KazanLaw: Helping Asbestos Victims Since 1974
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Occupational Safety

Occupational safety and health is not just about aiding those who have already been injured by hazardous or negligent practices. at The Firm we believe the key to winning the battle against occupational hazards is helping to prevent workplace tragedies such as those that occurred in the asbestos industry.

For this reason we work with organizations that represent the interests of working people, such as the AFL-CIO and WORKSAFE!, and with government agencies mandated to protect the safety and health of working people, such as CAL/OSHA and NIOSH. We participate directly in community and workplace efforts to identify hazards, inform community members and workers of their rights, and make sure that the law protects these rights.

The Firm's Role

Some of the occupational safety and health efforts The Firm has been involved in include:

  • » providing training and technical assistance to community groups concerned about the hazards of lead, asbestos and/or other toxics in their communities and schools;
  • » providing training and technical assistance to several injured worker groups who were concerned about ergonomic hazards and the workers' compensation system;
  • » providing training and technical assistance to unions;
  • » participating in and monitoring the monthly Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee meetings and the Lead in Construction Special Emphasis Program Advisory Group; and
  • » working closely with the California Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and various community and injured worker groups, to assure increased occupational safety and health protection for workers, including:
    • » drafting and advocating legislation,
    • » participating in legislative efforts and litigation to develop new and improve existing Cal/OSHA regulations, including an ergonomics regulation,
    • » initiating and successfully concluding a CASPA (Complaint Against a State Plan Agency) against Cal/OSHA regarding inadequate regulation of multi-employer worksites. This resulted in a multi-employer worksite regulation requiring general contractors to carry their fair share of responsibility for the safety and health of all workers on a jobsite. It also allows citations to be filed against general contractors and/or subcontractors when they are responsible for unsafe or unhealthful conditions affecting workers other than their own employees,
    • » monitoring Cal/OSHA, and,
    • » participating in specific regulatory advisory committees, such as Lead, Asbestos, Ergonomics, Fall Protection, Hazards of Rebar, and Injury and Illness Prevention Programs.