Cal/OSHA Updates Occupational Safety and Health Posting Requirements for 2024

What Changed

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) released an updated mandatory occupational safety and health poster for 2024. The update reflects additional requirements related to how OSHA violations are communicated and enforced, including enhanced provisions for workplace violence prevention that will take full effect under SB 553 on July 1, 2024.

The poster update ensures that employees are informed of their rights under current California workplace safety laws, including the right to report unsafe conditions, request inspections, and be protected from retaliation.

Who Is Affected

All California employers with one or more employees. Cal/OSHA posting requirements apply universally, with no exemptions based on employer size or industry.

Where It Applies

California statewide. The updated poster must be displayed at every worksite where California employees are present.

When It Takes Effect

The updated poster requirements took effect January 1, 2024. Employers should note that the broader workplace violence prevention plan requirements under SB 553 take effect July 1, 2024, which will require additional compliance steps beyond poster updates.

Why It Matters

Cal/OSHA violations can carry significant penalties. Serious violations can result in fines of up to $25,000 per violation, and willful violations can reach $158,727 per violation. Failing to display the required workplace safety poster is itself a citable violation. With SB 553 introducing comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan requirements later in 2024, employers should view this poster update as the first step in a broader compliance effort.

The Humareso Take

The poster update itself is a quick fix, but it signals a bigger shift coming in mid-2024 with SB 553's workplace violence prevention mandate. We recommend using this as a trigger to start planning for the July 1 deadline, which will require a written workplace violence prevention plan, incident logging, and employee training. Getting ahead of that now will save significant time and stress later.

Recommended Action Steps

1. Post the updated Cal/OSHA occupational safety and health poster at all California work locations in a conspicuous area accessible to employees.

2. Begin planning for SB 553 compliance by reviewing your existing injury and illness prevention plan (IIPP) and determining how to integrate workplace violence prevention requirements before the July 1, 2024 deadline.

3. Audit all California workplace posters to ensure every mandatory posting is current as of January 2024.

4. Contact your Humareso representative for guidance on SB 553 workplace violence prevention plan development and the broader Cal/OSHA compliance landscape.