Section 6354.7 Of Chapter 2. Education And Research From California Labor Code >> Division 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2.
6354.7
. (a) The Workers' Occupational Safety and Health Education
Fund is hereby created as a special account in the State Treasury.
Proceeds of the fund may be expended, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, by the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers'
Compensation for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a worker
occupational safety and health training and education program and
insurance loss control services coordinator. The director shall levy
and collect fees to fund these purposes from insurers subject to
Section 6354.5. However, the fee assessed against any insurer shall
not exceed the greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or 0.0286
percent of paid workers' compensation indemnity claims as reported
for the previous calendar year to the designated rating organization
for the analysis required under subdivision (b) of Section 11759.1 of
the Insurance Code. All fees shall be deposited in the fund.
(b) The commission shall establish and maintain a worker safety
and health training and education program. The purpose of the worker
occupational safety and health training and education program shall
be to promote awareness of the need for prevention education
programs, to develop and provide injury and illness prevention
education programs for employees and their representatives, and to
deliver those awareness and training programs through a network of
providers throughout the state. The commission may conduct the
program directly or by means of contracts or interagency agreements.
(c) The commission shall establish an employer and worker advisory
board for the program. The advisory board shall guide the
development of curricula, teaching methods, and specific course
material about occupational safety and health, and shall assist in
providing links to the target audience and broadening the
partnerships with worker-based organizations, labor studies programs,
and others that are able to reach the target audience.
(d) The program shall include the development and provision of a
needed core curriculum addressing competencies for effective
participation in workplace injury and illness prevention programs and
on joint labor-management health and safety committees. The core
curriculum shall include an overview of the requirements related to
injury and illness prevention programs and hazard communication.
(e) The program shall include the development and provision of
additional training programs for any or all of the following
categories:
(1) Industries on the high hazard list.
(2) Hazards that result in significant worker injuries, illnesses,
or compensation costs.
(3) Industries or trades where workers are experiencing numerous
or significant injuries or illnesses.
(4) Occupational groups with special needs, such as those who do
not speak English as their first language, workers with limited
literacy, young workers, and other traditionally underserved
industries or groups of workers. Priority shall be given to training
workers who are able to train other workers and workers who have
significant health and safety responsibilities, such as those workers
serving on a health and safety committee or serving as designated
safety representatives.
(f) The program shall operate one or more libraries and
distribution systems of occupational safety and health training
material, which shall include, but not be limited to, all material
developed by the program pursuant to this section.
(g) The advisory board shall annually prepare a written report
evaluating the use and impact of programs developed.
(h) The payment of administrative costs incurred by the commission
in conducting the program shall be made from the Workers'
Occupational Safety and Health Education Fund.