Blogs

February 2017 Meeting | When Cal-OSHA Comes Knockin': Does, Don'ts, and Strategies for Employers  

In this session Safety Alliance members discussed strategies and exposures for employers where they have a Cal-OSHA Inspection including dealing with a serious injury or death at the workplace.  The attendees will learn techniques for interfacing with Cal-OSHA and Cal-OSHA inspectors. The program touched on how to address the applicable California workplace fatality criminal law and best practices when the District Attorney and Cal-OSHA conducts their investigation of fatalities and serious injuries. The session also covered individual and company exposures along with key defense strategies, as well as actual workplace fatality cases to illustrate the issues.

Our guest speaker, Kevin D. Bland, provided us with a wealth of experience in Health and Safety. Before his legal career, Mr. Bland had nearly 20 years of construction, safety, and business experience. In 2000, he launched his legal career after graduating cum laude from Whittier School of Law. Mr. Bland holds a Contractors "A" license and his practice focuses primarily on safety, risk management, Cal-OSHA regulatory rulemaking, and Cal-OSHA citation appeals. He counsels and represents various industries including construction, manufacturing, motion picture and television, and various other general industry clients along with various trade associations, construction contractors, and material suppliers.

Check out the photos from the meeting below.

Go back to the Safety Alliance page here.

In many ways, Palm Springs, California, is an architectural oasis. Located a mere two hours from Los Angeles, the desert city was developed as a mid-century haven for Hollywood’s biggest stars—Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Liz Taylor, and Elvis Presley, to name a few, found themselves in Palm Springs at one time or another.

A half-century later, and the homes they left behind are still adored by many. Every February since 2005, the best of mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion, and culture are showcased during Palm Springs’ Modernism Week. The 11-day affair is rich with tours of iconic homes, architectural walks, and double-decker bus tours, as well as lecture and film series, among other design-focused events. This year’s show, which runs through February 21, is expected to draw more than 60,000 visitors from around the globe.

Read more about Modernism Week and Modernist Architecture and see more photos of the architecture at Architectural Digest here.

Last week Jamboree Housing celebrated the Grand Opening of their award-winning Clark Commons apartment community.

Clark Commons is a LEED Gold apartment community in the City of Buena Park that will provide homes for 70 families. This project features contemporary design with a large community center, laundry facilities, fitness room, technology amenities, outdoor dining, child play areas, and is adjacent to a one-acre neighborhood park. Clark Commons was recognized at the 2016 Affordable Housing Awards as Development of the Year.  

Developer:  Jamboree Housing

Architect:  Danielian Associates Architecture + Planning

Product Type:  Affordable Housing

Construction: Type V-A Apartments in 3-story & 4-story Levels over Type I Podium

Units: 70      

Density: 35 DU/AC

General Contractor: Portrait Construction, Inc.

Landscape: Summers/Murphy & Partners, Inc.

Home shoppers can experience 365-degree virtual tours of the homebuilder's new Rancho Tesoro community in San Marcos, Calif.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 attendees aren't the only people getting a taste of the world's most mind-bending technology this year. Thanks to homebuilder Brookfield Residential, San Diego County home shoppers can walk through new homes before they are built. Between February 1 and May 1, the builder will offer virtual reality (VR) tours of its new San Marcos community, Rancho Tesoro. The tours will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets located at 5620 Paseo Del Norte in Carlsbad.

"When you think of the home buying process, VR is unfamiliar territory for most builders and home buyers," says Mercedes Meserve, Vice President of Marketing for Brookfield Residential Southern California. "We're excited to do something different. By harnessing the power of VR, we'll be able to provide customers with a truly immersive experience that will put them in the driver's seat."

The innovative technology will allow home shoppers to "walk" through new floor plan designs and experience 365-degree environments. Users will also be able to preview finish selections like flooring and cabinets, and view furniture layouts.

"We hope to build excitement about Rancho Tesoro and save prospective residents time by letting them preview features in advance," adds Meserve.

This isn't the only tech-forward project for the builder. Starting in spring 2017, Brookfield Residential will demonstrate Apple HomeKit in selected model homes in San Bernardino and Orange counties.

Construction is currently underway at Rancho Tesoro, with a model grand opening planned for late spring. The community by Brookfield Residential and builder partner California West Communities will showcase four neighborhoods: Terracina, Vientos, Westerly and Candela, three of which will be set behind vehicular gates. The 346 detached homes ranging in size from approximately 2,211 to 3,565 square feet will include private yards, four to five bedrooms, and two- to three-car garages.

Read More Here