Occupational safety and health: violations.

Existing law establishes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Industrial Relations to enforce employment safety laws. Existing law authorizes the division to conduct hearings, inspections, and investigations regarding alleged violations of employment safety laws and to issue a citation or notice to employers. Existing law establishes the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board in the department, and prescribes procedures for the appeals board to hear and decide employer appeals of a citation or notice. This bill would provide that an appeal of a citation or notice, as specified, that is classified and cited as a serious violation, repeat serious violation, willful serious violation, or failure to abate shall not stay abatement dates and requirements. The bill would require the division to stay the abatement for a serious violation, repeat serious violation, willful serious violation, or failure to abate, if it makes a specified determination. The bill would authorize the division to stay an abatement requirement while a motion to stay an abatement is pending. The bill would authorize an employer to request an expedited appeal from the appeals board and would require the appeals board to conduct an expedited hearing in accordance with specified regulations.