Webinar Overview
This free monthly Cal/OSHA safety updates webinar series is presented by OSHA Authorized Trainer and ERC Course Instructor, Alba Vazquez. Each month focuses on a new safety topic and how to be compliant with Cal/OSHA.
Check back each month for more information on the session’s topic or subscribe to our email list to be notified of our webinar’s topics and registration details. Each webinar session is recorded and is available for viewing.
Please note, certificates of completion are only available for live webinar participants.
2025 Webinar Schedule
Save the dates! Our Cal/OSHA Safety Updates Webinar Series will take place on the following Fridays of each month:
February 7, 2025
March 14, 2025 @2pm (note different time)
April 11, 2025
May 2, 2025
June 6, 2025
August 1, 2025
September 5, 2025
October 3, 2025
November 7, 2025
December 5, 2025
Webinar Topic
June 6, 2025 – Breathe Easy: Essential Respiratory Protection Compliance with Cal/OSHA Standards
Join us for our June Cal/OSHA Safety Updates Webinar to learn about respiratory protection compliance.
Intended Audience
This webinar is intended for employers, management, health and safety professionals, industrial hygienists, union representatives, worker advocates, and workers.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Discover the 5 critical elements of Cal/OSHA’s respiratory standard (8 CCR 5144) that trigger immediate violations and hefty fines when ignored by employers.
- Master the non-negotiable respirator selection criteria that inspectors check first – and that 78% of California businesses get wrong.
- Secure your business with the exact documentation Cal/OSHA demands during surprise inspections – the paperwork that stands between you and potentially business-crushing penalties.
Previous Topics & Learning Objectives
May 2, 2025 - Silica Dust in the Countertop Fabrication Industry
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
1. Identify hidden killers: Participants will be able to recognize the 3 most dangerous silica-producing activities in countertop fabrication.
2. Discuss some of the now available critical dust-control techniques that can be implemented immediately to reduce silica dust exposure for workers.
3. Discover the Cal/OSHA protections workers are entitled to by law and learn about the efforts currently taking place to change unsafe working conditions through community organizing and education.
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Master the 5 critical components of emergency preparedness that work for EVERY organization – from corporate offices to manufacturing plants (and why most businesses get at least 3 of them dangerously wrong)
- Discover the construction site-specific emergency protocols that will keep your workers safe and your projects on schedule even when disaster strikes (including the one preparation step OSHA inspectors look for first)
- Learn to create and implement a bulletproof emergency action plan (without spending thousands on fancy consultants)
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Identify and explain the new permissible exposure limits (PEL) and action levels (AL) for lead exposure in California workplaces.
- Review the requirements for interim protection for workers engaged in presumed significant lead work (PSLW), including the use of respiratory protection, protective clothing, medical surveillance, and hygiene practices.
- Recognize 2026 implementation deadlines.
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Interpret and apply Cal/OSHA’s updated wildfire smoke protection standards, including new provisions for domestic workers engaged in cleanup activities
- Differentiate between various types of respiratory protection (particularly N95 vs P100 respirators) and identify the appropriate protection level for specific wildfire-related tasks
- Understand the distinction between mandatory and voluntary respirator use programs, including the specific requirements and employer obligations for each.
- Identify the exposure thresholds that trigger different levels of respiratory protection requirements during wildfire conditions
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Identify the top 10 most cited safety standards in California organizations.
- Explain the reasons why these particular safety standards are frequently cited in California.
- Analyze the risks and hazards associated with non-compliance with each standard.
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Navigate Cal/OSHA’s training matrix to identify required safety topics and frequencies for their specific industry
- Locate and download the matrix from Cal/OSHA’s website
- Understand training frequency requirements
- Create a basic annual safety training calendar that aligns with Cal/OSHA compliance requirements
- Map mandatory topics to specific months
- Plan for recurring training requirements
- Identify when and how to effectively utilize safety consultants to supplement your training program
- Understand which activities can be handled internally vs. outsource
- Recognize the value of professional guidance for assessments and inspections
November 1, 2024 – Unwrapping Holiday Hazards: Ensuring Workplace Safety During Peak Seasons
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:
- Develop comprehensive strategies to mitigate safety risks associated with increased holiday season workloads, including enhanced protocols for warehouse operations, inventory management, and order fulfillment.
- Design and implement effective safety training programs for seasonal workers, ensuring rapid onboarding while maintaining a strong safety culture during temporary staff influxes.
- Analyze and address specific holiday-related workplace hazards, including slip, trip, and fall risks due to increased foot traffic and stock levels, as well as ergonomic concerns from repetitive tasks and heavy lifting.
- Create a proactive safety management plan that aligns with OSHA recommendations for busy periods, incorporating regular safety reviews, updated emergency procedures, and enhanced communication strategies.
October 4, 2024 – Cal/OSHA Standard 5141.1: Protecting Workers from Wildfire Smoke
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify the conditions under which Cal/OSHA standard 5141.1 applies, including the Air Quality Index (AQI) thresholds for PM2.5 and the types of workplaces and workers covered by the standard.
- Describe the hierarchy of controls required by the standard, including engineering controls, administrative controls, and respiratory protective equipment, and explain how employers should implement these measures to reduce worker exposure to wildfire smoke.
- Outline the communication and training requirements stipulated in standard 5141.1, including the information employers must provide to employees about the health effects of wildfire smoke, the right to obtain medical treatment, and the proper use of respirators.
Objetivos de aprendizaje:
Al final de este seminario, los participantes podrán:
- Enumerar los requisitos clave de la nueva norma de calor en trabajos bajo techo, incluyendo los derechos de los trabajadores y las responsabilidades del empleador.
- Describir cómo reconocer y prevenir los signos y síntomas de las enfermedades causadas por el calor.
- Describir cómo medir el calor interior para prevenir las enfermedades causadas por el calor.
- Compartir los pasos a seguir en caso de una emergencia por el calor en el lugar de trabajo.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
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List the key requirements of Cal/OSHA’s new Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment Standard
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Describe how to accurately measure indoor heat to prevent heat illness
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Create an effective and comprehensive supervisor training aimed to prevent indoor heat illness and potentially save lives
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand when and why it may be good to invite Cal/OSHA to your organization.
- Describe what the Golden Gate program is and how it can help your organization’s safety compliance goals.
- List the good (benefits,) the bad (disadvantages) and the ugly when inviting Cal/OSHA to come to your door.
June 7, 2024 – Safety Audits. What to look for if you want to pass the Cal/OSHA test.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the benefits of doing self-audits and why this is a requirement within the Cal/OSHA regulations
- Make a list of those areas of improvement within your self-audit programs
- Review real life pictures from construction, manufacturing and healthcare industries in order to understand what to look for within our organizations
- List tools for self audits from different sources
May 3, 2024 – Identifying and Managing Asbestos
Learning objectives:
- Identify workers who require asbestos awareness training according to Cal/OSHA regulations.
- Understand the health effects of asbestos exposure.
- Recognize some of the locations and signs of damage for asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing materials (PACM).
- List the regulations that apply to asbestos hazards for California places of employment.
April 5, 2024 – Workplace Violence Prevention – The New 2024 Requirements
Learning objectives:
- Point out the difference between healthcare setting requirements for workplace violence and other types or organizations (new requirements for general industry)
- Enumerate requirements for the incident log
- List the new training requirements to be in place before July 2024
- Find resources for compliance
February 2, 2024 – Cracking the Code of the Top 10 Most Cited Safety Standards in the U.S.
- Identify the top 10 most cited safety standards in our Nation
- Review the differences between the Nation’s and California’s top 10 lists, and how you can use this information to improve safety within your organization
- Analyze the risks and hazards associated with non-compliance with each of these standards
January 12, 2024 – Top 10 Most Cited Safety Standards for California Organizations
- Identify the top 10 most cited safety standards in California organizations.
- Explain the reasons why these particular safety standards are frequently cited.
- Analyze the risks and hazards associated with non-compliance with each standard.
December 1, 2023- The Do’s & Don’t’s of Safety During the Holiday Season
- Understand the 2 most common non-compliance safety issues during this holiday season that can take place in any California organization.
- Discuss 3 different ways of dealing with COVID and other common flu-like illnesses at work.
- Plan for 2024 and prepare a safety training calendar and curriculum
November 3, 2023- Tips to Update Your Emergency Response at Work
- Understand what is required in the California regulation regarding Emergency Action Plans
- Mention at least 3 things that are causing your employees to respond to an emergency the wrong way
- Describe at least 2 action items to improve your emergency response at work
- Identify elements of employee training
October 6, 2023- Safety Compliance Issues You Should Know About
- List at least 3 of the key Cal/OSHA requirements that safety consultants don’t want you to know
- Describe the top 5 safety issues that cause organizations to be out of compliance with OSHA laws
- The key to improving the safety culture of your Organization and getting both management commitment and employee involvement
September 1, 2023- How to Improve Safety with JSAs (Job Safety Analysis)
Learning objectives:
- Understand the important of using tools such as JSA or JHAs to reduce the amount of injuries and illnesses at work
- Describe the steps when conducting a JSA or JHA
- Review resources to include current software, video tutorials, and others to improve your skills when conducting JSAs
August 4, 2023- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The Overlooked Safety Issue
Learning objectives:
- Describe two of the most common safety violations related to PPE for California organizations
- Mention the new proposed rule by OSHA (published July 20th) regarding PPE and how to use this to improve your safety program
- Understand the required PPE certification form and why most employers fail to comply with this portion of the regulation
July 7, 2023- How to Avoid Cal/OSHA Fines in 2023
- Mention at least 3 different safety training topics that are usually overlooked by most organizations
- Describe the importance of training documentation and what it should include in case your organization is visited by Cal/OSHA
- Understand the importance of Cal/OSHA compliant safety training and the right way to do it.
June 2, 2023- Defensive Driving: The Safety Topic You Should Update For Your Organization!
- Mention at least two different ways to update your defensive driving course or employee training program
- Describe at least 3 different defensive driving tactics and practices that should be included in your organization’s training sessions
- List 3 reasons for collisions on the road and how to improve your incident rate
- Find resources for defensive driving courses and more
May 5, 2023- Stress at Work: A Hazard Worth Mitigating
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss up-to-date statistics including fatality rates due to stress at work
- Enumerate work-related stressors that may be taking a toll on your employees and their home life
- Mention at least 3 practical solutions that you can implement to lower stress at work
- Provide a list of resources and discuss other possible solutions
April 7, 2023- News from Cal/OSHA: Safety Topics to Improve Compliance
Learning objectives:
- Mention 3 of the most recent Cal/OSHA updates and news for employers and organizations in California
- Get updates from Cal/OSHA on a regular basis and discuss tips for keeping updated and compliant according to your organization’s needs
- Discuss how to navigate the Cal/OSHA website and use consultation as a resource for compliance
March 3, 2023- How to Prepare a Workplace Violence Plan for Your Organization
- List the types of organizations in California that are mandated to have a Workplace Violence Plan in place
- Describe the elements of an anti-bullying policy and how it relates to your Workplace Violence Program
- Review the Cal/OSHA requirements for organizations regarding Workplace Violence policies and programs
February 3, 2023- Top Cal/OSHA Cited Safety Issues of 2022
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the 10 Top Most Cited safety issues in the workplace
- Review real life case scenarios to identify at least 3 practical solutions to improve safety compliance in your organization
- Enlist resources for the safety manager in order to prioritize and solve safety issues at their specific locations
January 6, 2023- Fire Prevention: The issues that will get you on fire!
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the most common mistakes made by organizations regarding their fire prevention programs
- Discuss the elements of a compliant Fire prevention program in California and where to get help/information
- Review 3 of the most important elements for fire prevention and make emphasis on how to train employees to respond in case of a fire
- Determine if hands-on training for portable fire extinguisher is required for California organizations and employers
December 2, 2022: What’s New Regarding the Bloodborne Pathogens Requirements in California
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of bloodborne pathogens training for all types of industries, and not just healthcare
- Enlist 3 of the changing technologies that will help you with your mandated annual Exposure Control Plan review
- Discuss the requirements for general industry in comparison to those (more extensive) within the healthcare community
November 4, 2022: Lock Out – Tag Out, Working Safely with Machinery and Equipment
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of the Lock Out – Tag Out (LOTO) safety regulation and the reason why it is one of the most cited safety standards in general and construction industries
- Review real-life examples of serious injuries suffered by workers due to the lack of specific LOTO procedures
- Reassess training programs for LOTO in order to provide effective training for “affected” and “authorized” employees and what this means in real practice
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the top 3 citations for employers related to their Injury and Illness Prevention Program
- List two different methods to start implementing what Cal/OSHA calls “an effective” IIPP and avoid getting cited
- Discussing the “document request” and records you must have available today in case of an OSHA inspection
September 2, 2022: Emergency Preparedness: Is Your Facility Ready for an Emergency Disaster?
Learning Objectives:
- List the requirements of an Emergency Action Plan per current Cal/OSHA regulations
- Explain the importance of preparing for all types of emergencies that can occur at your places of employment and the tools to make your own list
- Understand the top 3 elements of emergency preparedness that will make a difference when responding to an emergency at work
- Comprehend the difference between “dual employment” and “multi-employer situations under Cal/OSHA’s definitions and why it matters for purposes of citations and penalties
- Reviewing some of the most common types of injuries amongst temporary workers and what happens when a temporary worker gets hurt under your supervisor’s watch
- Understand who is responsible for training, providing PPE and recording on the OSHA logs when dealing with temporary workers
- Mention two ways to recognize fall hazards at your fixed and non-fixed places of employment
- Review the portable Ladder safety and the Cal/OSHA training requirements
- Discuss requirements for passive and active fall protection systems
