WASHINGTON-After nearly nine years, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a final rule that says employers will have to pay the full cost for almost all personal safety equipment used by their workers.

OSHA made the announcement last week that it had adopted the final form of its original 1999 standard. This requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment-clothing and gear-for workers, which advocates say will prevent thousands workplace injuries.

SACRAMENTO, CA -- California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced this week the selection of Adam M. Cole for general counsel at the Department of Insurance after a nationwide search.

Cole comes to the Department from the San Francisco-based office of the law firm Heller Ehrman, LLP where he directed complex litigation matters with a focus on insurance recoveries for California policyholders. He also participated in the management of the 600-attorney law firm, which was also involved in representing a party in insurance litigation stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Previously, Cole served at the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. where he represented clients in litigation against insurance companies.

SAN FRANCISCO-California's State Compensation Insurance Fund will not be changing its average collectible rate in 2008.

As a result, the nonprofit workers compensation fund's rate-which will apply to both new and renewed accounts-will remain 55% below rates that were in effect before the state enacted workers comp reforms in 2003 and 2004, according to the fund.

Assembly Health Committee heard and passed AB 1x (Nunez) this past Wednesday. This bill is the revised Democratic health care proposal, as reported in last week's edition.

In its revised form, the proposal would require businesses to spend 2 to 6.5 percent of their payroll on health care or contribute to a state fund. However, this bill does not contain a financing mechanism. Instead, it requires voters to pass a $2 increase in the cigarette tax.