and more problems that could hurt your business. Our firm can bring over 25 years of experience to your case.

OSHA Violations in Huntington Beach

If you are part of an OSHA or Cal/OSHA violation case in Huntington Beach, your case will not be handled by the court system in the same way that a civil or criminal trial would. Instead, your case will be handled in a hearing by the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB).

OSHAB is primarily located in Sacramento, but your hearing could be done electronically. Your situation isn’t rare. In 2024 alone, there were 419 fatal work injuries in the state.

OSHA works tirelessly to protect the safety of every worker in the country, not just in California. The state equivalent of OSHA is the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA. A violation from this agency could result in fines of up to $25,000 for serious violations. It’s important to take these violations seriously, as repeat violations or a failure to correct can permanently hurt your business. Here are some common OSHA violations:

• Fall protection. One of the most common OSHA violations is a failure to provide construction workers with adequate fall protection, such as harnesses and railings. Over 8.3 million workers were employed in the California construction industry in 2024. Countless construction sites have been cited by OSHA for repeat violations. If a worker suffers a bad fall due to poor protection, that could result in a violation.
• Respiratory protection. Legally, every employer in California must provide respiratory protection to employees who are working continuously around deadly fumes, toxic chemicals, and hazardous materials. This is largely for factory jobs, construction sites, and any other job that requires employees to be around dangerous fumes. If you fail to provide employees with respiratory protection, such as masks and goggles, you could be fined.
• Energy lockout. Certain machines must be turned off when not in use or separated from their power supply when workers are present but not using the machine. In many jobs, large machines can be incredibly dangerous when used incorrectly, which can result in serious injuries. It’s vital that you take the right precautions when dealing with machinery that can hurt people. Otherwise, you could be fined by Cal/OSHA.
• Industrial trucks. According to OSHA regulations, the locations that industrial trucks travel on company property need to be controlled. While these trucks are largely used in factories and warehouses to transport materials, they could produce sparks around heavy machinery, and that could result in a terrible fire or explosion. That could result in a violation from state or federal regulatory agencies.
• Hazard training. If there are hazardous chemicals or toxins in the workplace, even in an industrial setting, every employee needs to be made aware of their presence. More so, each employee needs to be trained on how to handle said chemicals and what to do if they or someone else is exposed to them. Improperly labeled chemicals or improperly trained employees can result in a severe violation if something happens.
• Protective gear. Employers in California are required to provide employees with eye and face protection if those employees come into regular contact with relevant hazards. This can include chemicals, fumes, flying debris, radiation, and even sparks. If you are not providing your employees with the right kind of physical protection, you could face OSHA and Cal/OSHA violations.

Complying With OSHA in Huntington Beach

If you find yourself facing an OSHA violation, don’t panic. That doesn’t mean that your business is about to go under or that you are about to owe millions to government agencies. You will always have the opportunity to defend yourself and correct the issue. Be sure to hire an OSHA & workplace safety compliance lawyer to walk you through your options and what you can do to avoid OSHA penalties in the future. Here are some important steps you can take to comply:

• Injury and illness prevention program. One of the most important things you can do to comply with OSHA is to implement an Injury and Illness Prevention Program, or IIPP. Every employer is required to have one of these available to their employees, which is tailored to their workplace. This program will have detailed instructions on how to handle regulatory compliance, investigate an accident, and keep the necessary records.
• Correct all hazards. Above all, you need to immediately correct and clean up every hazard present in your workplace. Be sure to conduct regular inspections to make sure a similar hazard doesn’t present itself again. Use the IIPP to list detailed plans on prevention and communication in case of future situations.
• Report all violations. It is vital that you report any additional OSHA violations that occur on your property. As the business owner, you will likely be held liable for any injuries, illness, or damage that occurs due to the violation. You should report your findings to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). If you withhold any findings from these agencies, you could face serious penalties.

Hire an OSHA & Workplace Safety Compliance Lawyer Soon

It’s always recommended that you have legal representation by your side in situations like this, especially if you are facing penalties for a violation. A good lawyer can help you figure out the right path forward and provide you with a strong plan. At Engels-Janzen, we can give you the tools you need to see this through and protect your business. Contact us to speak to someone on our team who can help.