Safe Workplace and Safety News

Safety News Briefs - A Culture Of Myths

2013-05-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

A regular news feature summarizing workplace safety related news.

We scan newspapers, magazines and the internet for safety news that isn't being reported elsewhere. The following are links to safety-related news and articles that came out during the past week. If you have any safety news tips, send them to: duralabelpro@gmail.com.

Photo by Tagido
Is Your Employee Safety Incentive Program As Obsolete As The 8-track?

If you have an incentive program based on zero accidents or zero recordables, your safety and health incentive programs are no different than the eight-track tape.

All incentive programs start with good intentions. They are implemented to improve an organization’s safety and health programs and build a teamwork mentality. But, these programs can drift sideways very quickly, particularly when bonuses and/or promotions are involved.

Read the article in Knowledge At Work.

House and Senate Looking To Expand The OSHA General Duty Clause

Bills in the House and Senate will expand the OSHA general duty clause to include employees who work for contractors and independent contractors at multi-employer worksites. The OSH Act currently only applies the general duty clause to a company's own employees. Both bills modify the general duty clause to allow for per-employee, or instance-by-instance, citations under the OSHA egregious penalty policy.

Read the story in Western Farm Press.

Photo by Brocken Inaglory
$2.5 Billion In Penalties

Both the state of California and the city of San Bruno are proposing to the California Public Utilities that PG&E stockholders be required to pay by $2,500,000,000 in penalties following a 2010 gas line explosion.

Read the story in the Washington Times

A Culture Of Safety Myths

Myth 1: Safety is our #1 priority
Myth 2: All safety rules are in place for your protection
Myth 3: We can eliminate all injuries n\by mistake-proofing our workplace
Myth 4: All hazards are created equal
Myth 5: Safety can be achieved through a program that encourages people to work more safely
Myth 6: We will fire you for acting unsafely
Myth 7: Comparing ourselves to industry average is useful for gauging our safety performance
Myth 8: Our goal is zero injuries
Myth 9: Some companies don't have a safety culture

Read the article in Fabricating and Metalworking magazine.

OSHA Shifts Funds From Compliance Assistance To Protect Enforcement From Sequester,

OSHA has shifted funds around in their budget to spare the OSHA enforcement program from sequester cuts. OSHA cut $10.9 million from the program that provides employers free consultation services on how workplaces can comply with OSHA rules. That cut, and reductions earlier in the budget process, lowered the compliance budget to $61.4 million, down from the enacted budget of $76.4 million.

Read the story in BNA Bloomberg

Zero Incident Goals Motivate Risk-Taking, Not Excellence

What do you want in safety? What are you trying to accomplish and why? Is the motivation to achieve the goal based on organizational or individual value? What does success and excellence look like, not just indicators and activities, but behaviorally, when you get there?

Definitions and terminology drive beliefs which affect decisions and behaviors at work and away. Is your goal to have zero incidents or successful beliefs and behaviors?

Read the article in ProAct Safety.

MIT Study Concludes Government And Industry Must Work Together To Improve Working Conditions

An article in MIT News reports that the private-compliance approach to improving working conditions has not worked. Richard Locke, the head of MIT's Department of Political Science and deputy dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management, said, "It’s better than nothing, but it wasn’t leading to a significant and sustained improvement in working conditions or enforcement of labor rights in any of the supply chains that we studied."

“ "The private sector can only do so much, and certain issues are issues of citizenship rights, such as the freedom of association, and the freedom to bargain collectively,” Locke says. “You can’t enforce those rights one factory at a time or one supply chain at a time, or even one brand at a time. Those are territorially enforced rights, and only the sovereign states can do that."

Read the complete article here.

Last Week's Significant OSHA Citations

2013-05-13T02:52:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of recent OSHA and state OSHA significant citations. These are citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 and that were announced during the past week.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

AmeriGas Propane (Conroe, Texas) Cited For Safety Hazards ($105,000)

OSHA has cited AmeriGas Propane L.P. with 21 serious violations following a November 2012 fire that required three workers to be hospitalized and four workers to be treated and released. The Conroe plant inspection was expanded to include the national emphasis program on Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities. Proposed penalties total $105,000.

The serious violations cited under the process safety management standard included:

failing to compile process safety information for safety systems, such as emergency shutdowns
failing to ensure equipment complies with recognized and good engineering practices, such as relief systems
failing to address various elements of a process safety hazards analysis, including the use of a methodology appropriate to the complexity of the process, human factors, facility siting and addressing action items or recommendations in a timely manner
failing to inspect and test equipment, including vessels and piping and identify safeguards
failing to perform the lockout/tagout of equipment and processes and provide training for employees in the use of lockout/tagout.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
OSHA's standards contain specific requirements for the management of hazards associated with processes using dangerous chemicals. Additional information is available online at:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/processsafetymanagement/index.html.
The citations can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmeriGasPropaneInc_735302_0426_13.pdf http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmeriGasPropaneInc_723281_0426_13.pdf

AmeriGas is a supplier of propane throughout the United States and employs more than 8,000 people. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA Houston North area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Can Someone With A Medical Marijuana Card Be Fired For Testing Positive?

2013-05-09T04:50:00.002-07:00

Photo by Hendrike

Medical Marijuana and the Workplace

With several additional states having passed medical marijuana laws that allow marijuana use for medical reasons, a major question is: Can you fire someone who tests positive for marijuana, and who has a medical marijuana card?

Massachusetts is now implementing their medical marijuana law and the Boston Globe takes a look at this question.

Read the Boston Globe Article here.

The advice is varied. Some say they are dropping testing for marijuana altogether. Others say they must still conform to federal law which makes marijuana use illegal. An NBC news story reports:

According to a 2006 report from the Society for Human Resource Management:

84 percent of employers do pre-employment drug screening.
73 percent do reasonable-suspicion testing.
58 percent do post-accident screening.
39 percent do random testing.

The NBC story is about a Wal-Mart employee, with a medical marijuana card, who was fired for testing positive for marijuana use. Read the NBC story here.

While there are many stories about people who claim to be helped by the medical use of marijuana, the other side of the story is that it is reported that tens of thousands of people who do not have a medical need for marijuana are able to get medical marijuana cards. Plus, being under the influence of marijuana at work can be a safety concern.

Is there a real medical benefit for marijuana? The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports there is a benefit, but it may be outweighed by the negative effects. Read the NIDA report here.

However, without regard to benefits, side-effects, and misuse of medical marijuana cards, employers still need to deal with the reality that medical marijuana use has been approved in some states - but federally marijuana is still an illegal drug. Is this a problem? Can you fire someone who tests positive for marijuana use? That depends on the state you are in. For an excellent overview of the legal situation I recommend the following article in Corporate Counsel:

When Employment Law Meets Legalized Marijuana

Safety News Briefs - Tell OSHA To Get A Warrant

2013-05-06T03:24:00.000-07:00

Tell OSHA TO Get A Warrant

Two weeks ago we reported on a new letter of interpretation from OSHA that allows an OSHA inspector to bring in a union representative to represent employees in a non-union workplace during an inspection. An article by Frank Kollman in the National Clothesline provides legal advice on how to respond to an OSHA inspector showing up under these new conditions.

Be sure you have a plan in place covering what will be done should an OSHA inspector show up, and know your rights. Also, be sure your employees are trained in what they should do. Mr. Kollman's article includes advice on what should be included in your plan.

Read the article here.

Oregon Department of
Transportation Photo
Voice To Text Apps Do Not Make Driving Safer

A study conducted at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute reports that driving while using a voice to text app for sending text messages is no safer than manual texting. Both are dangerous to do while driving. The TTI analysis is the first to compare voice-to-text and manual texting on a handheld device in an actual driving environment.

The major findings from the study included:

Driver response times were significantly delayed no matter which texting method was used. In each case, drivers took about twice as long to react as they did when they weren’t texting.
The amount of time that drivers spent looking at the roadway ahead was significantly less when they were texting, no matter which texting method was used.
Drivers felt less safe when they were manually texting, but had a false sense of safety when using a voice-to-text application.

Read about the study on the TTI web site.

OSHA Launches Initiative to Protect Temporary Workers

OSHA has sent out a memorandum directing field inspectors to assess whether employers who use temporary workers are complying with OSHA standards. In addition, they will assess whether temporary workers received required training in a language and vocabulary they could understand.

The OSHA memo can be viewed here.

In recent months, OSHA has received a series of reports about temporary workers suffering fatal injuries – many during their first days on a job. OSHA has issued citations when the employer failed to provide adequate protections, including safety training. Fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 542 of the 4,693 fatal work injuries reported last year. Hispanic/Latino contractors accounted for 28% of fatal work injuries among contractors, well above their 16% share of the overall fatal work injury total for the year.

Educational Videos On preventing Fatal Falls In Construction

Two short, dramatic worker safety videos presenting the hazard of fatal falls on the job are now available online.

Produced by the California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program, with support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the videos illustrate true stories about the death of a worker who fell through a skylight and a solar installer who fell off a roof. The videos explain the events that led up to these deaths and what could have been done to prevent them.

The five-minute videos can be used in worker trainings to prevent similar deaths.

Watch the skylight video and the solar installer video.

BLS Releases Revised Workplace Fatality Numbers

In 2011, 4,693 workers died on the job, according to revised numbers just issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Last September the BLS reported a preliminary count of 4,609 workplace deaths in 2011. The revised figure is virtually the same as the 2010 final figure of 4,690. The rate of worker deaths per 100,000 full-time workers remained the same from the preliminary report to final report – 3.5. This represents a slight decrease from the 2010 final rate of 3.6.

Changes between the September and April reports are caused by updates to the 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries file that were made after the preliminary results were released, and include identification of new cases and revisions of existing cases

Ruling From Sixth Circuit Court Expands OSHA Citations To Cover "Access Alone."

A recent court ruling states that OSHA may cite employers for hazards that workers have access to, even though no workers were ever actually in the area where the hazard exists. This ruling means that employers must barricade and post warnings about hazardous areas, even though they believe no one would go near those areas.

Keep in mind that people doing things we don't expect them to do is a major cause of workplace injuries and fatalities.

Read about it in JDSupra.

This Week's Significant OSHA Citations

2013-05-06T03:22:00.000-07:00

Collis Roofing Cited For Fall Hazards ($213,300)

OSHA has cited Longwood-based Collis Roofing Inc. with three willful and one serious safety violation for exposing workers to fall and other hazards while they were performing roofing work at three residential sites in Jacksonville, Oviedo and Palm Harbor. Two inspections were initiated in November 2012 and a third in December 2012 after OSHA inspectors observed employees without fall protection.

These inspections were all part of the agency's local emphasis program on fall hazards in construction. The proposed penalties total $213,300.

Three willful violations, with $210,000 in penalties, involved the employer allowing employees to work on elevated surfaces without fall protection. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

One serious violation, with a $3,300 penalty, was also cited for failing to inspect a fall harness that had previously been involved in an impact event. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CollisRoofingInc_769902_0501_13.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CollisRoofingInc_739143_0501_13.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CollisRoofingInc_721522_0501_13.pdf

OSHA has created a fall prevention Web page at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page offers fact sheets, posters and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures.

Collis Roofing Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

World Safety News - Women In Underground Mining

2013-04-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

The following are summaries of safety news stories, with links to the stories, from locations outside the U.S. If you have news, or know of an important news story, please send it to duralabelpro@gmail.com.

Australian Miner Fined Nearly $11,000 For Smoking On The Job

Coal mines may contain combustible gases and coal dust. This means smoking is prohibited. An article in Australian Mining magazine reports that Travis Brown (24) "who was a contractor Peabody Energy at the time was sacked after co-workers smelt smoke and he was found with cigarettes and a lighter."

Read the story in Australian Mining.

MSHA Photo

Women In Underground Mining - South Africa Looks At Unique Safety Concerns

An article in BizCommunity looks at safety and women in underground mining. Ten percent of underground miners in South Africa are women, and that has raised some safety concerns. The opening paragraph of the article states:

"In a move that promised greater gender equality, women were allowed in the 1990s to enter the traditionally all-male world of underground work in South African mines. But it is time the industry and authorities reflect and take stock of the consequences of this decision thereby informing the way forward. According to Dr Moreshnee Govender, programme manager in Occupational Health and Safety at Wits University's Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI), women face some particular dangers when working underground, many of which are not openly discussed with a view to a sustainable solution."

Read the article here.

This Week's Significant OSHA Citations

2013-04-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of recent OSHA and state OSHA significant citations. These are citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 and that were announced during the week ending April 27th.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

Candy Manufacturer Cited Following Ammonia Release ($133,000)

OSHA has cited New England Confectionery Company Inc., also known as Necco, for 19 alleged serious violations of workplace health and safety standards at its Revere production plant. The manufacturer of Necco Wafers, Clark Bars and other candies faces proposed penalties of $133,000 in connection with the release of 8,000 pounds of ammonia from the plant's refrigeration system on October 5, 2012.

Inspections identified several shortfalls in the plant's process safety management program under which the plant must proactively analyze, address and minimize potentially catastrophic hazards associated with the use of large amounts of ammonia in its refrigeration system. Specifically, Necco:

failed to develop safe operating procedures for the refrigeration system.
did not adequately inspect and have adequate preventive maintenance procedures for machinery, piping and storage vessels used in the refrigeration system.
did not update procedures and inform workers of changes to the refrigeration process, its equipment and management.

In addition, OSHA found that:

the plant did not have or implement an emergency response plan for employees who responded to the ammonia release.
workers were not trained to use fire extinguishers.
unsuitable motor was used in a hazardous area where combustible dust was present.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

New England Confectionery Company Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The citations can be viewed at:

http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/new_england_confectionary_co._686158_0402_13.pdf.
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/new_england_confectionary_co_765142_0402_13.pdf.

Detailed information of process safety management hazards and safeguards is available at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/processsafetymanagement/index.html.

Safety New Briefs - Batman In Afghanistan

2013-04-24T06:09:00.000-07:00

Bagram Batman - Batman In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a dangerous place. What would you do to train soldiers and civilians about safety in a memorable way? The military has produced a series of videos featuring Bagram Batman.

Yahoo News reports that, "In the 30-second spots, Bagram Batman confronts soldiers on various safety violations around the base, like going running with headphones or smoking near flammable liquids."

The videos are not Hollywood quality, but they make their point. See the Yahoo News story here and watch the videos.

How High Does A Roof Parapet Need To Be?

OSHA says that a roof parapet must be at least 42 inches high.; Most parapets do not meet this standard. An article on the Simplified Safety Blog explores options for bringing a parapet into compliance with the OSHA height requirement.

Read the article here.

Natural gas pipeline failure. PHMSA photo.
PHMSA Increases Penalties

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced they have increased the maximum civil penalties by 50% for knowingly violating a hazardous material transportation law or a regulation. PHMSA regulations cover pipelines and other modes of transportation.

Read the article in Chemical Facility Security News.

Adjustments to civil penalties were authorized in the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2012.

When Wet Ceiling Tiles Fall, Could There Be Asbestos Exposure?

A water leak last August 20th caused material to fall from a third-floor ceiling containing asbestos at Sacramento County's old administrative building downtown. Because the material was wet it was cleaned up by janitorial staff without using PPE. Cal-OSHA investigated and closed the complaint without any findings against the county.

However, Jeff Rommel, a county senior safety specialist for six years, calls the county's response a "cover-up." Rommel has filed a new complaint with Cal-OSHA including letters from three county officials questioning how the accident cleanup was conducted.

Read the story in the Sacramento Bee.

Safety Often Ignored in Post-Hurricane Sandy Cleanup

The New York Daily News is reporting that records show that workers without protection fell from roofs, were shocked by exposed wires and injured by chemicals.

The Daily News article states: "Although OSHA found thousands of cleanup workers doing jobs in unsafe conditions, almost no one was punished: OSHA issued violations in only 32 cases, imposing minimal fines between $1,000 and $11,600 that totaled just $141,934. In nearly every case, OSHA simply warned contractors to fix the problem and took no further action."

Read the article here.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/21/5358866/public-eye-possible-asbestos-exposure.html#storylink=cpy

Safety News Briefs - A Focus On Safety Training

2013-04-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

Delta Air Line's In-flight Safety Video, and Improving Safety Training

Including humor in safety training can increase its effectiveness. We are an entertainment saturated world. Presenting training in a dry, straight-forward way sometimes does not capture the attention of those needing the training. Delta has been slowly integrating more entertainment into their flight safety videos. Those are the videos shown, at the beginning of each flight, that tell us about how to use a seatbelt and where the emergency exits are located. By including some humor Delta has increased the likelihood of the video being watched.

Read the story in Forbes magazine.

There is another side to this. Life, and the workplace, isn't all about being entertained. An interesting book to read is Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves To Death."

Get OTJ Safety Training - By Playing A Video Game

Video games can place people in real-life situations in which they must make decisions in real time. In Arizona scientists are developing interactive computer games to better train miners to avoid fatal accidents and potential emergencies while on the job.

"Our goal is to eliminate accidents and fatalities in mining," says John R. M. Ros Hill, director of the San Xavier Mining Laborator and a professor of practice in the department of mining and geological engineering.

"We’re approaching it from a training standpoint of how can we best develop a tool that miners could use that would teach them to make appropriate decisions or see where wrong decisions have been made."

Read the story in Futurity

GAO - State OSHA Programs Are Failing To Meet Standards

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report last week finding that some states have failed to meet minimum workplace-safety inspection goals, in part because of state budget cuts and reduced staffing. The article states:

"The GAO surveyed 22 state-run programs that cover private- and public-sector workplaces and found that the agencies had troubling staffing and retaining inspectors, in part because of low salaries. It recommended that the federal OSHA be given authority to step in and take over some inspections when a state plan isn't meeting minimum requirements."

Read the story in the Wall Street Journal

Read the GAO Report

Photo by: Frank-Schulenburg
Results Of Chevron's Richmond Refinery Fire Investigation

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has called on California to strengthen oversight of refineries after an investigation into the cause of a fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond California refinery. The fire resulted from the failure of a corroded pipe. A vapor cloud was released that engulfed 19 employees and the resulting fire sent a black plume of smoke over nearby neighborhoods. 15,000 residents went hospitals seeking treatment for breathing problems and eye irritation, twenty of those were admitted for treatment.

Read the story in the Chicago Tribune

The Luckiest Man Alive?

New Zealand newspapers are touting Adam Grant as possibly the luckiest man alive. He is just 22 years old and has just had his second "brush with death" in a workplace accident. The Press in New Zealand reports:

"Doctors believe the 22-year-old Christchurch man is charmed after surviving his second near-fatal workplace accident. In his latest brush with death, Grant, 22, was pinned between a beam and a ram bracket on a rotating dairy platform and managed to wrench himself free with seconds to spare before his head would have been 'crushed to pieces'."

Does two near fatal workplace accidents indicate a charmed life, or someone who is taking chances?

Read the story here.

OSHA Significant Citations This Week

2013-04-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of OSHA and state OSHA significant citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 that were announced during the week ending April 20th.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

OSHA fines Ball Aerosol for unguarded machinery ($589,000)
OSHA fines North Bergen, NJ laundry for Safety Hazards ($219,000)
KG Framing and Construction cited for lack of fall protection ($121,480)

OSHA has cited Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container with 11 safety violations, including seven willful and three repeat, for exposing workers to machine guarding hazards at its Hubbard metal container manufacturing facility. The total of the proposed fines is $589,000.

OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility on Oct. 17, 2012, after receiving a complaint that alleged Ball Aerosol continued to expose machine operators to unguarded hazardous machinery, even though the employer had been cited by OSHA for lack of machine guarding on the same equipment in 2009. OSHA's inspection found that the company knowingly permitted workers to operate the machines without proper guarding. The inspection revealed that the guarding was not installed or was removed because it slowed material positioning and production output.

WFMJ is reporting that "In a statement, Renee Robinson, manager of corporate communications for Ball Aerosol, said the company says it disagrees with the characterizations made in the OSHA release"
"We intend to resolve our disagreements throught the regulatory process and accordingly cannot comment further, except to note we take this issue very seriously and have begun a review of OSHA's citation and the safety processes we have in place. We will take whatever measures that are appropriate at the end of this review to ensure that we are continuing to maintain a safe environment for our employees," Robinson said in the statement.

OSHA reports that six willful, egregious citations were issued for inadequate machine guarding over the blades of slitter machines. The citations are being issued as willful because the company certified abatement for machine guarding on much of this equipment in 2009 and had a history of machine guarding violations in the past. OSHA also found that the company knowingly continued to violate agency requirements each time the machinery was placed in operation.

A seventh willful citation was issued for lack of machine guarding over nip points and rotating parts on feed tables that was also cited in 2009. Lack of machine guarding exposes operators to amputation hazards of the hands and fingers, which may enter the danger zone during machine operation.

Three repeat safety violations were cited for:

failing to provide fire extinguisher training to employees
failure to provide machine guarding to protect operators from rotating parts, nip and pinch points in machine areas
not guarding the blades at two mechanical guillotine shears

These violations were previously cited during the 2009 inspection.

One serious citation was issued for exposing workers to falls of approximately 10 feet while working on a platform with open sides. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Because of the hazards and the violations cited, Ball Aerosol has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. OSHA's SVEP focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations.

The company, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado., produces small metal containers for use by a variety of food, beverage and chemical industries. The company employs about 12,000 workers, operates 31 production plants in the U.S. and has facilities in Asia, Europe, South America and Canada. The Hubbard facility employs 57 workers and specializes in the production of three-piece welded paint and general lines cans.

The current citations may be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Ball_Aerosol_690418_0410_13.PDF

Industrial laundry dryer.
Photo by Samuli Lintula with Turun
Tekstiilihuolto Oy

OSHA has cited Prestige Industries LLC, doing business as Prestige, with four repeat and five serious safety violations found at its commercial laundry facility in North Bergen.

OSHA's October 2012 investigation was initiated in response to a complaint and resulted in $219,000 in proposed penalties.

The repeat violations, carrying an $185,500 penalty, include the company's failure to:

protect workers from unguarded machinery
establish a lockout/tagout program and procedures for controlling energy sources
provide energy control training for workers who perform maintenance on machines

The same violations were cited in 2012 following a worker's death after being caught in an unguarded machine at its Bayshore, N.Y., facility. The serious violations, with a $33,500 penalty, were due to:

electrical hazards
an inadequate confined space program
failure to identify permit required confined spaces
no hazard communication program
lack of training and material safety data sheets

A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Prestige_IndustiresLLC_dba_Prestige_682958_0412_13.pdf

Prestige Industries LLC, based in Jersey City, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal onference with the OSHA area director in Parsippany, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Wood framed house. - Photo by Jaksmata

OSHA has cited roofing contractor KG Framing and Construction LLC with 12 safety violations, including one willful and three repeat, for failing to provide roofers with protection from falls at a commercial shopping site in Maryland Heights. Proposed fines total $121,480. The company has been cited six times for this same violation.

The inspection was initiated on Oct. 12, 2012, after an OSHA inspector observed roofers on a pitched roof, at a height greater than 14 feet, working without personal fall arrest systems. Other workers were wearing harnesses that were not properly attached to them or not attached to anchor points. A willful citation was issued due to the company's failure to ensure all workers were provided fall protection and, when provided, allowing improper use when worn.

Three repeat violations involve:

allowing workers to use pneumatic nail guns without any form of eye or face protection
a lack of fall protection training
failing to extend ladders at least 3 feet above the landing surface

Similar violations were cited in 2010 and 2011 at four construction sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area. More information on fall protection standards is available in English and Spanish at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls.

Eight serious violations included:

a lack of hard hats
not conducting regular inspections and providing guarding on power-transmission apparatus
allowing workers to use ladders with structural defects
carrying objects while on a ladder and risking losing balance
placing unsecured ladders in areas where they could be displaced

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The current citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/KG_Framing_and_Construction_710538_04112013.pdf

Because of the hazards and the violations cited, KG Framing and Construction has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.

This inspection was the sixth for KG Framing and Construction in the past six years. The company made no attempt to resolve the first findings in the three inspections, and penalties were sent to debt collection. The company contested two inspections from 2011 that were affirmed by a final order in December 2012.

Tips For Preventing Heat Stress

2013-04-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

Cintas Corporation has released their top eight tips for limiting heat stress in the workplace. When the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, heat stress can occur. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), five to 10 million workers are exposed to heat-related illnesses each year.

"Heat-related illnesses can jeopardize a worker's safety, business productivity and even lead to an OSHA recordable injury," said John Amann, Vice President, First Aid & Safety, Cintas. "However, providing workers simple tips for dealing with high temperatures can help reduce the occurrence of heat stress."

The top tips for beating heat stress are:

1. Understand heat stress: There are three main types of heat stress: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat cramps are painful spasms. Heat exhaustion is a state of weakness, fatigue and dizziness. Heat stroke, the most severe, is a condition resulting in highly elevated body temperature. All are intensified by high temperature and humidity, direct sun or heat, limited air movement, physical exertion, poor physical health and more.

2. Dress properly: Wearing a hat outdoors and lightweight, light-colored and loose clothing is important when temperatures are high. Look for personal protective equipment (PPE) that has moisture wicking properties and does not cling or feel heavy.

3. Drink fluids frequently: Feeling thirsty is a sign of dehydration so you should continually drink fluids to avoid this condition. One quart of cool water per hour and no more than three gallons per day is recommended for workers dealing with extreme heat. Beverages with electrolytes are another great option for replenishing the body with minerals. Avoid sodas, energy drinks and alcohol.

4. Remember to rest: It is especially important to take additional breaks when temperatures are high. Rest in a cool, shaded area and focus on drinking more liquids during your break.

5. Eat right: Limiting the intake of large, hot meals will keep you feeling your best in the heat. However, try not to skip meals, since the main way the body recovers electrolytes lost through perspiration is from food.

6. Assess your environment: Evaluating your work environment can help you recognize potential problems and correct them. Take note of the weather in which you work, the amount of physical labor you engage in, the length of your work day, the clothing you are wearing and any medical conditions that can be aggravated by heat.

7. Watch for signs of heat stress: Act as a buddy to coworkers by encouraging proper hot weather prevention techniques and watching for signs of heat stress. Heat cramps result in abnormal body posture and cause a person to grasp the affected area. Heat exhaustion causes extreme sweating, paleness in the face, unsteady walking and moist skin. Heat stroke is noted by mental confusion, convulsions, fainting and dry skin.

8. Know emergency response: When heat stress occurs, first determine its extent by asking the person their name, the date and where they are. If they are unsure, they are likely in heat stroke and you should call 911 immediately. Then, move the worker to a cooler area, loosen heavy clothing, provide drinking water and fan or mist them with water. If the individual is not disoriented, they are likely suffering from heat exhaustion and the same steps should be repeated.

"Although some of these guidelines seem simple enough, heat stress is still an ongoing problem for workers," Amann added. "By learning more about heat stress, its causes and prevention methods, workers can avoid heat-related emergencies as well as help others around them."

Cintas offers a complete suite of products to combat heat stress in addition to training courses in instructor-led, online and DVD formats. For more information on first-aid and safety solutions from Cintas, please visit www.cintas.com/firstaid safety.

About Cintas Corporation:

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for more than 1 million businesses.

Safety News Briefs

2013-04-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

A regular news feature summarizing workplace safety related news.

We scan newspapers, magazines and the internet for safety news that isn't being reported elsewhere. The following are links to safety related news and articles that came out during the week ending April 13th.

New OSHA Ruling Opens The Door For Unions To Represent Workers During Inspections At Non-Union Workplaces

Lexology reports that "On April 5, 2013, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) released an interpretation letter stating that during its inspections of nonunion workplaces, employees can be represented by anyone authorized by the site’s workers."

The article goes on to explain that "OSHA has gone beyond the literal language of the standard to assert that Section 1903.8(c) allows walkaround participation by an employee representative who is not an employee of the employer based on the judgment of the OSHA compliance officer. OSHA also takes the view that representatives are 'reasonably necessary' when they will make a positive contribution to a thorough and effective inspection." This allows unions to represent workers at a non-union workplace and use the walk around portion of an OSHA inspection as an organizing tool.

Obama's OSHA Budget Request Increases Whistleblower Enforcement, Reduces Funding For Compliance Assistance

Bloomberg BNA is reporting that the Obama administration's budget request includes a budget for OSHA that overall remains at the same level as current funding, but reduces staffing by 33 full-time employees.

The proposed budget includes a a reduction of $2.8 million in OSHA's compliance assistance program and an increase of $5.9 million for OSHA's whistleblower enforcement program.

Read the Bloomberg BNA article here.

The article quotes OSHA chief David Michaels assaying the budget request would result in 33 fewer full-time employees, due to “reduced federal compliance activity from the consolidation of compliance assistance personnel in geographically dense regions and a decreased need for the development of outreach and training materials due to [the] completion of several recent initiatives.”

OSHA Photo
Strengthening Management of Safety Barriers

Norwegian safety regulations stress that "Barriers shall be identified, and it shall be known in the organization what barriers have been established and what function these have."

This requirement may seem to be idealistic and hard to comply with. However, understanding barriers in all their variations is essential. After all, how can you manage something you don’t know about?

A series of articles on the Safety Cary blog talk about safety barriers, with this concluding article focusing on incident investigation as a means of getting needed information.

Read the article here.

Photo by: Brian Robert Marshall

Rail Spur Safety

Does your company have an on-site rail spur? Then you need to be aware of rail safety issues. For example, if rail car king brakes are not set, a strong wind can set them in motion and result in serious injuries.

This month's Ethanol Producer magazine has a short article covering the basics of rail car safety. It notes that rail cars can move silently and become a serious hazard if they are not properly secured.

Read the article here.

When it comes to safety, do you trust your city engineer?

A dispute over safety between a city engineer and contractors has resulted in the city engineer being pulled from the job of inspecting two major road construction projects. The city engineer has contacted OSHA and an OSHA inspection was recently conducted.

Take a look at the photos yourself to see if you notice safety violations in these trenches.

City of Niagra Falls vs The City Engineer Photos

LaGuardia Airport - Photo by Redlegsfan21

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have reached a $3,500,000 settlement agreement about aircraft rescue and firefighting violations at four New York area airports — John F. Kennedy, Teterboro, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International. The safety violations center on a lack of training.

The FAA became aware of the aircraft rescue and firefighting violations as a result of an annual airport certification safety inspection of JFK in December 2011. The FAA also discovered similar violations at Teterboro, which prompted a full review of training at LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, and Stewart International Airports. The review of ARFF training revealed violations at LaGuardia and Newark, with no violations at Stewart.

Read the story in the Washington Post

Electrical tape binds man's severe neck wound

When you are in a remote location you sometimes need to use whatever is at hand to treat an injury. I once used plastic grocery bags to bandage a serious leg wound and stop the bleeding. The emergency room staff said it was the most unusual bandage they had seen... but it worked.

In this story electrical tape is used to successfully bandage a severe neck injury. Read the story in NJ.com

Safety News From Around The World

2013-04-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

Saskatchewan (Canada) has 30 year high for workplace fatalities

60 people in Saskatchewan died last year as a result of workplace related accidents and illnesses.

That’s the highest number of fatalities in more than 30 years.; The greatest number of deaths were in the construction industry and ten of the deaths cam from automobile accidents.

Read more: METR

Take a look at the photo in the above article. Do you think the worker is safe, or will he hit the ground before the "safety line" can save him?

New Sign Standards In Europe require checking all existing fire signs

The new fire safety sign standards require that text only signs be replaced with fire safety signs that include standard pictograms. The change is the result of large numbers of non-native speaking workers, so text-based safety instructions are no longer sufficient.

Read the article in Shropshire Live.

OSHA Significant Citations - Disneyland Citations Total $234,850

2013-04-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of OSHA and state OSHA significant citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 that were announced during the week ending April 13th.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

CalOSHA Cites Disneyland For Seven violations ($234,850)

The Disney Blog reports that: The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CAL/OSHA) delivered seven safety violation citations to the Disneyland resort. This resulted in the voluntary closure of three attractions: Space Mountain, The Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Soarin’ Over California. Space Mountain has since reopened. The citations were no related to ride safety.

There were three willful, one serious, one general, and one repeat violation cited.

The repeat violation was for: On and prior to November 29, 2012, the employer failed to mount, locate and identify all portable fire extinguishers so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting them to possible injury

Other violations were for:

Failing to have either a swinging gate or equivalent protection on the platform with access provided by ladderway on the Space Mountain. Employees accessed the upper and lower exterior platforms of Space Mountain to perform routine and non-routine maintenance.

Failing to provide guardrails on all open sides of unenclosed elevated work locations more than 30 inches above the floor, ground, or other working areas of Space Mountain.

Failing to implement and maintain all the required elements of their Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

You can read the citations here.

No significant OSHA citations. OSHA announced eight companies cited last week. They include:

Natural Flavors Inc. was cited for 12 workplace safety and health violations at its Newark facility. OSHA began its inspection after receiving information that workers were potentially exposed to diacetyl, a chemical used in flavorings. Proposed penalties total $60,400.

OSHA proposed $40,000 in fines for CVS Phrmacy Inc. for alleged repeat violation of safety standards following an inspection of the retailer's Red Hook store. The inspection found the store lacked a site-specific emergency action plan for workers to follow if a fire or other emergency occurred at the store.

OSHA cited Universal Industries LLC in Tomahawk with eight safety violations, including a failure-to-abate, for not enrolling workers in a hearing conservation program. OSHA initiated its follow-up inspection in November 2012. Proposed fines total $61,600.

Ozark Materials LLC, a dry powder paint manufacturer, was cited for 10 safety and health violations, including one willful, after two workers were injured within a month of each other at its facility in Mount Meigs. OSHA's inspection was based on a complaint that one worker sustained a broken arm and the other incurred a laceration as a result of unguarded equipment. Proposed fines total $41,600.

Becksted Masonry LLC was cited for three repeat and five serious safety violations, including worker exposure to scaffold hazards, at the company's Voorhees work site. The October 2012 inspection was conducted as part of OSHA's local emphasis program on falls in construction, resulting in $50,130 in proposed fines.

Nuway Tobacco Co. has been cited for 22 alleged serious violations of workplace safety and health standards at its South Windsor, CT manufacturing facility. The tobacco sheet manufacturer faces $59,869 in proposed fines. Inspectors found workers exposed to fire and explosion hazards from both combustible tobacco dust generated by the manufacturing process and from the lack of equipment and procedures to prevent the spread of dust fires and explosions.

OSHA has cited Joy-Mark Inc. for six health violations, including two repeat, for exposing workers to airborne refractory ceramic fiber at the mold manufacturing facility in Cudahy. OSHA has proposed penalties of $50,050, as a result of the October 2012 follow-up inspection.

Roofing contractor Woodridge Enterprises Inc. in Lemont, IL for eight safety violations, including three repeat, for lack of protection from falls at a residential job site in Hinsdale. Initiated under OSHA's fall protection program, the inspection resulted in proposed fines totaling $47,960.

Safety News Briefs

2013-04-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

A regular news feature summarizing workplace safety related news.

We scan newspapers, magazines and the internet for safety news that isn't being reported elsewhere. The following are links to safety related news that came out during the week ending April 6th.

Understanding The Results Of Arc Flash Studies

Once your arc flash studies are completed you have a lot of numbers. What do these numbers mean?

This month's issue of Electrical Contractor magazine includes an article that concisely explains each of the numbers that results from an arc flash study, and describes how they are incorporated into your electrical safety program.

Read the article here.

OSHA Significant Violations

2013-04-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of OSHA and state OSHA significant citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 that were announced during the week ending April 6th.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

OSHA cites Wynnewood Refining Company ($281,100)
OSHA cites Tricon Precast in Houston ($109,800)
Mike Neri Sewer and Water Contractor cited for trench hazards ($110,440)
Salina, Kansas Ryan Roofing Cited after worker paralyzed in fall ($115,500)

OSHA has cited Wynnewood Refining Co. LLC with repeat, serious and other-than-serious violations following the death of two workers at the company's crude oil refinery in Wynnewood.

OSHA's Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation Sept. 29, 2012, at the South Powell Street facility following the explosion of a boiler, which killed the employees. The inspection was expanded to include associated contractors and ongoing maintenance activities during a turnaround operation. OSHA investigators found violations of the process safety management standard, which requires specific management of hazards associated with processes using dangerous chemicals.

The six repeat citations were cited for:

failing to ensure that boiler equipment complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices
not ensuring operating procedures addressed consequences of deviation from operating limits, including steps to avoid deviation from operating limits
not providing training at least every three years on the practice of igniting boiler burners
failing to establish and implement written procedures for testing and inspecting the shutdown and gas train interlocks for the boiler
not implementing a management of change procedure when modifying boiler operating procedures.

failing to ensure the process safety information includes equipment design codes and standards
failing to ensure the process hazard analysis addressed purging the boiler burner firebox
loss of burner pilot/flame and prolonged fuel gas flow
failing to develop and implement operating procedures that address initial start-up of the boiler burner.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The two other-than-serious violations include failing to ensure boiler lockout procedures included a statement of intended use and failure to ensure a second level storage area was designed, constructed and marked with its maximum intended load.

Wynnewood Refining has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program. The program mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.

Proposed penalties total $281,100.

The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/WynnewoodRefining_663538_3-27-13.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/WynnewoodRefining_778042_3-27-13.pdf

Wynnewood Refining Co., a subsidiary of Sugar Land, Texas-based CVR Energy Inc., employs about 265 workers in Wynnewood. The company has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Oklahoma City office, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA has cited Tricon Precast Ltd. with 21 alleged serious violations and three other-than-serious violations following an October 2012 complaint. The citations were for exposing workers to struck-by, electrical, fall hazards and numerous other unsafe working conditions at the company's Henry Road facility in Houston. The proposed penalties total $109,800.

The serious violations included:

failing to ensure electrical equipment is properly installed
failing to prevent exposure to electrical conductors on overhead cranes
not providing the required fall protection for employees working at heights of 4 feet or more
failing to properly maintain forklifts and cranes
not providing seat belts on forklifts
failing to ensure backup alarm was in working order
not ensuring that combustible materials were not stored in closed containers
failure to provide an eyewash/shower station in coating operation area
not providing medical evaluations and fit testing
failing to ensure hands were protected by wearing gloves
not providing the required guarding for machinery with rotating parts, pulleys and belts.

A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to the employees when the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.
The other-than-serious violations include:

failing to have a respirator protection program in place
failing to test carbon monoxide in a supply air respirator
not providing a hazardous communication program

An other-than-serious violation is one where the incident would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but would have a direct and immediate relationship on the safety and health of employees.

Tricon Precast, which employees about 220 workers who specialize in the manufacture of concrete barriers and retaining walls, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Houston North office, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/TriconPrecastLtd_673418_0328_13.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/TriconPrecastLtd_668199_0308_13.pdf

OSHA has cited Mike Neri Sewer & Water Contractor Inc. for seven safety violations, including three willful violations, for failing to protect workers from cave-ins, moving soil and chunks of asphalt during trenching operations. The inspection was initiated under OSHA's national emphasis program for trenching and excavation after an OSHA inspector witnessed apparent cave-in hazards while traveling past a construction site in Des Plaines in October 2012. The proposed penalties total $110,440.

The three willful violations involve failing:

to provide cave-in protection to workers installing protective metal sleeves around an existing water main in a trench approximately 7 feet deep
to provide cave-in protection on another date during an extension of another trench approximately 6 feet deep
to ensure that excavated materials that posed a hazard of falling or rolling into the trench were placed at least 2 feet back from the trench edge

A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
OSHA cited three repeat violations for failing to:

establish a safety and health program
provide training to workers on trenching and excavation hazards
ensure that each worker exposed to struck-by hazards was protected by a helmet

A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited at a job site in Montgomery in 2009.
Because of the hazards and the violations cited, Mike Neri Sewer and Water Contractor has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. OSHA's SVEP focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities or job sites.

OSHA standards mandate that all excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse. Detailed information on trenching and excavation hazards is available at:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html.

One serious violation was cited for failing to protect workers in a trench from water accumulation. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Prior to this inspection, Mike Neri Sewer and Water Contractor had been inspected by OSHA three times in the past five years and had been issued serious, repeat and willful citations related to various trenching hazards.

The current citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/MikeNeriSewerandWaterContractor_666698_0402_13.pdf.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA has cited Ryan Roofing Inc. in Salina with three willful safety violations after a worker suffered a broken neck and was paralyzed when he fell 20 feet from the roof of a commercial building the company was replacing in Hoisington on Oct. 3, 2012.

The three willful violations include:

failing to ensure the integrity of a roof structure employers were working on
failing to provide and use fall protection systems on a low-sloped roof
failure to provide training on fall protection to workers.

Due to the nature of the hazards and the violations cited, Ryan Roofing has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. OSHA's SVEP focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations at related work sites of the employer.

Proposed penalties for this investigation total $115,500. The current citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RyansRoofing_682238_0401_13.pdf.

OSHA has created a Stop Falls Web page at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page offers fact sheets, posters and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems, be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.

Ryan Roofing Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. This was OSHA's third inspection of the company, which has previously been cited for lack of fall protection and training.

Safey News Briefs - Will OSHA Regulate NFL Football?

2013-04-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

A regular news feature summarizing workplace safety related news.

We scan newspapers, magazines and the internet for safety news that isn't being reported elsewhere. The following are links to safety related news that came out during the week ending March 30th.

Will OSHA Regulate NFL Football Games?

New guidelines issued by the American Academy of Neurology state that athletes suspected of having a concussion are to be removed from play. The new guidelines were developed by reviewing all the available evidence from 1955 through 2012 and are endorsed by a broad range of experts and groups including the NFL Players Association. Under the General Duty Clause OSHA could now require that NFL players be removed from a game should there be any reason to suspect there might be a concussion.

Read the story on LexisNexis

OSHA Focus On Fines While Ignoring Long Term Heath Hazards

An article in the New York Times, Herald-Tribune, reveals that while OSHA has increased it's focus on fines, it has decreased actual efforts to identify long-term health problems in the workplace.

The story points out the nerve damage caused by breathing n-propyl bromide. It then notes that while OSHA has been complaining that it cannot levy large enough fines, they have be neglecting to actually protect worker's health. The article states: "Jeff Ruch, the director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a public health advocacy organization, said that, on average, OSHA now conducts health inspections and collects air samples less than half as often as under the Reagan administration."

''You can't hit someone with a fine," Ruch said, "if you aren't on site looking to find the violations."

Read the story here.

OSHA Changes The Criteria For Sending DART Letters

March is when OSHA sends out DART letters to those employers with Days Away, Restricted and Transferred (DART) greater than the national average. This year letters went to about 9,400 employers. a dramatic drop from the 13,000 to 15,000 letters typically sent in the past. The drop is a result of comparing DART rate within industries instead of across all industries.

Read the story in Knowledge At Work

Senator Patty Murry (D) Reintroduces the Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA)

According to Senator Murray, PAWA will result in:

More workers being covered by OSHA, including; federal, state and local public employees, and additional private sector employees.
Increased size of penalties and makes felony charges possible for repeated and willful violations of OSHA standards that result in a worker’s death or serious injury. It also sets a minimum penalty of $50,000 for a worker’s death caused by a willful violation.
Provides increased protections for whistleblowers who report unsafe workplace conditions.
Increases public information about safety violations by mandating the DOL to investigate all cases of death or serious incidents of injury, requiring employers to inform workers of their OSHA rights and more.
Clarifies an employer’s duty to provide a safe worksite by expanding the General Duty Clause.

Read the story in EHS Today.

Cadillac Ends Up On Neighbor's Roof

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of workplace fatalities, accounting for 38% of all workplace fatalities. However, they do not get as much attention as other workplace safety issues. Several unusual motor vehicle accidents were reported last week, serving as a reminder that we need to pay attention to vehicle safety, and be aware that accidents can happen in very unusual ways.

The Lansing State Journal reports that a Southern California man’s car ended up on his neighbor’s roof when the driver of the Cadillac lost control of his car. See a photo and read the story here.

In the U.K., when the driver of a lumber delivery truck mistakenly released the hand brake, his truck ended up perched in a tree hanging over a highway. The highway was closed while a crane removed the truck from the trees.

Read the story and see a photo in the Telegraph.

OSHA Significant Citations Last Week

2013-04-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of OSHA and state OSHA significant citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 that were announced during the week ending March 30th.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

OSHA fines Lakewood, NJ, manufacturer chemical and other hazards ($184,500)
Queens, NY, metal products manufacturer faces OSHA fines ($108,900)

OSHA has cited eSmoke LLC, an electronic cigarette manufacturer based in Lakewood, with 20 workplace safety and health violations.

OSHA's inspection was prompted by a complaint alleging serious safety and health hazards throughout the facility, resulting in $184,500 in proposed penalties.

OSHA cited two willful violations, with a total of $112,500 in penalties. The willful citations were for:

Not providing and enforcing the use of protective gloves when workers handle products containing nicotine.
Not providing eye protection when handling corrosive chemicals and concentrated nicotine.

Sixteen serious violations, with a total of $72,000 in penalties, included

failing to select and require appropriate hand protection for workers exposed to toxic chemicals
not prohibiting food consumption in toxic-exposed work areas
failure to mount a portable fire extinguisher and train workers on its usage
not having a written hazard communication program and training
not having proper labels for containers filled with liquid nicotine
not having material safety data sheets for the products manufactured
a lack of directional signs indicating the exit pathway
not marking for non-exit doors
not securely anchoring drill presses
power strips were supplying electric power to multiple devices
using flexible cords as a substitute for fixed wiring
exit passageways and electrical panels were blocked

Two other-than-serious violations, carrying no penalty, were also cited for not providing eye protection to workers exposed to liquid chemicals and an insufficient number of bathrooms. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ESmoke-655718.pdf and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ESmoke-653398.pdf.

eSmoke LLC has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Marlton, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA cited Juniper Elbow Co. Inc., doing business as Juniper Industries, for alleged repeat and serious violations of occupational health standards at its Middle Village manufacturing facility in Queens, N.Y.

The manufacturer of metal products faces a total of $108,900 in proposed fines following a September 2012 complaint inspection.

The repeat violations, with fines of $74,250, include:

Failing to train, fit-test and provide medical fitness evaluations for workers who wear respirators.
Failure to provide hazard communication training not certifying that a hazard assessment had been conducted to determine what personal protective equipment was needed to perform the work safely.

failing to conduct initial noise monitoring and administer a hearing conservation program for workers exposed to high noise levels
not providing employees with eye and hand protection when working with chemicals
failing to determine hexavalent chromium exposure levels
not providing protective clothing and information to workers exposed to hexavalent chromium
not training forklift operators
failing to provide fire-resistant shields during welding operations

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/juniperelbowcitations.pdf. Juniper has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a meeting with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Safety News From Around The World

2013-04-01T03:24:00.000-07:00

EU Machine Tool Builders Endorse Stronger Product-Safety Regulations

An article in American Machinist magazine reports that EU machine tool builders want a change in product liability regulations. The article states:

"A coalition of European machinery industry associations is petitioning the European Parliament to strengthen enforcement of the single-market trade regulations on consumer product safety."

"Their endorsement of the legislative proposal was qualified by petitions for the EU legislature to use new safety regulations and liabilities standards to monitor unfair trade practices that CECIMO and the other groups contend damages fair trade within the European market."

Read the article here.

Unsuitable use of industrial vacuum cleaner creates explosive reaction

The following report was in the Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) magazine:

An industrial vacuum cleaner containing hydrogen gas exploded and seriously burned a Staffordshire (U.K.) worker. The industrial vacuum was designed to be used to clean up wood dust. It had been used to clean up waste aluminium powder created during the manufacturing process, and was then left to stand over a weekend. The powder reacted with water used in the machine and created hydrogen gas, which exploded when the unassuming worker switched it on.

Read more about this industrial accident in Safety And Health Practitioner magazine.

OSHA Committee Approves Changes To Safety Signs

2013-03-27T06:36:00.002-07:00

A special meeting of Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) construction advisory committee on March 18th approved a proposed rule to update OSHA's standard on Accident Prevention Signs and Tags in Construction (29 CFR 1926.200). The proposed new rule updates OSHA's standard so that it references the current American National Standards Institute consensus standards for safety signs

The existing OSHA standard references an ANSI sign standard that is 40 years old. This has resulted in some confusion because the ANSI standard has changed while OSHA continued to reference the older safety sign standard.

The Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports that: "Witnesses told the committee that many employers continue to post and buy signs that meet the old standards, instead of using signs that meet the latest standards. If the proposed rule change is adopted, employers could keep their existing signs on display and purchase ones that meet the old or new standard, said Ken Stevanus, a staff member of OSHA’s Directorate of Standards and Guidance."

Read the story in the Society For Human Resource Management.

Safety News Briefs - Goshen Volunteer Fire Dept vs. OSHA

2013-03-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

A regular news feature summarizing workplace safety related news.

We scan newspapers, magazines and the internet for safety news that isn't being reported elsewhere. The following are links to safety related news that came out during the week ending March 23rd.

Fatal Falls and Accidents Involving Foreign-Born (English as a Second Language) Workers in the US

A post in Environmental and Safety Law notes that a "A recently published study presented at a National Occupational Injury Research Symposium found that Hispanic or foreign-born construction workers were over 60% more likely to have fatal falls from roofs than most other workers."

The study points out the importance of providing training, in the appropriate language, for workers who do not speak English.

Use this link to read the article.

Photo by Joe Mabel

Confined Spaces: Myths, Magic, Urban Legends and the Facts

Not every we think we know about OSHA's requirements about confined spaces may actually be true. An article in EHS Today points out five myths about confined spaces:

"Much of the "popular" information circulating about confined spaces is simply wrong. Confined spaces don't have to be labeled. Oxygen levels of 19.5 percent aren't necessarily "safe" for entry. The mere possibility that an atmospheric hazard may exist doesn't necessarily mean that a confined space is a permit space. Showing employees a 20-minute video or sending them to a one-day, state-sponsored fire rescue institute seminar doesn't mean they have been trained."

Click here to read the article.

Goshen, CT Volunteer Fire Department Resists CONN-OSHA Inspections - Wins In Court

The Litchfield County Times reports on the small-town Goshen Volunteer Fire Department resisting efforts of CONN-OSHA to inspect its operations. The volunteer fire department won in the state Supreme Court, but now the state legislature is proposing a new law giving CONN-OSHA the right to inspect (and fine) volunteer fire departments. The issue for the volunteer fire departments is not one of safety, but the heavy-handed way CONN-OSHA conducts relationships with those they inspect.

Read the story here.

Medical Services Costs for Claims 20 or More Years Old

In a recent study the National Council on Compensation Insurance found that it is likely that more than 10% of the cost of medical benefits for the workplace injuries that happen this year will be for services provided more than 20 years from now. That percentage has been growing and might continue to grow.

It has been thought that the increasing age of the workforce is a factor. But, the study found that the deteriorating medical conditions of the more elderly claimants is not a main cost driver. Instead, claimants younger than age 60 cost more per year, per claimant, to treat than those older than age 60

Read the story here

In a related study the NCCI found that, on average, costs for all workers aged 35 and older tend to be very similar, although they are higher than the average costs for workers aged 16 to 34. In addition, from a workers compensation perspective, the higher costs are largely offset by the higher premium due to higher wages of older workers.

Read the story: Workers Comp and the aging Workforce

Safety News Briefs From Around The World

2013-03-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

First Canadian Standard For OHS Training About To Be Issued

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) will be releasing the new standard for OHS training later this month.

“For the first time in Canada, we’re outlining a system for organizations to be able to look at and understand what a leading, quality program looks like,” says Dylan Short, managing director of the Redlands Group.

Read the story in the Canadian Safety Reporter.

Singapore Reports Lowest Workplace Fatality Rate in Nine Years

There were 2.1 fatalities per 100,000 employed persons in Singapore in 2012, down from 4.9 per 100,000 employed persons in 2004. However, the number of reported workplace injuries and cases of occupational diseases increased. Reported workplace injuries went up by 9.8 per cent, leading to an increase of 3.2 per cent in man-days lost. Most of this increase may be the result of improved reporting.

Read the story here.

OSHA Significant Citations Last Week

2013-03-25T05:14:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of OSHA and state OSHA significant citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 that were announced during the week ending March 23rd.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources. Reports from states, such as California, Oregon and Wyoming, in which the state has responsibility for workplace safety enforcement are also included.

OSHA fines NJ laundry facility for safety and health violations ($164,700)

OSHA has cited Brite Services Inc., doing business as Star Laundry, for 39 serious safety and health violations found by OSHA at its commercial laundry facility in Paterson.

The OSHA inspection was prompted by a complaint alleging the company would not allow workers to leave the building during an emergency. The proposed penalties total $164,700.

OSHA found electrical hazards and an obstructed and improperly marked exit route. Additional violations included:

allowing employees to potentially be struck by traffic while crossing a public street when transporting laundry bins from one building to another.
failing to provide a cover and guardrails for open pits
not having a handrail for the stairway
failing to evaluate the workplace for permit-required confined spaces
not posting signs informing workers of confined spaces
not having a written confined space permit program
failing to establish an energy control program for performing maintenance/servicing work
failing to train power industrial truck operators
leaving powered industrial trucks in need of repair in service
not insulating or covering steam pipes that are less than 7 feet from the floor
not properly guarding machines
failing to implement a hearing conservation program for workers exposed to noise levels at 88 and 89 decibels
failing to ensure safety goggle usage
not providing an unblocked eyewash station
not having a written hazard communication program
failure to provide hazard communication training

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/briteservices_641138and658718_0314_13.pdf.

Brite Services Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Hasbrouck Heights, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Safety News Briefs - How Will Your Job Kill You?

2013-03-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

A regular news feature summarizing workplace safety related news.

We scan newspapers, magazines and the internet for safety news that isn't being reported elsewhere. The following are links to safety related news that came out during the week ending March 16th.

How Will Your Job Kill You?

Health and Safety Risk Management has an article about the causes of workplace fatalities. The article opens with the statement:

"If you die in on the job, statistically, it will be in a way that you probably don’t worry to much about. When it comes to safety, most of us exercise the most care protecting ourselves from the hazards least likely to harm us and conversely are fairly cavalier about those things that pose the greatest threat."

Read the complete article here.

Why Are We Not Learning From Our Safety Mistakes?

A study released last month determined that accidents typically do not result in changed behavior, and the same type of accident can happen again. An article in Science Daily states: "Hernâni Veloso Neto of the Institute of Sociology at the University of Porto, Portugal, explains that industrial and workplace accidents rarely have a positive effect within an organisation, but they do represent a potential opportunity to learn about risks and so effect behavioural and procedural changes to preclude similar events from taking place again"

The study points out three barriers that prevent information about accidents from being disseminated beyond those immediately affecte.

Read the article in Science Daily.

Injured Illegal Workers, Who Return To Their Native Country, Are Entitled To TTD Benefits Based On Their Earning Potential In The U.S.

In 2009 the Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed an earlier court decision (Visoso v. Cargill Meat Solutions) that an illegal alien was entitled to temporary total disability benefits.

The worker has since returned to Mexico. A report in Justia US Law states that the compensation court concluded:

Employer's obligation to pay Employee temporary total disability should cease because Employee had reached maximum medical improvement.
There was no credible evidence which could be used to determine the employee's loss of earning capacity in his new community, and therefore, the employee's request for benefits for his claim of permanent impairment and loss of earning capacity was denied.

Last month the Nebraska Supreme Court decided that the worker is entitled to TTD even though he was illegal and has relocated to Mexico. The court said:

The worker had reached maximum medical improvement.
In an earlier decision the Worker's Compensation Court concluded there was no credible evidence which could be used to determine his loss of earning capacity in Mexico. When no credible data exists for the community to which the employee has relocated, the community where the injury occurred serves as the hub community. As a result the case was sent back to the Workers' Compensation Court to allow the worker to attempt to establish permanent impairment and loss of earning capacity using Schuyler (in the U.S.) as the hub community instead of where he is living in Mexico./li>

No Significant OSHA Citations Last Week

2013-03-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of OSHA and state OSHA significant citations that have proposed fines over $100,000 that were announced during the week ending March 15th.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA and other sources

OSHA defines a significant citation as one with proposed fines exceeding $100,000. There were no significant citations last week. The following are some of the other citations OSHA announced last week.

Niagara Falls manufacturer, Tulip Corp, cited by OSHA after inspection finds nine safety and health violations. Proposed fines total $47,000. The citations were for for exposing workers to airborne lead and other hazards following an October 2012 complaint inspection at its manufacturing facility on Highland Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY. OSHA's inspection found that workers were overexposed to airborne concentrations of lead. The airborne lead levels measured at the facility were 1.71 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period.

OSHA cited Smithville Manufacturing Co. for 21 health and safety violations, including one willful, after receiving a complaint that a worker's finger was amputated by an unguarded press machine. OSHA has proposed penalties of $65,800 as a result of the December 2012 inspection.

The willful violation was cited for failing to ensure point of operation guards were in place on mechanical power presses at the stamping facility, which does short-run productions of automotive parts. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. A total of 18 serious violations were cited, nine of which involve lack of or improperly adjusted guarding on equipment, such as shears, grinders, screw machines and drill and power presses. Other violations involved

failing to establish and train workers on energy control procedures
not ensuring employees lock out equipment prior to conducting maintenance or service
not training workers on the use of fire extinguishers
failing to establish die setting procedures
not conducting weekly press inspections
failing to develop a written hazard communication program
not training workers on the hazards of chemicals in the workplace.

OSHA has cited Lansdowne-based J.C. Stucco and Stone, doing business as J.C. Construction, with four repeat and two serious safety violations, including fall hazards found at a Philadelphia work site. OSHA's August 2012 inspection was initiated as part of the agency's regional emphasis program on falls. Proposed penalties total $73,150.

The repeat violations, with a $65,450 penalty, included

lack of bracing, inadequate access
lack of fall protection
failing to conduct daily inspections of working conditions.

OSHA cited Paterson-based F&G Sons Contractors Inc., doing business as F&G Contractors Inc., with five repeat and one serious violation, including scaffolding and fall hazards, found at a Kinnelon work site. OSHA's October 2012 investigation was initiated in response to an imminent danger complaint and resulted in $70,840 in penalties.

The repeat violations, with a $67,760 penalty, included an:

unsecured scaffold missing cross braces
exposing workers to scaffold collapse
failing to fully plank and provide guardrails or other means of fall protection on scaffolds

Similar violations were cited in 2009 and 2010.
Because of the hazards and the violations cited, F&G has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. The serious violation, with a $3,080 penalty, was cited for failing to brace the bottom of a pump-jack scaffold that exposed workers to a scaffold collapse.

Other citations issued last week include:

New England Wood Pellet LLC was cited for alleged repeat and serious safety violations including exposing workers to fire, rapid combustion and wood dust explosion hazards due to deficient implementation of protective measures in the wood pellet processing system and related equipment. Proposed penalties total $47,710.

Corvallis, Montana-based M.R. Asphalt Inc. was cited for 16 safety and health violations, including one willful, following an investigation into the death of a worker that occurred in September 2012. An employee checking asphalt levels from the top of a tank fell 15 feet, hitting his head on a concrete structure supporting the tank. A willful violation was cited for failing to provide a guardrail or fall protection on the working surface. Proposed penalties total $54,000.

OSHA cited Berry Plastics Corp. for six safety violations, including two repeat, for failing to document and utilize hazardous energy control procedures and conduct periodic inspections of these procedures. Proposed fines total $86,000.

The repeat violations were for failing to:

develop, document and utilize hazardous energy control procedures for machinery in the factory
conduct periodic inspections of these procedures.

Safe Workplace and Safety News

Safety News Briefs - A Culture Of Myths

Photo by TagidoIs Your Employee Safety Incentive Program As Obsolete As The 8-track?

House and Senate Looking To Expand The OSHA General Duty Clause

Photo by Brocken Inaglory$2.5 Billion In Penalties

A Culture Of Safety Myths

OSHA Shifts Funds From Compliance Assistance To Protect Enforcement From Sequester,

Zero Incident Goals Motivate Risk-Taking, Not Excellence

MIT Study Concludes Government And Industry Must Work Together To Improve Working Conditions

Last Week's Significant OSHA Citations

AmeriGas Propane (Conroe, Texas) Cited For Safety Hazards ($105,000)

Can Someone With A Medical Marijuana Card Be Fired For Testing Positive?

Medical Marijuana and the Workplace

Safety News Briefs - Tell OSHA To Get A Warrant

Tell OSHA TO Get A Warrant

Oregon Department of Transportation PhotoVoice To Text Apps Do Not Make Driving Safer

OSHA Launches Initiative to Protect Temporary Workers

Educational Videos On preventing Fatal Falls In Construction

BLS Releases Revised Workplace Fatality Numbers

Ruling From Sixth Circuit Court Expands OSHA Citations To Cover "Access Alone."

This Week's Significant OSHA Citations

Collis Roofing Cited For Fall Hazards ($213,300)

World Safety News - Women In Underground Mining

Australian Miner Fined Nearly $11,000 For Smoking On The Job

Women In Underground Mining - South Africa Looks At Unique Safety Concerns

This Week's Significant OSHA Citations

Candy Manufacturer Cited Following Ammonia Release ($133,000)

Safety New Briefs - Batman In Afghanistan

Bagram Batman - Batman In Afghanistan

How High Does A Roof Parapet Need To Be?

Natural gas pipeline failure. PHMSA photo.PHMSA Increases Penalties

When Wet Ceiling Tiles Fall, Could There Be Asbestos Exposure?

Safety Often Ignored in Post-Hurricane Sandy Cleanup

Safety News Briefs - A Focus On Safety Training

Delta Air Line's In-flight Safety Video, and Improving Safety Training

Get OTJ Safety Training - By Playing A Video Game

GAO - State OSHA Programs Are Failing To Meet Standards

Photo by: Frank-SchulenburgResults Of Chevron's Richmond Refinery Fire Investigation

The Luckiest Man Alive?

OSHA Significant Citations This Week

OSHA fines Ball Aerosol for unguarded machinery ($589,000)OSHA fines North Bergen, NJ laundry for Safety Hazards ($219,000)KG Framing and Construction cited for lack of fall protection ($121,480)

Tips For Preventing Heat Stress

Safety News Briefs

New OSHA Ruling Opens The Door For Unions To Represent Workers During Inspections At Non-Union Workplaces

Obama's OSHA Budget Request Increases Whistleblower Enforcement, Reduces Funding For Compliance Assistance

OSHA PhotoStrengthening Management of Safety Barriers

Rail Spur Safety

When it comes to safety, do you trust your city engineer?

Electrical tape binds man's severe neck wound

Safety News From Around The World

Saskatchewan (Canada) has 30 year high for workplace fatalities

New Sign Standards In Europe require checking all existing fire signs

OSHA Significant Citations - Disneyland Citations Total $234,850

CalOSHA Cites Disneyland For Seven violations ($234,850)

No significant OSHA citations. OSHA announced eight companies cited last week. They include:

Safety News Briefs

Understanding The Results Of Arc Flash Studies

OSHA Significant Violations

OSHA cites Wynnewood Refining Company ($281,100)OSHA cites Tricon Precast in Houston ($109,800)Mike Neri Sewer and Water Contractor cited for trench hazards ($110,440)Salina, Kansas Ryan Roofing Cited after worker paralyzed in fall ($115,500)

Safey News Briefs - Will OSHA Regulate NFL Football?

Will OSHA Regulate NFL Football Games?

OSHA Focus On Fines While Ignoring Long Term Heath Hazards

OSHA Changes The Criteria For Sending DART Letters

Senator Patty Murry (D) Reintroduces the Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA)

Cadillac Ends Up On Neighbor's Roof

OSHA Significant Citations Last Week

OSHA fines Lakewood, NJ, manufacturer chemical and other hazards ($184,500)Queens, NY, metal products manufacturer faces OSHA fines ($108,900)

Safety News From Around The World

EU Machine Tool Builders Endorse Stronger Product-Safety Regulations

Unsuitable use of industrial vacuum cleaner creates explosive reaction

OSHA Committee Approves Changes To Safety Signs

Safety News Briefs - Goshen Volunteer Fire Dept vs. OSHA

Fatal Falls and Accidents Involving Foreign-Born (English as a Second Language) Workers in the US

Confined Spaces: Myths, Magic, Urban Legends and the Facts

Goshen, CT Volunteer Fire Department Resists CONN-OSHA Inspections - Wins In Court

Medical Services Costs for Claims 20 or More Years Old

Safety News Briefs From Around The World

First Canadian Standard For OHS Training About To Be Issued

Singapore Reports Lowest Workplace Fatality Rate in Nine Years

OSHA Significant Citations Last Week

Photo by Tagido
Is Your Employee Safety Incentive Program As Obsolete As The 8-track?

Photo by Brocken Inaglory
$2.5 Billion In Penalties

Oregon Department of
Transportation Photo
Voice To Text Apps Do Not Make Driving Safer

Natural gas pipeline failure. PHMSA photo.
PHMSA Increases Penalties

Photo by: Frank-Schulenburg
Results Of Chevron's Richmond Refinery Fire Investigation

OSHA fines Ball Aerosol for unguarded machinery ($589,000)
OSHA fines North Bergen, NJ laundry for Safety Hazards ($219,000)
KG Framing and Construction cited for lack of fall protection ($121,480)

OSHA Photo
Strengthening Management of Safety Barriers

OSHA cites Wynnewood Refining Company ($281,100)
OSHA cites Tricon Precast in Houston ($109,800)
Mike Neri Sewer and Water Contractor cited for trench hazards ($110,440)
Salina, Kansas Ryan Roofing Cited after worker paralyzed in fall ($115,500)

OSHA fines Lakewood, NJ, manufacturer chemical and other hazards ($184,500)
Queens, NY, metal products manufacturer faces OSHA fines ($108,900)