Understaffing, process deficiencies hamper safety enforcement in California: audit

Understaffing and process deficiencies are the root causes of gaps the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s ability to monitor workplaces and protect workers, according to a recent audit.

Cal/OSHA had a 32% job vacancy rate in the fiscal year ending in 2024, according to a report released this month by the state auditor. The majority of the 24 regional and district managers interviewed for the report said they would have performed more on-site inspections and conducted more thorough inspections if they had sufficient staff.

“Compounding the effects of understaffing, many of Cal/OSHA’s policies and procedures have been out of date for years,” the report says. “In addition, Cal/OSHA did not consistently conduct ongoing audits of its case files to ensure that staff were implementing its policies and procedures correctly. Cal/OSHA’s processes have been largely paper-based, which is inefficient and increases its risk of having poor case file documentation.”

The audit found issues with failing to investigate fatal and serious accidents and complaints of unsafe conditions, lacking documentation on complaints and inspections, including evidence, and failing to follow up on abatement efforts. There were also concerns with fines being lower than the national average and the agency’s decisions in some cases to lower fines without justification.

The Department of Industrial Relations indicated it would implement the auditor’s recommendations, which include updating its policies, modernizing and documenting procedures, and increasing staffing levels to facilitate more on-site inspections. The auditor also reported that agency officials said they lack sufficient staff to perform follow-up inspections and must prioritize new inspections.

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