Workplace Safety

Last year Cal/OSHA, the state agency charged with protecting employees from workplace hazards, said more than 400 workers died from job-related injuries in California. In addition, Cal/OSHA identifies thousands of non-fatal injuries each year. On the November edition of Health Dialogues, we explore some of the most dangerous sectors of the economy, including agriculture, construction and manufacturing. How effective is Cal/OSHA in enforcing the law, and what rights do all workers have in our state?

Caltrans Hazards

We begin this month's program out at the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza, to talk about one of the most dangerous job sites: a highway bridge. Guest: David Villarreal, Caltrans field safety specialist. Guest: Joey Crocker, Caltrans field safety specialist. Guest: Joseph Kearns, Caltrans painting supervisor.

• More: Caltrans website : Get the latest info on highway conditions and maintenance.

Workplace Safety Trends

Health Dialogues discusses trends in California workplace safety figures. While overall numbers of fatalities and injuries have been declining in recent years, the percentage of victims are increasingly Latino. Guest: Kevin Thompson, editor of Cal/OSHA Reporter, a weekly publication for the occupational safety and health community.

• More: Cal/OSHA Reporter : A weekly newsletter for the occupational health and safety community.
• More: Cal/OSHA website : Complete guide to Cal/OSHA programs, how to report an accident, and data on reported workplace injuries.

• Workplace Fatalities: View our interactive charts showing 2008 Cal/OSHA reported workplace deaths. You can look at fatalities by industry, job, gender, cause of death and location.

The Safety of Green Jobs

Health Dialogues takes a look at the health and safety of green jobs - such as weatherizing old homes or installing rooftop solar panels - in the "clean tech" sector. Reporter: Sarah Varney

Postcard from the Field

Hear from Gonzalo, a Salvadoran day laborer, about the work he does and the hazards that come with it. Reporter: Julieta Kusnir

Cal/OSHA and Worksafe

Scott Shafer speaks with the head of Cal/OSHA, as well as with an attorney from a workplace safety watchdog group, about the role and effectiveness of Cal/OSHA. Guest: Frances Schreiberg, founding member and volunteer attorney with Worksafe, a California coalition for worker occupation safety and health protection. Guest: Len Welsh, chief of Cal/OSHA, the state agency charged with protecting employees from workplace hazards.

• More: Cal/OSHA laws and regulations : Current and proposed regulations for California workplace health and safety.
• More: Worksafe.org : a non-profit group advocating for occupational health and safety.

Keeping Clean (and Safe)

Health Dialogues looks at a not-so-obvious workplace hazard: industrial strength chemicals used by janitors to clean supermarkets. Janitors with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) rallied recently in front of Safeway and Lucky supermarkets throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area, demanding that their employers provide "green" cleaning products.

• Janitors Rally for Safer Supplies: See a slideshow from our trip to a San Francisco Safeway, where janitors and members of SEIU rallied to demand safer cleaning supplies.

Taxi Cab (Drivers) Confessions

Ever wonder how dangerous it is to be a cab driver? Jump in the backseat with us, and hear from drivers with Citywide Taxi in San Francisco. Reporter: Erika Kelly