7350 Department of Industrial Relations
Program Descriptions

40 - DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

The objectives of this program include the promotion and enforcement of measures to protect the health and safety of workers on the job and to ensure the safe operation of elevators, amusement rides, aerial passenger tramways, and pressure vessels for the benefit of the general public. These objectives are accomplished by the coordinated efforts of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Standards Board), and the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (Cal/OSHA Appeals Board).

DOSH enforces occupational safety and health standards, investigates the causes of occupational deaths and injuries, and helps employers to maintain safe and healthful working conditions.

DOSH conducts inspections of, and issues permits to operate, elevators and other "conveyances," amusement rides, aerial passenger tramways, and pressure vessels. The inspection and permitting process is the primary method used to enforce standards governing the safe operation of these devices.

Under the administrative direction of DIR's Office of the Director, DOSH also obtains and maintains job safety records, reports, and statistics; measures the effectiveness of accident and illness prevention efforts in the workplace; and provides accurate information pertaining to industrial relations to help inform legislative and administrative decisions made by state and local government.

The Standards Board is an independent body consisting of seven members appointed by the Governor. The composition of the Standards Board is as follows: one member from the general public, two members from the field of management, two members from the field of labor, one member from the field of occupational health, and one member from the field of occupational safety. It is the sole agency in the state empowered to adopt, amend, or repeal the occupational safety and health standards and public safety standards enforced by DOSH.

The Cal/OSHA Appeals Board is an independent judicial body empowered by state law to resolve employer appeals of citations and accompanying monetary civil penalties issued by DOSH for violations of occupational safety and health standards. It is comprised of three members appointed by the Governor, consisting of one member from the general public, one member from the field of management, and one member from the field of labor.