LOHP Marks 50 Years of Advancing Workplace Safety and Health
The Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley School of Public Health was key in securing worker protections.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Feb 26, 2025
The Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at UC Berkeley School of Public Health celebrated its 50th anniversary by underscoring its continued commitment to advancing and protecting the health of sometimes marginalized workforces in a public statement released this week.
As an example, domestic workers in California were excluded from workplace health and safety protections for decades. That changed in 2021 when a new law called for the creation of policy recommendations and voluntary guidelines to protect nannies, house cleaners, caregivers, and day laborers. The Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at UC Berkeley School of Public Health led the effort, bringing together employers, domestic workers, advocates, and experts to develop the nation's first safety guidelines for this workforce.
In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill extending health and safety protections to over 175,000 domestic workers hired through agencies. LOHP played a critical role in shaping these policies, empowering workers and helping them understand their rights. “MSDs are entirely preventable, and prevention starts with understanding where and how these injuries occur,” said Kimberly Alvarenga, director of the California Domestic Workers Coalition. “Their knowledge about the industry and deep understanding of low-wage immigrant workers and the everyday issues they face is invaluable.”
As LOHP marked its 50th anniversary, a statement from the program said it remains committed to promoting safe, healthy, and just workplaces. The program partners with unions, community organizations, policymakers, and employers to address workplace hazards, including ergonomic risks, infectious diseases, and climate-related threats. It also provides multilingual resources and training to ensure workers can protect themselves from unsafe conditions.
LOHP added that its work extends beyond domestic labor. With support from the California Department of Public Health, it has trained workers in warehouses, industrial laundries, and transportation industries on California’s new Indoor Heat Standard. It has also developed labor rights curricula for high schools, conducted studies on retail food workers, and investigated health risks in pork processing plants.
Despite progress, workplace safety compliance varies widely. Some companies prioritize health and safety, while others fail to follow regulations. “There are employers who do have good health and safety programs and have the resources to do it,” said LOHP Director Suzanne Teran. “And then on the other extreme, we have many who are flagrant violators and not in compliance with the law.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, public awareness has grown around how workplace exposures impact entire communities. As LOHP continues to train workers, employers, and future occupational health leaders at UC Berkeley, its mission remains unchanged: protecting workers and ensuring safer workplaces for all.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.