Career Development » OSHA and Safety

OSHA Cites Illinois Company for Fatal Chemical-Burns Accident

seo.team — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:26:28 +0000

There’s another worksite fatality involving chemicals. This time though, a county medical examiner referred the case to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

In spite of OSHA training—for instance, OSHA 10 training and OSHA 30 training—now being required by contractors, many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite hazards because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of basic safety protocols.

OSHA cited Raani Corp. for 14 safety violations, including its willful failure to seek emergency medical treatment for its worker who suffered chemical burns at its Bedford Park, Illinois, manufacturing plant in November last year. The worker succumbed to his injuries nearly a month later.

After its investigation, OSHA determined that the company not only neglected to call 911 for emergency medical treatment of its worker, but also failed to wash the injured worker. The worker was only conveyed to a health clinic (in a coworker’s vehicle) more than half an hour after the accident.

“Raani Corp. has a legal and moral responsibility to seek immediate medical attention for anyone injured in the workplace,” reminded Greg Baxter, acting regional administrator for OSHA in Chicago. “Failing to provide protective equipment and hazard communication training shows zero commitment to worker safety and health.”

Among the other willful violations were: failure to take advantage of available emergency care; failure to supply eye, face, and hand protection when working with high-temperature liquid and hazardous chemicals; and failure to provide hazard-communication training to workers exposed to hazardous chemicals. In addition, OSHA discovered that many workers wore only medical-grade latex gloves, which are not sufficient when handling high-temperature liquids or hazardous chemicals.

OSHA Cites Wisconsin Company for Fatal Chemical-Exposure Accident

seo.team — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:26:25 +0000

You’d think that death by chemical poisoning happened only in the direst of circumstances—a major mishap in a chemical factory, for example, or a ruptured gas line in a residential neighborhood. But in Theresa, Wisconsin in November last year, an easily preventable chemical-exposure accident caused the death of one worker.

Despite OSHA training, such as OSHA 10 training and OSHA 30 training, being a pre-employment requirement in many workplaces today, many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite dangers because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of legislated safety protocols. This apparently was the case of Vivid Image Inc., a company specializing in coating production and micro screens.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Vivid Image with 12 safety violations–two of which were willful–after an employee died and another was hospitalized when they were accidentally exposed to the chemical toluene at the company’s Theresa, manufacturing plant.

OSHA reported that two willful violations were committed when workers without respiratory protection were allowed to work with the chemical toluene in an unventilated area, and for exposure to toluene beyond the peak level of 500 parts per million.

Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid widely used in industries. It is a solvent often used in glues, thinners, and paints.

“Vivid Image has a responsibility to monitor workers’ exposure to known chemicals in its facility, ensure usage of protective equipment and train workers in workplace hazards,” reminded Kim Stille, OSHA’s area director in Madison, Wisconsin.

OSHA has proposed penalties totaling $64,600.

OSHA Cites Cabinetry Company for Serious Violations

seo.team — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:18:13 +0000

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties totaling $45,000 for Zamco Inc., a cabinetry company in St. Hedwig, Texas, for 14 safety and health violations involving electrical, respiratory, and other work hazards. OSHA’s San Antonio Area office sent in an inspection team this February as part of the agency’s Site-Specific Targeting Program for enterprises deemed prone to have high injury and illness rates.

Despite OSHA 10 training and OSHA 30 training being pre-employment requirements in many workplaces today, many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite dangers because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of legislated safety protocols.

“This is not the first time that this employer has jeopardized the safety of its workers by exposing them to preventable hazards,” lamented Jeff Funke, OSHA’s area director in San Antonio. “It is the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace.”

OSHA reported that Zamco committed a number of serious violations, including: failure to properly protect electrical wiring in the spray booth area; failure to provide machine guarding around equipment, for instance, an automated clamp carrier; failure to carry out an effective respiratory protection program; failure to give lockout/tagout procedures for power sources and to train workers on those procedures; and failure to make sure that work areas are free from saw-dust accumulation, which is combustible.

In addition, OSHA discovered a repeat violation: Zamco’s failure to ensure that the disconnect panel boxes are accessible. The company was cited for a similar violation in 2010.

OSHA Cites Cleveland Contractor for Parking Garage Collapse

seo.team — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:17:49 +0000

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has determined that Cleveland Cement Contractors Inc. had committed six serious safety violations, including noncompliance with design and construction standards, after the worksite-safety watchdog’s investigation of the partial collapse of a second-floor parking garage during concrete placement in December last year. The collapse, fortunately, only caused sprains and strains in several workers. OSHA has proposed fines totaling $38,000.

Cleveland Cement Contractors Inc. specializes in parking garages and other cast-in-place concrete structures.

Despite OSHA training such as OSHA 10 training and OSHA 30 training now being required by contractors, many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite hazards because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of basic safety protocols.

“Contractors are responsible for knowing and following recognized construction standards, and ensuring that all proper precautions are taken on job sites to prevent workers from being injured,” pointed out Howard Ebertsthe, the OSHA area director in Cleveland. “OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job.”

Among the violations that OSHA found were: failure to properly design, construct, and maintain concrete forming and shoring; failure to prevent eccentric loading of shoring stringers; failure to secure shoring stringers to shoring heads; failure to sufficiently inspect forming and shoring before and through concrete placement; failure to guard all protruding reinforcing steel; and failure to ensure that workers use face protection while operating a pneumatic hose.

Ohio Plant Cited for Lead Exposure

seo.team — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:17:59 +0000

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc. to have committed 11 health violations, including one willful and two repeat infractions, after the worksite-safety watchdog’s inspection of the company’s battery plant in Holland, Ohio. OSHA has proposed a total penalty of $188,600.

Despite OSHACampus 10 training and OSHACampus 30 training being pre-employment requirements in many workplaces, many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite dangers because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of legislated safety protocols.

“Johnson Controls Battery Group has a responsibility to protect the health of its employees by assuring they operate in a manner to eliminate or minimize lead hazards and other hazardous substances used in the work environment,” emphasized Denise Keller, assistant area director of the OSHA Toledo Area office. “Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to employee safety and health.”

Following a complaint, OSHA inspectors verified that workers were overexposed to lead, a toxic metal known to cause neurological damage and to elevate cancer risk if ingested in sufficient amounts, at the company’s Holland plant. OSHA determined that the absence of engineering controls and poor housekeeping practices lead to the overexposure.

The investigation found that workers instead of being required to vacuum lead particles were allowed to sweep them with brooms and brushes, a method that increased lead exposure. The infraction constituted a willful violation.

The other violations included lack of adequate personal protective equipment, improperly worn respirators, lead-contaminated work boots stored in locker rooms, and failure to ensure that workers washed their hands before meals to rid them of contaminants.

Chlorine Downs Restaurant Workers in South Charleston, W.Va.

seo.team — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:17:47 +0000

Chemical poisoning is the last thing one expects from a restaurant, but that was exactly what happened in a South Charleston, W.Va. restaurant, where nine employees had to be taken to the hospital after being exposed to chlorine gas.

Despite OSHA training qualifications such as OSHACampus 10 training and OSHACampus 30 training now being required for employment in many places, a lot of workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite hazards because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of basic safety protocols.

The federal government’s worksite-safety watchdog Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited IHOP Restaurants for five alleged serious safety and health violations with proposed penalties totaling $25,000.

The OSHA investigation revealed that the restaurant failed to carry out the so-called personal-protective-equipment hazard assessment, failed to develop and implement a hazard-communication program, and failed to provide mandated training, eye protection, eye-wash facilities, and material safety data sheets for chemicals used in the restaurant.

“Because chemicals have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals or certain physical conditions, it is vital that employers take the appropriate steps to protect workers from all related hazards,” stressed Prentice Cline, director of the OSHA Charleston Area office.

OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard to accord with the United Nations’ global chemical labeling system and to prevent dangerous incidents, such as the one in South Charleston. Once in place, it is expected that the new standard will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in some $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses annually.

Worker’s Death Places Company in Severe Violator Program

seo.team — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:56:06 +0000

Following an accident in November last year that resulted in a worker’s death, OSHA filed three citations against Adams Thermal Systems Inc., an engine-cooling-systems manufacturing facility in Canton, S.D., for willful safety violations that gravely compromised the safety of some of its workers.

Despite OSHA 10 hour training and 30 Hour OSHA training course (both online OSHA training), many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite dangers because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of legislated safety protocols.

“Despite having full awareness of the hazardous conditions and potential for employees to be injured by machinery used in the workplace, the employer failed to take suitable action to ensure employee safety,” lamented Tom Deutscher, the OSHA area director in Bismarck, N.D. “OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so.”

According to OSHA, the company failed to do the following: develop energy-control procedures, provide machine guarding, and effectively educate employees to recognize hazardous energy and to exercise adequate safety precautions.

The violations were considered willful, compelling OSHA to place Adams Thermal Systems in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which requires targeted follow-up inspections to ensure the violator is complying with the law. OSHA revealed that Adams Thermal Systems had been inspected four times previously by OSHA due to violations resulting in severe injuries, including an accidental amputation of fingers, of employees in separate incidents.

OSHA Penalizes New England Company Following Facility Fire

seo.team — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:14:30 +0000

OSHA has levied a total proposed penalty of $147,000 on New England Wood Pellet LLC for workplace violations that endangered the safety and lives of its workers, following a fire at its plant last year.

Although OSHA 10 hour training and OSHA 30 course (both online OSHA training) are now pre-employment requirements, many workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite hazards because of employer negligence, ignorance, or plain disregard of applicable safety protocols.

An investigation by OSHA discovered many fire and explosion hazards caused by missing protective devices in the transport system, the dust-collection duct, and the conveyor systems that could have prevented fires, embers, and sparks from propagating across the system. OSHA also noted the accumulation of combustible wood dust throughout the plant, as well as the use of unsafe equipment to vacuum combustible dust.

“While it is fortunate that no one was killed in this conflagration, there is no excuse for the employer’s failure to effectively minimize and address clearly recognized hazards that could kill or disable workers in a catastrophic incident,” stressed Rosemarie Ohar, the OSHA area director for New Hampshire.

OSHA consequently issued two repeat citations against Wood Pellet LLC with $140,000 in fines for its failure to maintain a workplace without fire and explosion hazards, and for using unapproved electrical equipment to vacuum combustible dust.

In addition, a serious citation carrying a $7,000 fine was also issued for the company’s allowing the accumulation of combustible dust on equipment and surfaces all over its facility.

OSHA Cites American Biltrite for Worker Fatality

seo.team — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:06:32 +0000

OSHA has cited Massachusetts-based American Biltrite Inc. for work-safety and health violations that have resulted in the death of one of its employees. The victim, according to a subsequent OSHA investigation, was crushed in a coating machine while trying to fix a jammed equipment. OSHA pointed to the company’s failure to use “lockout/tagout” procedures before letting the worker work within the machine’s danger area as the violation that led to the victim’s death. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $51,300.

The company actually committed several serious violations and one repeat violation. The serious violations included: failure to put in place a lockout/tagout program for the equipment power sources; failure to provide adequate working area around electrical equipment; and failure to ensure that equipment guards were in place to prevent workers from coming into contact with moving parts.

The repeat violation involved allowing Class I flammable liquids to be decanted into containers without electrical continuity between the container and the nozzle, which elevates the risk of ignition. American Biltrite was cited for the same violation in 2010.

“This company continues to compromise the safety of its workers by disregarding OSHA’s safety and health standards,” lamented Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of the OSHA Marlton Area office. “Employers are responsible for ensuring safe and healthful workplaces, and will be held legally accountable when they fail to do so.”

OSHA courses—for instance, OSHA 10 training and OSHA 30—are employment requisites in most U.S. cities today to keep workers informed of work-specific dangers and worksite hazards.

OSHA Cites Cincinnati Contractor for Worker Fatality

seo.team — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:05:50 +0000

OSHA has cited American Building LLC, a steel-erection contractor, for work-safety violations that resulted in the accidental fall and death of one of its workers at a construction site in Stamford, Cincinnati.

The fatal accident happened last Oct. 25, 2011 during the installation of metal roofing onto a prefab building. The victim fell 35 feet to the ground.

OSHA courses, such as OSHA 10 hour training and OSHA 30 course (both online OSHA training), are now required by many employers; they provide excellent orientation on the essential protocols to follow to steer workers out of harm’s way.

OSHA’s investigation revealed that workers not only were not properly trained to identify and avoid fall dangers but also did not have fall protection. The work-safety watchdog discovered that the victim’s safety harness—as were those of two other workers—was not tied to anchorage points, which would have broken the fall.

“Inadequate and ineffective fall protection can be as dangerous and deadly as no fall protection at all,” observed Robert Kowalski, OSHA area director in Bridgeport, Cinn. “This employer was well aware that these workers were exposed to falls but did not take steps to eliminate a significant hazard. A combination of proper fall protection and effective training could have prevented this needless loss of life.”

Following the investigation, American Building received one serious violation for the lack of training and one willful violation for the lack of fall protection, with total proposed penalties totaling $51,700.

Across most industries today employers require OSHA courses, such as OSHA 10 training and OSHA 30, as employment requisites to teach workers to identify and avoid worksite hazards such as falls.