The State - News from May 3, 1989

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health resumed operations for the first time since July 1, 1987, when it closed down after Gov. George Deukmejian vetoed funding. At that time, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration assumed responsibility for protecting California’s 9.5 million private sector workers. Last November, California voters passed an initiative to restore the state agency. The next five months will be a transition period, in which federal officials will retain some jurisdiction, while the California agency gets fully staffed and changes some of its regulations to bring them into conformity with federal safety standards that were enacted during the last two years. State officials said they expected Cal/OSHA, which will have offices in 21 cities from San Diego to Eureka, to be fully staffed by Sept 30.