In case this is the first time you’re hearing about this law, here are the basics:

• The law applies to all multi-family dwellings in California with three or more units.
• It requires that at least 15% of each type of EEE (balconies, decks, porches, stairways, walkways, and entryways) be inspected.
• Qualified inspectors include architects, civil or structural engineers, certified building inspectors, and contractors with at least five years of experience who have an “A,” “B,” or “C-5” license from the CSLB.
• An inspection report must be completed and filed with the local enforcement agency within 15 days of the inspection.
• If non-emergency repairs are needed, a permit must be applied for within 120 days of the report’s submission. Once the permit is granted, the corrective work must be completed within 120 days.

The extension to SB 721 is sure to be welcome news to apartment complex owners who have yet to have their inspections completed—or even to schedule the balcony inspections. But if that’s you, don’t let this extension be an excuse to procrastinate! As the new deadline gets closer, we anticipate that there will be a rush to get on the schedules of qualified inspectors. And while there are plenty of people in Orange County and Los Angeles who technically qualify to be inspectors according to the law, there are not that many who are actually offering their services as inspectors for this purpose. Therefore, it may be difficult to schedule the necessary inspections as the deadline gets closer, and you may find yourself having to pay rush fees to meet the deadline.

At DTS, we have a team of qualified inspectors who can come to your apartment complex(es) in Orange County and Los Angeles County and inspect the exterior elevated elements, inform you of any repairs that need to be made, and produce the report that the law requires. If repairs are needed, we also have a network of reputable general contractors in Orange County and Los Angeles County who can complete them (if you don’t currently have a licensed general contractor you trust). All repairs must be completed by a licensed contractor and be in compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 17922 of the Health and Safety Code, as well as any other local requirements.

To learn more about SB 721, you can refer to this previous blog post, where we went into great detail about the law and its requirements for apartment complex owners. If you have any further questions or want to schedule your apartment balcony inspections in Orange County and/or Los Angeles, contact us at DTS.

The post Extension to SB 721 Provides More Time to Complete Balcony Inspections in Orange County and Los Angeles appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

So, who should write your company’s IIPP? If you have someone on your staff who is already familiar with health and safety training and best practices, that person would be the obvious choice. Maybe that’s a supervisor or the person in your company who is in charge of human resources-related tasks. If that person is you, the owner of the company, you could certainly take on the task of creating an IIPP, but that is probably not the best use of your time. While having an IIPP is certainly important, you are likely doing other things that are much more profitable to your business.

If there is realistically no one at your company with the time or the expertise to create an IIPP that will meet OSHA’s standards, you should consider outsourcing this task. Yes, you will have to spend some money to go this route, but it can be money well spent—especially when you consider the time it would take for you or one of your employees to research all the requirements and then put together a comprehensive plan.

At Diamond Touch Strategies, we have already done all the research related to IIPP requirements. We have gone through the OSHA compliance training to ensure that we have an accurate understanding of what they require of businesses when it comes to IIPPs. We know what OSHA inspectors will be looking for if they ask to see your IIPP. In short, they will want to see a detailed plan that is specific to your business—your employees, equipment, facilities, business activities, and all the potential hazards related to these things.

The IIPP we create for your business will be incredibly thorough. Prior to writing it, we will come to your place of business and do an evaluation to identify any potential health and safety risks. We will then develop a plan that will include things like training programs, inspection and maintenance schedules, health and safety-related protocols, and a system for investigating and reporting work-related injuries and illnesses.

We will put the IIPP together in the format that an OSHA inspector would want to see and make sure you have a copy on hand for your employees and OSHA inspectors to review at any time.

Contact us at DTS to learn more about our IIPP creation services. Our rates are extremely competitive for the level of service and expertise we provide. We are also happy to answer any initial questions you may have about IIPPs or OSHA compliance.

The post Who Should Write Your Company’s IIPP in California? appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

Not Just Balconies, and Not Just Apartment Buildings

First of all, it’s not just balconies that need to be inspected every six years. According to the law, which was passed in 2018 (but doesn’t start being enforced until 2025), it’s specifically the building’s “exterior elevated elements” that need to be looked over by a qualified inspector. While exterior elevated elements include balconies, these aren’t the only structures that fall under new the law. The term “exterior elevated elements” also encompasses decks, exterior staircases, porches, entry structures, and elevated walkways. Basically, any exterior surface that someone would stand or walk on and that extends from the exterior wall of the building and is at least six feet above the ground needs to be inspected and included in the ensuing inspector’s report.

In addition, it’s not just the surfaces of these structures that need inspection, according to SB 721. The inspector must also look at the load-bearing components, the associated waterproofing elements (which include flashings, coatings, membranes, and sealants), and the railings. The goal of the inspection is to evaluate the exterior elevated elements’ current state—especially the supporting wood structures, which can rot or be compromised by termite damage—and make recommendations for further inspections or repairs. If any balcony/deck/staircase/walkway poses an immediate danger to people walking or standing on them, they must immediately be restricted from use until they can be repaired.

Apartment buildings with exterior elevated elements are clearly subject to SB 721, but what about other types of buildings? Actually, the law never mentions apartment buildings by name, but instead says that “buildings with 3 or more multifamily dwelling units” are those that need to have their exterior elevated elements inspected. This means that if you own a triplex or a quadplex with a balcony or other structure that could be considered an exterior elevated element, you need to bring in a qualified inspector.

Do Condominium Complexes Fall Under SB 721?

Condominium complexes fall under a different (although very similar) law: SB 326. Condos are typically individually owned, but it is often the responsibility of the condo association to maintain and repair the complex’s exterior elevated elements. Therefore, complying with SB 326 most often falls under the responsibility of the condo association, not the individual owners.

Who to Call If You Need Help Complying with SB 721 or SB 326

If you are someone who is responsible for a building that needs its exterior elevated elements inspected, it’s important that you work with a qualified inspector—one who understands SB 721 and SB 326 and who will meet all of its guidelines (including producing an inspection report).

DTS has put together a team of qualified inspectors in California who can make sure your building or complex is in compliance with SB 721 or SB 326. We also have a network of general contractors who can complete any needed repairs following the inspection.

Contact us at DTS to learn more or to get an estimate on having your inspection completed by the January 1, 2025 deadline.

The post Who Needs to Comply with SB 721, the Apartment Balcony Law? appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

Probably the most important part of complying with SB 721 is finding a qualified inspector. According to the law:

“The inspection shall be performed by a licensed architect; licensed civil or structural engineer; a building contractor holding any or all of the “A,” “B,” or “C-5” license classifications issued by the Contractors’ State License Board, with a minimum of five years’ experience, as a holder of the aforementioned classifications or licenses, in constructing multistory wood frame buildings; or an individual certified as a building inspector or building official from a recognized state, national, or international association, as determined by the local jurisdiction. These individuals shall not be employed by the local jurisdiction while performing these inspections.”

Just like any law passed by the State of California, there are a lot of details in SB 721. You want to make sure you hire an inspector who is well versed in the law’s requirements, including what needs to be inspected, what needs to be included in the ensuing report, and what needs to happen should the inspection reveal the need for repairs.

A word of advice: Don’t use your go-to general contractor as an inspector if you’re anticipating repairs, even if he or she qualifies as an inspector. Your inspector and the person performing the repairs cannot be the same person, according to SB 721. The law specifically states: “No recommended repair shall be performed by a licensed contractor serving as the inspector.” In other words, if you have a trusted general contractor who you will want to make any needed repairs, you will need to find a separate inspector. In addition, your general contractor may have little to no interest in doing the inspection, especially because it would require them to complete a follow-up report.

At DTS, we have a team of professionals who can serve as SB 721 inspectors, including architects, engineers, and general contractors. If you use someone from our team as your inspector, you are under no obligation to use one of our general contractors for any needed repairs. However, we do have qualified and trusted general contractors that we can highly recommend, if you don’t already have someone in mind to complete the work. Our general contractors are all lead-safe certified, which is a requirement for any contractor working on a building that was built before 1978.

DTS will create a customized solution for your specific needs when it comes to SB 721 compliance. We can set you up with just an inspector who will complete the inspection and the necessary reports. We can connect you with a qualified general contractor who will obtain the needed permits and complete the repair work on your exterior elevated elements. Or we can handle everything from start to finish—from inspection all the way through the repair process. We will make sure you are in complete compliance with SB 721 and that you have all the paperwork necessary to prove it!

If you have any questions about SB 721, or if you would like to hear more about how DTS can make sure your apartment building is in compliance, contact our office today.

The post California’s SB 721: Who Qualifies as an Inspector for Apartment Balcony Inspections? appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

More than just about any other type of contractor, painters should be concerned about lead paint. While other contractors may work in buildings or homes where lead paint is present, painters are highly likely to disturb the paint during paint prep, which creates the toxic lead dust that the EPA is concerned about. For that reason, the EPA requires painters who work in (or even offer to work in) homes that were built prior to 1978 to be Lead-Safe Certified Firms. When the EPA talks about “offering” to work in a home built before 1978, that could mean providing a quote to a homeowner, advertising in a neighborhood with older homes, or any other similar activity. These activities could invoke fines from the EPA, even if the painting company never did any actual work that would disturb lead paint!

Because the EPA’s rules are so stringent, it makes sense for every painter in Orange County to obtain their Lead-Safe Certification. Once you have the certification, you will no longer be limited to only being able to paint newer homes, and you won’t have to worry about getting the dreaded letter from the EPA telling you that you are being fined for being out of compliance with their RRP Rule.

Helping Orange County Painters Obtain Their Lead-Safe Certification

Just like many government programs, the Lead-Safe Certification program has a lot of detailed requirements for contractors. At DTS, we walk you through all the requirements and help get your company certified. We make the process simple so you can take care of all the other things you need to do to keep your business running.

And just in case you are thinking, “I’m just an individual who paints houses. I don’t have a company, so I don’t need to get certified,” the rule also applies to sole proprietors. Even if you are a handyman who sometimes paints houses, you should obtain your Lead-Safe Certification so you don’t have to worry about getting fined by the EPA.

The good news is that after you become a Lead-Safe Certified Firm, the certification is good for five years, and recertification is a relatively simple process.

What if You Already Received a Letter from the EPA?

You may have arrived at this blog post because you’re a painter in Orange County who recently got a letter from the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division in your region. The EPA has been ramping up their efforts recently to ensure that contractors get their Lead-Safe Certifications. If the letter says that they believe you “may be out of compliance” with the RRP Rule, you probably still have time to rectify the situation. Promptly obtaining your Lead-Safe Certification will likely help you avoid fines. You can contact us at DTS, and we will be happy to do whatever we can to assist you in avoiding penalties.

If your letter from the EPA states that you are being penalized for performing work covered by the RRP Rule without a Lead-Safe Certification, the situation is more serious, but we still may be able to help. Contact us right away. DTS can help you get certified as quickly as possible so you can show the EPA that you are making strides to become compliant. We may not be able to help you avoid fines for past work, but we can make sure that you don’t incur any additional fines.

The post Helping Orange County Painters Obtain Their EPA Lead-Safe Certification appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

At DTS, we have put together a highly skilled team to help California apartment complex owners and condo associations comply with these new laws. Our team has thoroughly researched what is required by SB 326 and SB 721 and is ready to help you get started. We have professionals located throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County who can complete all the necessary work so you can avoid fines and also ensure that your buildings’ exterior elevated elements are safe for your tenants.

We are here for those apartment and condo complex owners or managers who are looking for a one-stop shop to help them comply fully with the balcony inspection laws. DTS can connect you with a qualified inspector who will produce a proper inspection report. We can then bring in a general contractor who can complete any needed repairs and obtain the necessary permits. SB 607, which was passed in September 2021, allows the same company that does the inspections to also complete the repairs needed to bring buildings in compliance with SB 326 and SB 721.

However, you may have your own general contractor in mind to complete any necessary repairs on your exterior elevated elements, and therefore, you may only need an inspection and the follow-up report. Or you may already have completed the inspections and just need to find a contractor to make the repairs. If either of these scenarios applies to you, DTS can still help! We have a network of inspectors and general contractors who can accomplish any of the steps necessary to keep your buildings in compliance with SB 326 or SB 721 (whichever law applies to your complex).

We understand that those who own and manage apartment buildings and condo complexes have a lot on their plates! Let DTS make your job a little easier by making sure your buildings are in compliance with SB 326 or SB 721.

Since this is the first time these types of inspections are being required in California, you probably have a lot of questions. We are here to help! You can contact us at any time and get your initial questions answered. We can also provide you with an estimate for the inspection portion over the phone. If any repair work is needed after the inspection is completed, we can provide you with a fair quote for that as well. The whole process will be managed professionally on your behalf by a team that specializes in compliance issues just like these. Contact us today to learn more or to get the process started.

The post Condo and Apartment Balcony Inspections and Repairs in Orange County and Los Angeles from a Team of Professionals at DTS appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

Most small business owners are smart people and could certainly do the research to figure what needs to be included in their IIPP, and then take the time to write one up. However, every small business owner we know is also very busy. They typically work more than 40 hours per week as it is and don’t need anything else added to their plates—especially things that can be easily outsourced.

Hiring a company to complete an IIPP on your company’s behalf just makes sense for most small businesses, and here’s why:

Using an IIPP Template Isn’t an Option

Anyone that tells you they purchased a cheap IIPP online and just put their company name on it and filled in a few blanks is fooling themselves. There’s no way that an OSHA inspector will look at a filled-in template and find it acceptable. An IIPP needs to be detailed and specific to each business. It needs to identify the hazards that are unique to your facility and the type of work you do, and how they will be handled. Your IIPP also needs to include information on any health- and safety-related trainings that will be offered, and it needs to specify which employees need to attend them, and how often.

A thorough IIPP also needs to include procedures for documenting certain things, such as any work-related illnesses or injuries that occur, as well as when training sessions were completed (and who attended). Maintaining records of these types of things is key, and documentation will certainly be asked for if an OSHA inspector ever shows up at your place of business—either as a result of a random inspection or because an incident occurred.

Bringing in someone who is knowledgeable about IIPPs and can put together one that will be acceptable to OSHA inspectors is highly advised!

Creating an IIPP Is Time-Consuming

As a business owner, your time is valuable. So is the time of your employees. Is it really a good use of your time to spend it researching the requirements of an IIPP and then putting together a thorough plan in writing? If you’re like many business owners, the answer is probably “no.”

At DTS, we are experts in IIPP creation. We can come to your place of business and assess your facilities, your equipment, and your business activities to determine what needs to be included in your IIPP. We will then produce a detailed IIPP that is specific to your small business. It will include all of the elements required by OSHA and Cal/OSHA and will set you up with a health and safety plan that is easy to follow and a system for documenting health- and safety-related trainings and incidents. We will leave you with a printed binder that you can reference at any time and that you can use to show OSHA inspectors that you are in compliance with their IIPP requirement.

Our prices are competitive, and we provide great service! We are even able to produce IIPPs for Orange County businesses quickly, in case you are on a tight timeline (like if you have already been cited for not having an IIPP in place). Contact us today to learn more about working with DTS for your Orange County business’ IIPP.

The post Does It Make Sense to Have an Outside Company Write My IIPP in Orange County? appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

Up until recently, the EPA has been fairly lax in enforcing the RRP Rule, but they are now ramping up their efforts to ensure that companies and individuals are in compliance.

What Type of Work Falls Under the RRP Rule, Requiring Lead-Safe Certification?

According to the EPA’s website, “…any activity that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities is covered…” This includes work such as electrical, plumbing, paint prep, carpentry, and window replacement. Also on the list of covered work is “remodeling and repair/maintenance,” which pretty much includes any type of work performed by contractors of all types.

If you are a contractor, handyman, or even a property manager in Los Angeles or Orange County that does repairs, maintenance, or renovations in homes or child-occupied facilities (like daycares or schools), this rule applies to you, and you need to get lead-safe certified as soon as possible!

What If You Don’t Go Through the EPA’s Lead-Safe Certification Process?

If you are a contractor or property manager in Los Angeles or Orange County and don’t have your required lead-safe certificate, you are taking a huge risk! You may have flown under the radar up until now, but that may soon change. The EPA has started sending out letters to individuals and companies that they believe are out of compliance, warning them that performing covered work without a valid Lead-Safe Firm Certificate could result in penalties greater than $40,000 per violation!

It’s likely only a matter of time before you get your letter from the EPA notifying you that you are out of compliance with the RRP Rule. Once you’ve been notified, the EPA may start hitting you with steep fines if you remain out of compliance.

How to Get Certified by the EPA as a Lead-Safe Firm in Orange County or Los Angeles

Unfortunately, obtaining a Lead-Safe Firm Certificate is not as straightforward as it should be. And even once you have applied for and obtained the proper certification, the EPA may still come after you for past work performed without the proper certification.

DTS can help!

We have done all of the research to determine what needs to be done in order for contractors be in full compliance with the RRP Rule and avoid costly fines. We can help you apply for the lead-safe certification from the EPA and create a written guidebook for your office, complete with a records-keeping section, and field-ready guides to help you stay in compliance. When you work with DTS, we take care of the mundane details so you can focus on the things your business does best!

Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business. We work with many Los Angeles and Orange County contractors, helping them avoid fines and stay in compliance with entities like OSHA and the EPA.

The post The EPA’s Lead-Safe Certification and What It Means for Your Contracting Business in Los Angeles and Orange County appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

Supervisory employees are required to complete at least two hours of training every two years, while non-supervisory employees must complete at least one hour of training. Employers are solely responsible for providing the training, as well as for allowing their employees to complete the training during their working hours. In other words, an employer cannot require their employees to complete the training on their own (unpaid) time.

The training must be “effective interactive training,” according to California law. An employer cannot simply hand their employees a handbook or printout and require that they read it. Rather, the training needs to be conducted by an expert in workplace sexual harassment and abusive conduct.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) oversees this requirement, but in addition, some insurance companies are beginning to request documentation that the training has been completed according to CRD guidelines.

As a company that specializes in workplace compliance issues, DTS can help your small business satisfy the requirements of this California law. We can come to your place of business and conduct sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training, for both your supervisors and your non-supervisory employees. If you do not have a room at your workplace that is suitable to serve as a classroom for such a training session, you can either come to the DTS office for the training or we can arrange to hold it in another nearby location.

At the conclusion of the training, we will provide your business with the certificates of completion for each employee that are necessary to prove that your business is in compliance with the law. We will also provide you with any written materials that were used during the training. You must keep these documents on file at your place of business for two years.

Unlike other sexual harassment trainings offered for California companies, DTS offers in-person training, rather than an online course. By providing your employees in-person training, you can be sure that all of your employees complete the training by the deadline and ensure that your business is in compliance with both the CRD and your insurance company’s requirements.

Keeping up with all of the regulations for employers in California can feel burdensome—especially if you don’t have a dedicated human resources department at your place of business. DTS is here to help! We can help ensure your small business is in compliance with entities such as the Civil Rights Department and Cal/OSHA, as well as with your insurance company. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your sexual harassment and abusive conduct training.

The post Sexual Harassment Training for Orange County Small Businesses appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.

If you have been in business for a while already and just found this out, you’re not alone. Many business owners are surprised to learn about the OSHA requirement that every business have an IIPP. They may operate a business for many years before realizing they are out of compliance in this area. In the worst-case scenario, a business owner finds out about their need for an IIPP when an OSHA or Cal/OSHA inspector shows up at their place of business and requests to see a copy of the IIPP. When the inspector finds that there isn’t one, they will almost certainly levy a hefty fine.

Hopefully, this hasn’t happened to you. Perhaps you’re a new business owner or one who just hired your first employee(s), and you found out about your need for an IIPP through your research into the requirements for employers or were told about it by a helpful fellow business owner. Your next step was probably figuring out how to have an IIPP created as easily and inexpensively as possible, and that led you to search for an IIPP template online that you could use to satisfy OSHA’s requirement.

Are There Good IIPP Templates Online?

If you’re looking for an online IIPP template that you can just add your company name to and be done, you are going to be disappointed, unfortunately. One of the main requirements of an IIPP is that it be business specific. That means that the health and safety policies, procedures, and trainings laid out in your IIPP need to address the specific conditions at your place of work. There is no template out there that will make the process of creating an IIPP quick and easy.

For employers willing to put in a good amount of work after purchasing an IIPP template, this could be an option. But most small business owners already have full plates. They don’t have the time to invest in creating an IIPP that an OSHA or Cal/OSHA inspector will approve—even if they start with a template.

IIPP Creation by Small Business Experts

Using an IIPP template isn’t your only option. At DTS, we help small business owners throughout Orange County create IIPPs that satisfy OSHA and Cal/OSHA requirements. We come to your place of business and assess your space, your activities, your equipment, and anything else that is relevant to the health and safety of your employees. We then put a program in place that is not only thorough, but also easy to follow. It will provide you with tools for documenting when employee safety trainings are completed (something else an OSHA inspector will want to see if they ever show up at your business). Your IIPP will also provide you with a clear process for investigating any employee injuries or illnesses that do occur.

At DTS, we have done the work to become experts in workplace health and safety issues, so you don’t have to! While you do what you do best—run your business—we can work behind the scenes to create an IIPP that will put you in compliance with OSHA and also make your business a safer place to work.

Contact us at DTS to learn more. We offer competitive pricing on IIPP creation for Orange County small businesses.

The post Looking for the Best IIPP Template for Your Orange County Business? appeared first on Diamond Touch Strategies.