On August 22, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced it has ramped up its recruitment, hiring more staff for its Bureau of Investigations (BOI). The unit is responsible for investigations related to the most serious workplace injuries in the state, including worker deaths, and makes recommendations for criminal prosecutions.
“The Bureau of Investigations has a separate but important role focusing on the criminal responsibility of employers in accident-related deaths and life-altering injuries,” Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said in an agency statement.
“Having more resources at BOI will help Cal/OSHA in its mission and bring attention to the importance of workplace safety and health,” she continued.
According to Cal/OSHA, a total of nine positions have been filled for offices throughout the state. The bureau’s new hires include a chief investigator and eight investigative staff. Special investigators are now colocated, with enforcement offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Oakland, Redding, Sacramento, and San Diego, according to Cal/OSHA.
The BOI is also in the process of recruiting a supervising special investigator for Northern California and an additional investigator in Riverside or Santa Barbara.
The BOI unit previously operated statewide with a fraction of its current staffing. The recent increase in staffing will allow the BOI to tackle more cases and ensure the most negligent employers are held accountable, according to the agency.
Cal/OSHA administers California’s state occupational safety and health program with the approval and oversight of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). State programs also receive operating funds from federal OSHA.