Smoke Causes Unhealthy Working Conditions for Some CAPS Members. With the number of recent wildfires plaguing our state, State Scientists are being called to assess the burn sites for toxic contaminants and work to collect and care for displaced wildlife. California’s air quality has suffered as a result of these wildfires, leading to questions about the safety of working in poor air quality. California Code of Regulations §5141.1 describes employers’ obligation to keep employees safe when air conditions are not. In most cases, employers are responsible for effectively communicating the air quality, educating employees on how to stay safe when the air quality is not, and controlling employee’s harmful exposure (this can include providing masks and other PPE, when necessary). If you encounter issues at the worksite, contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org).
CalPERS Webinars. In October, CalPERS will launch a series of free monthly webinars for members about their benefits and financial planning options. Some of the virtual meetings scheduled in the near future will focus on CalPERS special power of attorney (on October 14), service credit purchases (on November 11), and how Medicare and CalPERS health benefits work together (on December 16). All sessions start at 11 a.m., and run approximately 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the subject. CalPERS invites all state employees to participate, whether new to state service, mid-career, or approaching retirement. Please see the CalPERS Member Education webpage for more details about each session and to register for online access to these free educational events.
Members-Only Section of the CAPS Website Password Updated. The Members-Only Section of the CAPS website hosts helpful materials like Board Meeting Agendas, Minutes, and the CAPS Bylaws and Policy Manuals. The password to access that portion of the website has been updated to Fall2020 – it is case-sensitive.
Check Out the Supervisors Section of the CAPS Website. Did you know that the CAPS Website features a section with information pertinent to Supervisors and Managers? There’s FAQs, past proposals, and other important information for so-called “excluded employee” CAPS members. The password to acces the Supervisors Section of the CAPS Website is S10 CAPS – it is case-sensitive.
News Briefs.
Tiny Wasps Being Released Across San Diego… For Good Reason – It sounds like the stuff of nightmares: thousands of tiny wasps are being released in areas of San Diego County this week. But the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) says the minuscule bugs are actually the good guys.
North Coast Kelp Forest Restoration Project Showing Early Evidence of Success – One month since its launch, an unprecedented partnership for kelp restoration on California’s North Coast is demonstrating early evidence of success.
Column: Sharks moving north, redwood growth slowing, mosquitoes biting – this is California’s altered state – In California, we’ve come to see drought, extreme heat and deadly fire as the most alarming, obvious evidence of climate change. But life as we know it is being altered in multiple ways, often just out of view.