Safe Workplace and Safety News

A summary of OSHA citations with proposed fines over $100,000 announced during the week ending November 3rd.

The following are based on a press releases from OSHA.

Something very unusual has happened. For the third time in four weeks there were no OSHA citations over $100,000. In the past four weeks there has been only one OSHA citation over $100,000. That was last week. Is it coincidence? Are American workplaces suddenly becoming dramatically safer? I'm still reading about companies that have been inspected and notified they'll be receiving a citation. But, I'm not seeing many OSHA announcements about citations being issued. Has OSHA just become slow to get out press releases? What do you think?  Add your comments using the link below.

The following are the citations OSHA announced last week.

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Vortex Recycling Inc. receives $58,000 citationThe citation is for 27 workplace safety, health hazards, including one repeat violation, 25 serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation.

The repeat violation involves failing to remove defective or unsafe powered industrial trucks from service.  The serious violations include:

• a variety of fall, electrical and struck-by hazards
• using equipment that is improperly installed, identified and located
• improperly maintaining emergency eyewash stations, shower facilities and portable fire extinguishers
• having unguarded machinery
• crane deficiencies
• a lack of proper housekeeping procedures for areas around plant equipment
• failing to develop programs for energy control, hearing conservation, permit-required confined spaces and hazard communication.

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History Construction Management LLC receives $59,200 citation.

Fifteen of the violations relate to OSHA's lead standard, including:

• failing to implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposure
• failure to collect full shift personal samples for monitoring
• failure to provide clean protective clothing
• failure to provide clean changing rooms or separate storage facilities for protective work clothing to prevent cross-contamination with street clothes
• failure to keep surface and eating areas free from lead dust accumulation
• failure to properly sweep up lead dust
• failure to provide training to employees about lead and post lead hazard warning signs

Five violations of OSHA's respiratory protection standard involve failing to implement a respirator protection program that includes proper respirator selection, medical evaluation, fit testing and training. The remaining two violations are using flexible electrical cords as a substitute for fixed wiring and improperly altering electrical cords.

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New England Hematology/Oncology Associates PC receives $46,900 citation.

OSHA found that the workers were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens from needlesticks because safer needle systems, such as automatically sheathing needles, were not used.

OSHA also found that the medical provider had been made aware by workers that a safer needle system was needed, but continued to use a system that was not engineered to reduce the risk of injury. As a result, OSHA has issued a citation carrying a $42,000 fine for one willful violation.

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Palm Coast-based GP Roofing and Construction LLC received a $72,600 citation.

OSHA reported founding three willful safety violations for exposing workers to fall and other hazards while they were conducting roofing work at a new residential site.  The violations involve failing to provide eye protection for workers using pneumatic nail guns, fall protection for workers installing roofing materials on steep-pitched roofs, and a safe means for workers to access and exit a 19-foot-high roof.

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Related Past Posts:
OSHA Citations - Week Ending October 27th
OSHA Citations - Week Ending October 20th
OSHA Citations Issued During The Week Ending October 13th

Labels: chemical hazards, Eye Protection, fall protection, OSHA Citations

2 Comments:

 john said...

$59k is a lot of money. If only those companies were just compliant to the health and safety rules, they would have avoided those extra expense and avoided accidents and mishaps in the workplace that can cause them extra money for medical expenses and operation delays. I think most companies lacks awareness on the importance of health and safety. Question now is, even with OSHA, why are some companies still not following the right safety SOP?

5:44 AM  

 LanaJoseph@cdm coordinator said...

Regardless of how many citations that the OSHA bring up, the companies would continue what they have been doing.

11:48 PM  

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