The agency, better known as Cal/OSHA, said the decision had been in the works for weeks and was not in response to The Times’ reporting. Staff have struggled to handle an influx of workplace complaints since the pandemic hit, current and former employees told The Times. AdvertisementInspectors are responsible for investigating workplace complaints and responding to reports of injuries, illnesses and fatalities. If the effort succeeds in drawing retirees back, Brown said, it could provide existing staff with more time to conduct on-site investigations. Current and former staffers told The Times that the agency has largely abandoned in-person inspections, handling most complaints by letters and calls to employers.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 14, 2020 19:19 UTC