DIR News Release - Senate Unanimously Confirms Juliann Sum as Chief of Cal/OSHA, Art Carter as Chair of OSH Appeals Board

News Release No.: 2015-56 Date: June 23, 2015

Senate Unanimously Confirms Juliann Sum as Chief of Cal/OSHA, Art Carter as Chair of OSH Appeals Board

Sacramento—The California Senate voted unanimously Monday to confirm Juliann Sum as Chief of the Department of Industrial Relation's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (also known as Cal/OSHA). The Senate also voted unanimously Monday to confirm Art R. Carter as chairperson of the Occupational Safety & Health Appeals Board (OSHAB).
As Cal/OSHA Chief, Sum oversees programs that protect over 18 million workers from health hazards in almost every workplace in California.

Sum began serving as Acting Chief of Cal/OSHA in September 2013, and just over a year later, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed her as Chief. Sum joined DIR in 2012 as special advisor to Director Christine Baker.

"Juliann's track record at the DIR and with Cal/OSHA demonstrates her strong commitment to workplace safety," Baker said. Sum's extensive experience also includes work as a project director with the University of California, Berkeley, associate attorney with the Environmental Law Foundation, litigation associate with Carroll, Burdick & McDonough, and 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.

"I have spent most of my working life helping workers and employers understand their legal rights and the services available to them, and I am pleased to be able to continue this work as Chief of Cal/OSHA," said Sum.

Art Carter was first appointed to OSHAB by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009. OSHAB resolves appeals from private and public-sector employers regarding citations issued by Cal/OSHA for alleged violations of workplace safety laws. Governor Brown appointed Carter board chair in 2011. Previously, Carter owned and served as the legislative advocate for Art Carter and Associates from 1984 to 2004. From 1976 to 1983, he served as chief of Cal/OSHA.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers who want to learn more about California workplace health and safety standards or labor law violations can access information on DIR's website as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

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The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.