Illness and Injury Prevention Programs (IIPPs)
California law requires that every California Employer provide a safe and healthful workplace to its employees. Subject to very limited exceptions, California law also requires implementation of a written “Illness and Injury Prevention Program” to help achieve this safe and healthful workplace. Under California Labor Code section 6401.7 and Title 8, section 3203 of the California Code of Regulations, these programs, commonly referred to as IIPPs, must be written and must generally contain, at a minimum, the following:
• Identification of an individual who is responsible for
implementing the program;
• A system for identifying and evaluating workplace
hazards;
• Periodic inspections to identify unsafe or unhealthy
conditions and practices;
• Methods and procedures for timely correction of unsafe
or unhealthy conditions and practices;
• An occupational health and safety training program to
instruct employees;
• A communication and reporting system to report and
discuss potential hazards;
• Enforcement mechanisms for violations, which may
include disciplinary action;
• Procedures so that various recordkeeping requirements
are followed.
If an employer has no Illness and Injury Prevention Program, or has a program that does not follow the standards of California law, the employer may be subject to liability should Cal-OSHA conduct an inspection. If other claims are raised, which do not directly relate to the absence of an IIPP, the lack of an IIPP may also hinder the employer from raising defenses that would otherwise be available had an IIPP been in place.
If you don’t have an IIPP, don’t put off this important safety protection for your workers and legal protection for your business. If you need to update an existing IIPP, or would like to review it for compliance, Porter Law Group will be happy to help you. No two workplaces are the same. No two IIPPs should be the same, either. We will analyze your workplace and tailor a program that meets the needs of your business and the requirements of the law.