Governor Brown Appoints Juliann Sum Cal/OSHA Chief By Press Release - CA Department of Industrial Relations - December 3, 2014
Sacramento--Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today appointed Juliann Sum as Chief of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), building on her more than 30 years working to improve occupational safety and health throughout the state, most recently as acting chief of Cal/OSHA.
“I am grateful for the opportunity as division chief to maintain and enhance safe workplaces and practices for workers and employers in California,” Sum said upon being sworn into office. “We will continue to consistently enforce Cal/OSHA standards, develop new standards based on scientific data and practical experience, and collaborate with labor and management organizations.”
In 2014, Sum established a hiring task force to facilitate filling Cal/OSHA vacancies and enabling senior staff at the division to mentor new hires before retiring. She has also strengthened the training of field staff and managers, providing them with core classes in accident investigation, citation writing, case review and legal appeals.
“Cal/OSHA has made great strides under Juliann’s leadership,” said California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary David Lanier. “She has helped strengthen workplace safety laws, improved communication throughout the division, and has secured additional resources for the division through her steadfast advocacy.”
During her tenure as acting chief, Sum also initiated successful efforts to encourage more immediate correction of workplace safety hazards. Last month she led the division’s effort to finalize and publish specific guidance to protect workers in healthcare settings from exposure to the Ebola virus and other infectious diseases.
“Juliann has been a tireless advocate for safety in California’s workplaces,” said Christine Baker, director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). “As chief she will continue to focus on strengthening Cal/OSHA’s enforcement, compliance, outreach and education efforts.” Cal/OSHA is a division of DIR.
Sum joined DIR in 2012 as special advisor to Director Baker. She was designated acting chief in September 2013. Previously, Sum served from 1994 to 2012 as project director with the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at UC Berkeley, and attorney and industrial hygienist with the Labor Occupational Health Program.
Her extensive experience also includes work as an associate attorney with the Environmental Law Foundation, Litigation Associate with Carroll, Burdick & McDonough, and as industrial hygienist and business representative with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245.
Sum earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law, a Master of Science degree in environmental health sciences from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science degree in biophysics from Brown University.
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California Department of Industrial Relations, P.O. Box 420603 · San Francisco, CA · 94142-0603 · www.dir.ca.gov
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