AB 1647: Surface mines: safety regulation: Voluntary Protection Program.

Existing law, the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, vests the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (division) within the Department of Industrial Relations with the power, jurisdiction, and supervision over every employment and place of employment, which is necessary adequately to enforce and administer all laws and lawful standards and orders, or special orders requiring such employment and place of employment to be safe, and requiring the protection of the life, safety, and health of every employee in such employment or place of employment, including to inspect and investigate employments and places of employment, as prescribed. Pursuant to this authority, the division administers the California Voluntary Protection Program, which is designed to recognize employers and their employees who have implemented safety and health programs that effectively prevent and control occupational hazards.

Existing law, enforced by the division, defines and regulates mines and tunnels and distinguishes between above ground, or surface mines, and underground mines. Existing law requires that sufficient manpower be maintained to provide for 4 annual inspections of underground mines, one inspection of surface mines or quarries annually, and 6 inspections of tunnels under construction annually.

This bill would authorize the division to except a surface mine or quarry that has been accepted into, and is currently in compliance with, the California Voluntary Protection Program from the annual inspection requirement described above.