FREMONT, California, Dec. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA has cited a manufacturer of cannabis products for multiple serious safety violations following an explosion that seriously injured a worker.

On June 19, an employee of Future2 Labs Health Services was working alone inside a 128-square-foot portable storage container in Watsonville, using propane to extract oil from cannabis leaves. The propane ignited and exploded, badly burning the worker. He was hospitalized for several days.

During the investigation, Cal/OSHA learned the employer did not test the atmosphere inside the storage container for flammable gases or vapors before allowing equipment to be operated. The equipment created a spark that ignited the propane gas where the employee was working.

“The process of using a highly flammable gas to extract oil from cannabis leaves is dangerous,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “To prevent injuries and mitigate risk, employers in the cannabis industry must establish and implement an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program, provide effective training to their employees and comply with safety and health standards.”

Cal/OSHA cited Santa Cruz-based Future2 Health Services $50,470 in proposed penalties for 10 violations. The citations include three regulatory, four general and three serious accident-related violations. The serious accident-related violations were cited for the employer’s failure to:

• Protect workers around flammable vapors
• Identify hazards and provide personal protective equipment
• Maintain equipment in a safe operating condition.

The other citations were issued for violations related to inadequate training, failing to establish an emergency action plan and a hazard communication program. Future2 Labs Health Services also failed to report a serious workplace injury to Cal/OSHA.

Cal/OSHA’s Cannabis Industry Health and Safety webpage provides helpful information to employers and workers. Workers in the cannabis industry, including those in cultivation, distribution, retail, testing and manufacturing, are exposed to hazards covered under existing Cal/OSHA regulations.  

A violation is classified as serious when there is a realistic possibility that death or serious harm could result from the actual hazard created by the violation. Violations are classified as accident-related when the injury, illness or fatality is caused by the violation.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Lucas Brown at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

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The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations; Cal/OSHA

SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — It happens every tax season. Fly-by-night tax preparers set up tables in shopping centers or rent office spaces from February to April. They crank out countless tax returns, often touting “big and fast” tax refunds.

“Eventually the taxpayer is left with a financial mess and the tax preparer is nowhere to be found. We call them ghost tax preparers,” said Lester Crawford, chair of the California Tax Education Council (CTEC), a state-mandated nonprofit organization that manages the registration of more than 40,000 unlicensed tax preparers. “It’s a big issue even on the federal level, which is why we are launching an online reporting system that focuses just on ghost tax preparers.”

The new reporting system only requires taxpayers to answer a few quick questions with the name and last known location of the ghost tax preparer. Personal information from the taxpayer is helpful, but not required. Taxpayers can submit reports at ctec.org. All reports go directly to the California Franchise Tax Board, the enforcement arm for CTEC.

“We found too many taxpayers are scared to report a tax preparer because they think it will get them into trouble. We hope the new anonymous option will change that,” Crawford said. “Ghost tax preparers are masters of the disappearing act so it helps enforcement teams to get outside reports.”

Taxpayers are urged to verify the legal status of a tax preparer before handing over their personal information. California law requires anyone who prepares tax returns for a fee to be either an attorney, certified public accountant (CPA), CTEC-registered tax preparer (CRTP) or enrolled agent (EA). Each is required to pass an initial test and complete educational requirements.

In addition to California requirements, tax preparers are required by the Internal Revenue Service to provide a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on all federal tax returns they prepare for a fee.

“Licenses or registrations can be suspended or revoked without any notice to clients. Always verify the legal status even if you’ve been going to the same tax preparer for years,” Crawford said.

Taxpayers should report tax preparers to CTEC if they cannot verify their legal status or if they refuse to sign the tax return. Typical red flags of ghost tax preparers include listing the tax return as “self prepared” or sticking a business label on it instead of listing their individual name and PTIN.

CTEC is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1997 by the California State Legislature to protect taxpayers against fraud and incompetent tax preparers.

SOURCE California Tax Education Council