Safe Workplace and Safety News

Cal/OSHA Issues $256,445 in Citations to Warehouse Operators

2012-01-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

Cal/OSHA has issued $256,445 in citations to two companies in Chino for violations discovered during warehouse inspections that found unsafe working conditions.

The California Department of Industrial Relations' Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued citations to warehouse owner National Distribution Centers and its temporary staffing contractor, Tri State Staffing, for more than 60 violations at four warehouses in San Bernardino County. The violations include lack of fall protection for high-rise pickers, unstable storage stacking and unguarded machinery.

"California law requires all employers to identify and mitigate safety risks in the workplace," said DIR Director Christine Baker. "In the warehouse industry, low-wage workers are particularly vulnerable to unsafe working conditions where work is often hidden from public view. Hazards include moving vehicles, precariously stacked goods and unguarded equipment."

Cal/OSHA found a dual-employer relationship--where one employer hires workers and provides them to another employer--at three of the four warehouses inspected. In this situation, both employers are potentially liable for violations of safety and health regulations that are meant to prevent workers' injuries or illnesses. The most common dual-employer situation is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that provides an employee to work at a worksite under the supervision and control of another company. PEOs are prevalent in the warehousing industry.

"When employers use a contractor for their staffing needs, they are not released from their responsibilities to provide a safe workplace," said Cal/OSHA Chief Ellen Widess. "As dual employers sharing responsibility for training and worker safety, both National Distribution Centers and Tri State Staffing were responsible for ensuring that all employees are protected on the job."

The warehouse inspections were prompted by complaints received from Warehouse Workers United and a worker's heat illness injury in August of 2011.

In the latter case, Cal/OSHA found that a 49-year-old warehouse employee had become dizzy and nauseous while working in 90-degree temperatures inside the building. The employer failed to recognize the symptoms as heat-related or address conditions that led to the worker's illness, issues that are required to be addressed in an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).

Every employer in the state of California is required to have an IIPP that addresses the safety hazards associated with their specific work site. If heat is a hazard in an indoor workplace, a common problem in warehouses, then the IIPP is required to address preventive measures to protect employees from the heat.

"It's not just outdoor workers who are vulnerable to heat illness," said Cal/OSHA Chief Widess. "It can also happen indoors in a warehouse on a hot day. Every California employer needs to be aware of heat illness symptoms so that appropriate steps can be taken to prevent serious on-the-job injuries or death."

The four warehouses cited are all in the region east of Los Angeles called the Inland Empire, which has the largest concentration of warehouses in the United States. Goods shipped through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are sent to Inland Empire warehouses for storage before being distributed throughout the country.

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, protects workers and the public from hazards through its standards and numerous inspection programs, and also provides consultation to employers. Employers who want to learn more about Cal/OSHA and how to reduce workplace injuries can get information at the DIR Web site at www.dir.ca.gov/dosh .

Cal/OSHA's Consultation Unit at (800) 963-9424 provides free information and training on occupational safety and health hazards and ways to protect workers from these hazards.

No information was available from National Distribution Centers in response to the Cal/OSHA citations.

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OROSHA Fines Americold Logistics
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Top Five Safety Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

In 2010, more than 3.9 million workplace injuries and illnesses were reported, many of which were preventable. No significant changes to these statistics are expected for 2011. With the new year now in full swing, Cintas Corporation, a supplier of first-aid and safety products, today identified the top five safety resolutions for 2012 to help safety professionals improve the health and wellness of their workplace.

"Workplace accidents result in lost productivity and excessive injury costs, directly impacting both workers and a business' success," said Tom Lally, Director of Training and Compliance, First Aid & Safety, Cintas. "Following these resolutions will enable safety professionals to take their business beyond compliance and build a safer work environment in 2012."

The top safety resolutions for 2012 include:

-- Perform regular audits of workplace safety initiatives: Benchmark safety programs to establish a baseline of performance. Once this has occurred, regularly audit the program to ensure it is working. Solicit feedback from employees and work with third-party organizations to pinpoint areas that work well and/or need improvement.

-- Set a zero-injury goal: Studies show that workplaces with higher employee engagement programs are less likely to have accidents and that reducing the frequency of incidents allows worker productivity to remain high. To achieve a culture of safety, create prevention programs that exceed compliance regulations. Engage employees in the safety process by having them lead committees and facilitate safety audits.

-- Offer training classes that engage employees: Blended training programs that incorporate adult learning principles with traditional and technology-mediated learning is more likely to capture the attention of employees, and in turn, be more successful. In addition to adjusting meeting formats, focus the content of safety meetings on topics of interest to employees.

-- Raise awareness of leading causes of workplace injuries: Overexertion from excessive lifting, falling objects and slip and fall injuries are among the most common reported workplace incidents. Ensure that employees understand the conditions that lead to common injuries and the potential hazards associated with not following protocol. For example, to reduce slip and fall incidents, train personnel to clear excess liquid and objects from the floors immediately.

-- Implement a first-aid cabinet: Having a first-aid cabinet in the workplace ensures emergency response can occur quickly in the event of an injury or illness. Cabinets provide a centralized location for bandages, aspirin and antibiotic ointment so employees know where to go should an accident occur. This also makes it easier to maintain inventory and keep track of items that need restocking.

"By developing engaging training programs and implementing attainable goals, safety professionals can create a safe work environment that protects workers and the company's bottom line," added Lally. "A successful workplace is one that views safety as a top priority year after year."

For more information on Cintas first-aid and safety products, go to http://www.cintas.com/FirstAidSafety/.

About Cintas

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

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Department of Labor Files Second Enterprise-Wide Complaint

2012-01-23T03:43:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Department of Labor's regional solicitor's office in Boston has filed a complaint against DeMoulas Super Markets Inc., doing business as Market Basket, with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The complaint asks the commission to order the Tewksbury, Mass.-based chain to comply with the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's safety standards designed to protect employees from fall and laceration hazards at the employer's more than 60 stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

This marks the second such time that the department has expressly sought enterprise-wide relief from an employer. The first time was against the U.S. Postal Service in July 2010 for correction of electrical work safety violations at 350 postal facilities throughout the nation. That matter is pending.

This request for enterprisewide relief is based upon hazards OSHA found during inspections of various DeMoulas stores, including the agency's most recent inspections at Market Basket stores in Rindge and Concord, N.H. Those inspections resulted in citations and proposed OSHA fines totaling $589,200, which DeMoulas has contested to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

"Hazardous conditions at multiple locations that expose employees to serious injuries demand a swift and comprehensive corrective response at the corporate level," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "OSHA insists that this employer completely and effectively eliminate the hazards it never should have allowed to exist in the first place."

The department's complaint alleges that employees at multiple Market Basket stores were exposed or likely to be exposed to fall hazards from unguarded, open-sided work and storage areas, including storage lofts and atop produce coolers and freezers. An employee of the Market Basket store in Rindge was seriously injured in April 2011 when he fell 11 feet onto a concrete floor from an inadequately guarded storage mezzanine, and an employee at a Billerica, Mass., store was seriously injured under similar conditions in 2007.

The company also allegedly failed to protect employees in produce, deli and bakery departments against laceration hazards from knives and cutting instruments by not conducting job hazard analyses that would have identified the need for hand protection, and by not providing such hand protection to workers exposed to the hazards. In 2006, after being cited by OSHA, the company agreed to complete job hazard analyses in all stores but failed to do so. Between 2008 and 2011, employees at the Rindge and Concord stores sustained at least 40 recorded hand lacerations.

"Worker safety is not optional, and it cannot be addressed in a piecemeal fashion. It must be addressed across the board," said Michaels. "This employer has the responsibility to safeguard all its employees at all its locations, something it has failed to do."

DeMoulas Super Markets has 20 days from receipt of the complaint to file an answer. Details of OSHA's inspections of the Rindge and Concord stores and copies of the citations can be found at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=20880.

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OSHA Fines Indiana Company Over $460,000
$1,000,000 Fine For Piping Technology Company
Declining Work Related Fatalities

Summary Of Last Week's Major OSHA Citations

2012-01-23T03:24:00.000-08:00

OSHA major citations announced during the week of January 15th.

American Marazzi Tile Cited For 25 Violations ($318,000)
Curt Manufacturing Cited For Lack Of Machine Guarding ($105,000)

American Marazzi Tile was cited for 25 safety and health violations for exposing workers to excessive noise levels, machine guarding hazards and other dangerous conditions at its facility in Sunnyvale. Proposed penalties total $318,000.

OSHA's Dallas Area Office initiated an investigation on July 13 at the company's Clay Road facility as part of the agency's Site-Specific Targeting Program, which directs enforcement resources to workplaces with higher-than-average injury and illness rates.

"This company knowingly failed to implement necessary safety and health programs to protect employees from coming into contact with moving parts of machinery and prevent hearing loss," said John Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "It's the employer's responsibility to know the hazards and safeguard workers from these hazards in order to provide a working environment free of injuries and illnesses."

Three willful violations involve failing to establish and maintain a hearing conservation program for workers exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 decibels; provide the required machine guards for exposed belts, pulleys, chains and sprockets; and establish a lockout/tagout program for energy sources to protect workers from the unexpected start up of machinery. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Twenty-one serious violations involve failing to provide personal protective equipment, provide confined space training, provide machine guarding to prevent workers from coming into contact with rotating parts, develop energy control procedures for machines with more than one energy source, provide fire extinguisher training, properly store oxygen and acetylene cylinders, develop a bloodborne pathogens program and train employees on hazardous chemicals used in the facility. 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.

One other-than-serious violation is for failing to post a copy of the hearing conservation standard in the workplace. 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.

OSHA has placed American Marazzi Tile in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Initiated in June 2010, the program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations.

OSHA has cited Curt Manufacturing LLC with eight safety violations, including one willful violation for allowing workers to continue operating an unguarded hydraulic power press brake after a worker was injured. On July 25, the employee's thumb was crushed while he was bending a metal part between the unguarded dies of the brake. The thumb had to be medically amputated. The Eau Claire-based company was still operating the unguarded press brake when OSHA initiated an inspection on Aug. 16 based on a referral from the state of Wisconsin. Proposed fines total $105,000.

"Failing to have proper machine guarding in the first place, and to cease operating the power press brake in order to correct safety discrepancies following the injury of a worker, demonstrate a complete lack of regard for employees' safety and health," said Mark Hysell, OSHA's area director in Eau Claire. "OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so."

The willful violation carries a proposed penalty of $70,000. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Five serious safety violations with proposed penalties of $35,000 involve failing to develop, document and use hazardous energy control procedures for machines with multiple energy sources; conduct annual inspections of those procedures; ensure lockout devices were affixed to energy isolating devices by authorized employees; provide point-of-operation guarding on a band saw and tube bender; and provide hand tools that permit easy material handling and prevent workers from placing their hands in machine danger zones. 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.

Two other-than-serious violations involve failing to provide information to workers voluntarily using respirators and failing to evaluate a potential permit-required confined space. 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 injury.

The citations may be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CurtManufacturingLLC_97672_01-13-12.pdf*.

Curt Manufacturing specializes in the manufacture of towing components and employs approximately 430 people.

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OSHA Citations - Week Of January 8th

OSHA Orders AirTran Airways To Reinstate Pilot, Pay More Than $1 Million

2012-01-23T02:28:00.000-08:00

OSHA has ordered AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines Co., to reinstate a former pilot who was fired after reporting numerous mechanical concerns. The agency also has ordered that the pilot be paid more than $1 million in back wages plus interest and compensatory damages. An investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program found reasonable cause to believe that the termination was an act of retaliation in violation of the whistleblower provision of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, known as AIR21.

"Airline workers must be free to raise safety and security concerns, and companies that diminish those rights through intimidation or retaliation must be held accountable," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "Airline safety is of vital importance, not only to the workers, but to the millions of Americans who use our airways."

The pilot's complaint alleged that the airline removed him from flight status on Aug. 23, 2007, pending an investigative hearing regarding a sudden spike in the pilot's mechanical malfunction reports, or PIREPS. The airline held an internal investigative hearing on Sept. 6, 2007, that lasted 17 minutes. Seven days later, the airline terminated the pilot's employment, claiming that he did not satisfactorily answer a question regarding the spike in reports. OSHA found that the pilot did not refuse to answer any questions during the hearing, answers to questions were appropriate, and the action taken by the airline was retaliatory.

"Retaliating against a pilot for reporting mechanical malfunctions is not consistent with a company that values the safety of its workers and customers," added Michaels. "Whistleblower laws are designed to protect workers' rights to speak out when they have safety concerns, and the Labor Department will vigilantly protect and defend those fundamental rights."

Either party to the case can file an appeal with the Labor Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, but such an appeal does not stay the preliminary reinstatement order.

AirTran Airways is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings Inc. with headquarters in Orlando. On May 2, 2011, Southwest Airlines completed the acquisition of AirTran Holdings Inc. and now operates AirTran Airways as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provision of AIR21, as well as 20 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various securities, trucking, workplace health and safety, nuclear, pipeline, environmental, rail, maritime, health care, consumer product and food safety laws.

Employees who believe that they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program.

Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights is available online at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742), the agency's Atlanta Regional Office at 678-237-0400 or its Tampa Area Office at 813-626-1177.

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We Need Safety Rules For Conducting Safety Meetings - Employee Stabbed

2012-01-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

You won't think you'd need to specifically lay out a set of rules for safety while attending a safety meeting. But apparently it is needed.

Reports from Las Vegas yesterday state that "A Las Vegas city employee has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a fellow employee during a safety training session."

What happened is that two city employees engaged in horseplay during a safety meeting. Both had knives and one employee stabbed the other in the back of the leg.

The story is being reported on a number of Las Vegas TV stations, including KASA.

Past Posts:
OSHA Safety and health advisory committee

OSHA promotes Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (I2P2)

2012-01-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

OSHA has reaffirmed its commitment to Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) through the release of a white paper. The purpose of the white paper is to demonstrate the value of I2P2. OSHA has been heading towards requiring that most workplaces implement I2P2 with the intention of to proactively improving health and safety.

What is I2P2?

The following is the introductory descriptiuon from OSHA's white paper:

An injury and illness prevention program, is a proactive process to help employers find and fix workplace hazards before workers are hurt. We know these programs can be effective at reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Many workplaces have already adopted such approaches, for example as part of OSHA’s cooperative programs. Not only do these employers experience dramatic decreases in workplace injuries, but they often report a transformed workplace culture that can lead to higher productivity and quality, reduced turnover, reduced costs, and greater employee satisfaction.

Thirty-four states and many nations around the world already require or encourage employers to
implement such programs. The key elements common to all of these programs are management
leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and
control, education and training, and program evaluation and improvement.

Based on the positive experience of employers with existing programs, OSHA believes that
injury and illness prevention programs provide the foundation for breakthrough changes in the
way employers identify and control hazards, leading to a significantly improved workplace
health and safety environment. Adoption of an injury and illness prevention program will result
in workers suffering fewer injuries, illnesses and fatalities. In addition, employers will improve
their compliance with existing regulations, and will experience many of the financial benefits of
a safer and healthier workplace cited in published studies and reports by individual companies,
including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums.

Past Posts:
Employer OSHA Obligations
Revised OSHA Materials On Health And Safety

OSHA Announces New Online Outreach Training Program Providers

2012-01-16T08:09:00.000-08:00

OSHA announced its selection of 10 OSHA authorized training providers to deliver 25 online courses as part of its Outreach Training Program. The OSHA Outreach Training Program teaches workers how to identify, prevent, and eliminate workplace hazards. The program also informs workers of their rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.

"We are pleased to announce the selection of these online training providers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "These high-quality online courses will allow a greater number of workers to receive valuable interactive training supported by safety professionals -- especially in remote areas with limited access to standard classrooms."

The online courses are voluntary and are not required by OSHA, but they provide training that can help protect workers' safety and health and help employers reduce the high costs of worker injuries and illnesses. Workers must receive additional training on hazards specific to their job.

The organizations selected by OSHA to offer the online courses will provide a variety of 10- and 30-hour classes designed for Construction, General Industry, and Maritime. Since OSHA began authorizing training providers to offer Web-based distance learning in 2001, the online Outreach Training Program has grown significantly. More than 135,000 workers were trained online in 2011? a five-fold increase from the number of online students trained in 2007. Access to courses and other information about the program are available at http://s.dol.gov/L6.

Today's selections are the culmination of a national competition announced last March. The newly selected OSHA-authorized Outreach Training Program online training providers are:

Construction 10-Hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, CareerSafe, ClickSafety, Compliance Solutions, PureSafety, Safety Unlimited, Texas Engineering Extension Service
Construction 10-Hour Spanish: ClickSafety and PureSafety
Construction 30-Hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, ClickSafety, PureSafety, Texas Engineering Extension Service, Turner Knowledge Network
General Industry 10-Hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, CareerSafe, ClickSafety, North Carolina State University, PureSafety, Safety Unlimited, Texas Engineering Extension Service
General Industry 30-Hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, ClickSafety, PureSafety
Maritime 10-Hour: Moxie Media

OSHA provides no funding to authorized Outreach Training Program training providers.

Past Posts:
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Free Online Safety Training
Workplace Safety - Have You Learned From The Past?

Free Safety and Health Quizzes

2012-01-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

The OSHAtest.net web sit offers free online safety and health quizzes. The quizzes are professional, they have appropriate questions, and the web site works well. They were created by a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). The web site is solely dedicated to the safety quizzes. Other than a few Google ads, there are no other promotions. The site offers to provide a certificate, for each safety quiz that is passed, for a $10 fee.

The safety quizzes are free
The safety quizzes are regulatory based.
The level of difficulty is moderate-to-high.
You can take any test as many times as you want.
You can see your result/score and review the correct answers at the end of each quiz.
The safety quiz will generate an auto-email on completion - you can either ignore it, direct it to yourself to keep a record of test, or allow it to be sent to us.

The topics covered by these safety quizzes include:

Excavations
Portable Ladders
Excavating and Tunneling
Fall Protection In Construction
The NFPA Diamond
Respiratory Protection
Permit Required Confined Spaces
Lead In Construction

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Summary Of Last Week's Major OSHA Citations

2012-01-16T05:18:00.000-08:00

OSHA major citations announced during the week of January 9th.

Sunland Construction Cited For Trenching Violations ($140,000)
American Felt & Filter Co. Cited For 32 Serious Violations ($146,000)
Gemini Linen Rental Cited For 37 Serious Violations ($125,000)
Hostess Brands Cited For Safety Hazards ($105,000)
Coleman Natural Foods Cited For Repeat & Serious Violations ($142,000)

A Barber Green Ditcher - Trench Digging Machine

Sunland Construction Inc. was cited for two willful violations for exposing workers to the possibility of a trench collapse while replacing high pressure gas lines along Fischer Road in Newnan. OSHA is proposing $140,000 in penalties.

"Cave-ins can happen quickly, without warning and with deadly consequences. OSHA will not allow employers to be indifferent to protecting their employees against these hazards," said Andre Richards, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office.

OSHA began its inspection Aug. 12 when an agency investigator noticed that the employer had failed to provide a safe means of egress from a 5-foot-10-inch trench and protect workers from a cave-in hazard. As a result of these conditions, the company was cited for the two willful violations. 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.

Sunland Construction, which provides pipeline construction and related services, has been cited by OSHA three other times since 2010 at locations in Alabama, North Carolina and Texas. The violations cited in Georgia are similar to ones cited after OSHA inspected the company's construction site in Deer Park, Texas.

There was no response on the Sunland web site, but a press release from July 2011 described their safety efforts. It stated:

Continuing on the Road to Safety Excellence "Sunland & Affiliates has achieved over 1.7 million safe work hours since the last Lost Time Injury and our TRIR is at an all-time low of 1.00."

However, we cannot rest on our laurels and think that we are completely safe from danger. All supervisors must take an active role in focusing their efforts on making certain that their workers are coached, mentored, and provided with a safe work environment.

INITIATIVES

During 2010, we focused on issuing the revised Employee & Safety Handbook and Excavation Safety, including what to do if an OSHA Inspector shows up on the job site. We placed an emphasis on Last Minute Risk Assessments, Stop Work Authority, Observation Card Program, and the importance of reporting any and all incidents (regardless of how minor) immediately to your supervisor. Also the Management Safety Audits (MSA) received renewed focus. In 2011, we are rolling out the new Seasonal Foremen Training and Advanced Safety Audit Process.

American Felt & Filter Co. was cited for 35 alleged violations of workplace safety and health standards at its New Windsor plant. The company, which manufactures woolen felt for a variety of products, faces a total of $146,300 in proposed fines following an inspection by OSHA's Albany Area Office.

"Our inspections identified numerous safety and health hazards, including several similar to those cited during earlier OSHA inspections of this facility," said Arthur Dube, the agency's acting area director in Albany." Left uncorrected, these hazards expose employees to possible electrocution, crushing and struck-by injuries, being caught in moving machine parts, hearing loss, falls, eye and hand injuries, asbestos and lead."

In addition to identifying machine guarding and electrical hazards, OSHA found that the plant failed to inspect cranes and lifting devices; remove an unsafe powered industrial truck from service; properly stack materials; monitor noise levels, and test and train employees exposed to excessive noise levels; provide first-aid supplies, eye and hand protection, and an emergency eyewash; ensure appropriate respiratory protection and other safeguards for employees exposed to lead; perform asbestos exposure monitoring; identify and label asbestos-containing materials; and provide training for employees on asbestos hazards. These conditions resulted in citations for 32 serious violations carrying $118,580 in penalties. 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.

Three repeat violations carrying $27,720 in fines involve unguarded lathes and failure to implement an effective respiratory protection program. 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. OSHA cited the plant for similar hazards in 2007.

No comments were available on American Felt & Filter Company's web site.

Gemtex Inc., doing business as Gemini Linen Rental, was cited for 37 serious and 11 other-than-serious safety and health violations at its Palmyra facility. OSHA initiated an inspection in response to a referral from New Jersey's Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Program. Proposed fines total $126,875.

"These safety and health hazards pose serious risks to Gemini employees and must be addressed immediately," said Paula Dixon Roderick, OSHA's area director in Marlton. "Employers are legally responsible for ensuring safe and healthful workplaces."

The serious violations, which carry $124,775 in penalties, involve failing to provide protection from electrical hazards; develop and implement written respiratory protection, hazard communication and confined space entry programs; provide machine guarding; provide guardrails for stairways and working platforms; conduct a personal protective equipment hazard assessment; ensure the safe use of ladders and forklifts; provide lockout/tagout, respirator, hazard communication and fire extinguisher training; provide an eyewash station; provide mounted fire extinguishers; and ensure aisles and passageways were clear. 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 other-than-serious violations, with $2,100 in penalties, involve various electrical hazards as well as incomplete record keeping for the OSHA 300 injury and illness logs. 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.

No comments were available on Gemini Linen Rental's web site.

Hostess Brands Wonder Bread Truck
Dwight Burdette Photo

Hostess Brands was cited for eight serious and two repeat alleged violations of workplace safety standards at its Biddeford production plant. The company, which manufactures Hostess products, faces a total of $104,700 in proposed fines following a safety inspection by OSHA's Augusta Area Office.

"Our inspection identified mechanical, electrical, fall and exit hazards, including some similar to those cited at other Interstate Brands facilities," said William Coffin, OSHA's area director for Maine. "Left uncorrected, these violations expose workers to the hazards of electrocution, lacerations, amputation, falls, being caught in operating or unexpectedly activated machinery and being unable to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency."

OSHA's inspection found an absence of guardrails to prevent workers from falling into and through hoppers; a locked emergency exit door and an exit route blocked by product racks; unguarded moving machine parts on a conveyor belt, band saw blade, drill press and other equipment; undocumented procedures to prevent the unintended activation of machinery during maintenance; and individuals working on live electrical equipment who were not familiar with the protective equipment needed for such work. These serious violations resulted in citations carrying $42,200 in fines. 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 recurring violations involve failing to guard chains and sprockets on a cake alignment conveyor and a packaging machine feeder, and provide personal protective equipment to safeguard employees against electrical shocks, arc flashes and arc blasts while working with live electrical parts. The citations carry $62,500 in fines. 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. OSHA cited International Brands in 2010 for similar hazards at plants in Columbus, Ga., and Schiller Park, Ill.

No comments were available on the Hostess Brands web site. Last Wednesday, January 11th, Hostess Brands filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Poultry processor KD Acquisition I LLC, doing business as Coleman Natural Foods, was cited for eight safety violations at its KD5 plant in Braselton after receiving a complaint in July about safety hazards. Proposed penalties total $142,150.

OSHA has cited the company for three repeat violations with penalties of $121,000 for failing to install machine guards on equipment where employees could come into contact with moving parts, tightly seal electrical enclosures to prevent severe corrosion and provide adequate strain relief on electrical components. 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 in 2006 and 2007.

KD Acquisition also has been cited for four serious safety violations with penalties of $21,150 for failing to provide an ammonia detector that would warn of gas dispersal into the air, provide training to workers acting in the capacity of hazardous materials technicians when accessing equipment during emergency releases of ammonia, repair or contain hydraulic fluid leaks that created slippery floor surfaces and provide machine guards when operating the shaft ends of the conveyor systems. 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.

One other-than-serious violation with no monetary penalty has been cited for failing to provide an annual maintenance inspection of a fire extinguisher. An other-than-serious violation is described as a situation that relates to job safety and health that would not likely cause death or serious physical harm.

"OSHA will not tolerate conditions that endanger employee safety. The company has been cited for similar hazards in the past, and there is no excuse for OSHA finding them again during our latest inspection," said William Fulcher, director of the agency's Atlanta-East area office. "Management must correct these violations before a serious injury occurs to one of KD Acquisition's workers."

No comments were available on the Coleman Natural Foods web site.

Past Posts:
Foundry Cited $550,000
Lack of LOTO
Noise And Energized Equipment Hazards

We Received Your Comments And Suggestions

2012-01-09T08:32:00.001-08:00

Last week I asked what you had learned about safety in 2011. We got email! And it covered more than just what was learned in 2010.

Thank you for your suggestions for improving the Workplace Safety Blog. You'll notice that starting this week we are including images in most of the posts. Also, there was a comment thanking me for including both sides when we report on an OSHA citation. This is something I started about two weeks ago and I'll try to do it more often, when there is publicly available information from the company.

One of the themes running through several emails was that of a culturally diverse workplace. Workers from some cultures, such as Indonesia for example, may be reluctant to report safety hazards. In their culture saying something that might embarrass a superior is not acceptable. Other cultures have a macho attitude that can result in workers "showing off" their "manhood" by taking risks. Young workers may have an attitude of "it can't happen to me."

These cultural differences need to be addressed with training for managers and supervisors. They need to know about cultural differences and how to communicate with and lead the people who work for them.

In my previous post I forgot to mention that I'd like to quote from the emails you send. Unless you otherwise tell me not to, emails I receive this week and after may be quoted in this blog. Please let me know if I can use your company name when I identify who I'm quoting. Otherwise I'll just use first names.

Send your comments about:

- what you learned (about safety) in 2010
- any comments you have about safety
- any solutions you have to a safety problem
- any comments about this blog

Send them to: duralabelpro@gmail.com.

Pictures are also welcome, if you have something that can be better said using a picture.

Of course, you can also add your comments directly to any post by click on the "Add Comment" link at the bottom of each post.

Thank you!
Steve
The Safe Workplace Blog

Are There Rules On Lone Worker Safety In The U.S.?

2012-01-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

A lone worker (LW) is defined as an employee who performs an activity that is intended to be carried out in isolation from other workers, without close or direct supervision.

What do you think?

Janitorial and maintenance staff
may frequently be lone workers.

Are there standards, rules and regulations are there in the U.S. that specifically protect lone workers? A quick search of the OSHA web site turned up nothing. Are lone worker standards needed? Or are existing standards requiring safe work practices sufficient?

The United Kingdom has specific legislation and standards that are relevant to Lone Workers and their Employers. Common practices used by companies to manage the personal safety of their Lone Workers are:

Conducting Risk Assessments
Documenting a Lone Worker Policy
Implementation of a Buddy System
Lone Worker Training
Conflict Management Training
Use of monitoring systems and equipment (Panic Alarms, Mandown (fall/impact) Detectors, Pendant Trackers)

What do you think? Add your comment using the "Add Comment" link below.

Past Posts:
The Fight Over Silca Dust Exposure
Employer OSHA Obligations
Protecting Roofing Contractors

OSHA Fines For Serious Violations Double In 2011

2012-01-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

The Bureau of National Affairs reports that OSHA conducted slightly fewer inspections in 2011, but the average proposed penalty for a serious workplace safety violation more than doubled. The report on their web site states:

"The average serious violation penalty for 2011 was $2,132, up 102 percent from the 2010 average of $1,053. Under the Bush administration in 2008, the average was $998. The maximum penalty for a serious violation is $7,000."

"The increase resulted from OSHA instituting a new penalty structure on Oct. 1, 2010 (40 OSHR 843, 10/14/10). The changes reduced the size of penalty cuts employers were eligible for because of the number of workers, safety records, and other factors."

You can read the complete report here.

Related Past Posts:
OSHA Fine For Lack Of LOTO
$1,000,000 OSHA Fine
OSHA Fine Could Close Small Company

Mining Deaths Second-Lowest In A Century

2012-01-09T04:57:00.000-08:00

The Spokesman-Review in Washington state reported on Friday that:

Long wall mining. Photo by Markus Schweiss.

"The number of U.S. mining deaths last year was the second-lowest reported since statistics were first recorded in 1910, the U.S. Department of Labor says. Work-related accidents took the lives of 37 miners in 2011."

You can read the complete article here.

More details are available in the Mine Safety News blog, which has the complete MSHA press release, which reports:

"Of the 37 fatalities reported, 12 occurred at surface coal mines, 11 at surface metal/nonmetal mines, nine at underground coal mines and five at underground metal/nonmetal mines. Nine workers died in accidents involving machinery — six in coal mines and three in metal/nonmetal mines — making it the leading cause of fatal mining accidents. Kentucky had the most mining deaths — eight — in 2011, followed by West Virginia with six and Ohio with three. All but one of those deaths occurred in coal mines."

"Several of the larger coal-producing states, including Alabama, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Utah, experienced zero mine fatalities last year."

Wyoming AFL-CIO Calls For Sweeping Changes To Improve Safety

2012-01-09T04:54:00.000-08:00

Casper, Wyoming

Last week Wyoming was reported as being the worst state for safety. An article in the Billing Gazette reported:

"An epidemiologist's yearlong study of Wyoming's grim record as one of the worst states for deadly workplace accidents has produced a scathing assessment: Employers consistently fail to enforce safety rules while telling their employees to just 'get the job done.'"

Business Week magazine reported: "Wyoming's overall workplace death rate was more than three and a half times the national average in 2010 and has ranked worst in the nation five of the past 10 years"

"Ignored safety rules correlated with 96 percent of the 62 deaths in Wyoming's petroleum industry from 2001-2008, when objects struck or crushed 16 of 32 workers killed on drilling rigs and 17 of the 25 oil and gas workers killed in vehicle accidents weren't wearing seat belts."

On Friday a pree release from the Wyoming State AFL-CIO and SAFER, released through the Equity State Policy Center, called for sweeping changes in Wyoming to improve worker safety. The press release stated:

Wyoming must make sweeping legislative, agency, policy, and cultural changes to ensure the safety of its workers.

Dr. Timothy Ryan, then the state epidemiologist, extensively documented Wyoming's appalling workplace safety record in his December 19th report to Governor Matt Mead. Wyoming had the nation's highest or second highest workplace fatality rate in the country for eight of the nine years between 2001 and 2009. In 2010 there were 34 workplace fatalities in Wyoming, a 78% increase from 2009.

Dr. Ryan's report also points out the failure of state and industry leaders to take the carnage seriously and do something about it.

"It's high time that state government and the Legislature quit playing games with the lives of workers in Wyoming," said Wyoming State AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Kim Floyd.

"Eight years of being worse or second-worst in death-on-the-job is proof that there's a problem in Wyoming that needs to be remedied," he added. "They need to step up to the plate."

Another year has passed but Dr. Ryan's report offers only more of the same palliatives, calling for continuing data collection and monitoring, along with more encouragement of industry efforts to reform itself – efforts that industry itself admits have failed.

"That Wyoming lacks a strong culture of safety should be obvious to anybody familiar with our State's abhorrent workplace safety record," said Mark Aronowitz, lead attorney for SAFER, the Spence Association For Employee Rights. "What we urgently need is a renewed commitment to safety with on-the-ground changes, from the highest levels of our state government down to individual work sites."

The state must use its legal power and moral authority to force industry to adopt the fundamental changes required to, as Gov. Mead says, "… get workers in Wyoming home safely at the end of the day."

Wyoming must:

- Empower OSHA, enabling it to hire more inspectors to not only increase courtesy inspections, but to conduct both scheduled and surprise inspections and subsequently fine and penalize companies violating safety laws. Mandatory inspections should be required following any accident requiring hospitalization;

Coal mine in Wyoming

- Direct OSHA to determine why Wyoming mines, where the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulates safety, have significantly better safety records than other hazardous industries;

- Increase penalties and fines for employers and employees who discourage reporting of injuries to avoid increases in Workers Compensation premiums, to protect safety bonuses, or for any other reason;

- Make company injury records public. MSHA does this. General contractors, worksite owners, and workers, especially those working in ultra and extra hazardous industries, deserve to know whether their sub-contractors, independent contractors, and employers have instilled or rejected a culture of safety.

"Data collection and analysis are fine, but preventing injuries and fatalities must be the primary focus of any meaningful change," Aronowitz said.

OSHA Directive Continues Targeted Inspection Program For Protecting Federal Workers

2012-01-09T02:42:00.000-08:00

OSHA recently updated its Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program (FEDTARG) directive for fiscal year 2012. FEDTARG directs programmed inspections of federal agency establishments that experienced high numbers of lost time injuries during FY 2011.

The directive outlines the procedures for carrying out programmed inspections at some of the most hazardous federal workplaces. OSHA will inspect all establishments reporting 100 or more lost time cases (LTCs) during FY 2011; 50 percent of those establishments reporting 50 to 99 LTCs; and 10 percent of those reporting 20 to 49 LTCs.

Changes to this directive include provisions for reviewing alternate and supplementary standards for federal agencies, which are the equivalent of private sector variances from OSHA standards. Other changes include clarifications of how OSHA Area Directors determine the appropriate number and location of on-site inspections for establishments with multiple services or operations.

FEDTARG12 continues OSHA's nationwide inspection targeting program for federal worksites. This program began in 2008 in response to a Government Accountability Office audit report that recommended the agency develop a targeted inspection program for federal worksites. Executive Order 12196, Occupational Safety and Health Programs for Federal Employees, Paragraph 1-401(i) requires Federal OSHA to "conduct unannounced inspections of agency workplaces when the Secretary determines necessary if an agency does not have occupational safety and health committees; or in response to reports of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions."

What Did You Learn In 2011?

2012-01-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

With a few breaks I've been writing this safety blog for nearly six years. There are nearly 1000 safety professionals subscribing to it. As I'm sitting here this morning reviewing the past year, I'm wondering what 2011 was like for you. Based on statistics the workplace in general is becoming slightly safer. There have been a lot of changes at OSHA. The workforce is changing, becoming older in some respects, but also having an influx of young workers. Plus our employees are becoming much more diverse.

So... what was 2011 like for you? What was the one most important safety (or industrial health) lesson you learned in 2011? And please don't tell me you didn't learn anything new. When I was a softball umpire I learned that after every game I could go over it in my head and see something I could have done better. Every game I umpired I learned how to be a better umpire. Safety is much more important than softball.

So what did you learn about safety or health last year? In what ways were you able to improve your safety performance or awareness?

You can email me at: duralabelpro@gmail.com

I'll share some of the answers I get in a future blog post.

Free Arc Flash Labeling Webinar - NFPA 70E 2012

2012-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Free Safety Webinar
January 25, 2012: New Standards for Arc Flash Labels

New labeling standards just published by the NFPA require arc flash labels to display more information than previously required. And arc flash labels must be used on many more types of electrical equipment than previously required.

This FREE arc flash labeling webinar is being provided by Graphic Products. It will explain many of the new NFPA 70E arc flash labeling standards and describe what is needed to be in compliance with the new standards.

The Date:
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern

Who Should Attend?
Industrial Electricians, Electrical Contractors, Industrial Hygienists, Safety Supervisors, and all other electrical professionals.

Learn where arc flash labels must be posted
Find out what new information arc flash labels must display
See how labeling software makes compliance easy

Presenter: Eric Johnson, Arc Flash Product Specialist
For more than 3 years Mr. Johnson has served as both a product specialist and technical writer at DuraLabel. His industrial research and writing have been and continue to be instrumental in helping the company develop new labeling products for electrical professionals and others in the electrical industry.
There will be plenty of information to help today's electrical professional comply with these latest standards and provide improved safety near arc flash hazards.

Remember, the new NFPA 70E standards are already in effect. Use the webinar to get up to speed on what is required for arc flash labeling.

Register for the Graphic Products Arc Flash Webinar

Review: free-training.com - Offering Free Safety Training

2012-01-04T09:33:00.000-08:00

At the end of each year I do a survey of the internet to see what's available for free online safety training. I'm looking for quality, comprehensive safety training that would be useful for small companies with limited budgets. This year I found a safety training site I had not seen before. It is called www.Free-Training.com and it focuses on providing free OSHA compliance training.

The quality of the graphics and web design is not very good. This gives an initial impression that this is not a very professional web site.

There are two areas within the web site. One for those taking the training, and another, password protected area for training managers. Signing up as a training manager is quick, but apparently signups are reviewed manually and getting your password may take up to a day.

There are currently four training courses offered:

1. Hazard Communication
2. Personal Protective Equipment
3. Back Safety
4. Forklift Safety and Operation

The screen below is from the forklift training course.

The courses are good. They start at a very basic level that is good for new employees. They incorporate questions, that must be answered correctly before moving to the next page of the course. The only drawback is, like the overall web site, the graphics and design are simplistic. However, although not flashy the training that is provided is good.

If you are looking for a source for free online safety training, the www.free-training.com web site is worth checking out.

FREE Safety Training DVD From Graphic Products

2011-12-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

Free Safety Training DVD

Get this safety DVD free from Graphic Products.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has produced a series of safety training videos. To make these easily and conveniently available for use in individual and group training, Graphic Products has made placed some of these safety videos on a DVD. The videos are available in both English and Spanish language versions on the DVD.
These safety DVDs may be freely copied, so you can make copies of the DVD for employees to take home with them.

Having these the MSHA safety training videos available on DVD also makes them easy to use in training classes, in any location a DVD player or computer is available.

Although created for the mining industry the topics covered on this DVD are applicable in any workplace, not just mining. The dramatizations in the videos are situations anyone can relate to and understand.

The DVD covers safety awareness training, and chemical and dust hazards. In addition the DVD provides information about solutions for proper use of safety signs and labeling.

You can order your free copy of this safety DVD here: Free Safety Videos

Captain Safety - Safety Videos Produced By A High School Class

2011-12-29T09:41:00.000-08:00

I was checking out safety videos on YouTube and ran across a series of animated safety videos produced by Mainland High School that I thought were interesting. Here are two:

This first video is about preventing back injuries:

The second safety video is about fall protection and features Captain Safety's fall quiz:

Have a happy and safe new year!

$1,000,000 OSHA Fine For Piping Technology & Products In Houston

2011-12-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited Piping Technology and Products Inc. for 13 willful and 17 serious violations for exposing workers to the risk of amputations and other serious injuries from dangerous machinery, as well as other hazards, at the company's Houston facility. Proposed penalties total $1,013,000. (A statement from Piping Technology and Products is included below.)

"Repeatedly ignoring the law while risking workers' lives and providing misleading information to federal investigators will not be tolerated," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Employers who endanger the lives and limbs of their employees must be held accountable."

A worker at Piping Technology contacted OSHA earlier this year, alleging a lack of brakes on overhead cranes and unguarded presses at the company's facility on Holmes Road. This complaint triggered an investigation by OSHA's Houston South Area Office. In addition to substantiating the complaint items, the inspection found that employees were permitted to cut metal I-beams and pipes without the proper machine guarding, which exposed them to possible severe injuries. Additionally, OSHA inspectors found that during machine maintenance, workers were exposed to the unexpected release of stored energy because of improper safeguards.

"Piping Technology deliberately exposed its workers who operate band saws and other dangerous machinery to amputation hazards while misleading OSHA investigators about the use of these machines," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels.

The willful violations involve the failure to guard seven band saws and to lock out all of the sources of hazardous energy to six pieces of equipment before service and maintenance. Each of the 13 citations carries a penalty of $70,000, for a total of $910,000. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

The 17 serious violations, with penalties totaling $103,000, involve the failure to guard other machines and grinders properly, ensure that openings on electrical equipment were securely closed, provide fall protection training and ensure that employees wore hard hats when exposed to overhead hazards. 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.

Piping Technology had knowledge of OSHA requirements due to citations issued in 1986, 1994, 2004 and 2005 that specifically addressed the need to guard the band saws used in production processes. In 2004 and 2005, OSHA cited the company with penalties totaling $82,500 and $33,000, respectively, for a variety of workplace hazards that included lockout/tagout violations.

OSHA has placed Piping Technology in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Initiated in June 2010, the program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. For more information on SVEP, visit http://s.dol.gov/J3.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Piping-tech-prod-312928344-1228-11.pdf*.

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

=================
Piping Technology and Products has issued the following press release:

Proposed OSHA Citations

Houston, TX – December 28, 2011 – Piping Technology has been the subject of an OSHA investigation that began earlier this year. Piping Technology Vice President, R. K. Agrawal offers the following statement in response to the citations and proposed fines by OSHA:

“Piping Technology & Products maintains a safe workplace for its employees. We started out in a garage in Southeast Houston and we’ve grown the company to nearly 600 employees over the last 30+ years. All the while, we’ve maintained employee safety as our #1 priority. And we think the data supports it.

Regarding the citations and proposed fines just issued by OSHA, we disagree with the conclusions that OSHA has reached. We look forward to working with OSHA to resolve the situation.

Throughout OSHA’s recent inspection of our facility, the men and women of Piping Technology, including members of our safety team, our department supervisors, our management and our other employees have fully cooperated with OSHA inspectors.”

PRESS CONTACT
R. K. Agrawal
Phone: (713) 364-6821

Free Online Safety Training Resources: IL-OSHA

2011-12-29T04:35:00.000-08:00

The Illinois OSHA provides a number of safety training resources that are available on their web site for anyone to download. The web site is at: http://www.illinoisosha.com/resource.htm

The following is a list of the safety materials that are available:

Safety Books Available for Download as Adobe Acrobat files (PDF):

Emergency Preparedness (565k)
Forklift Safety Guide Administrators Manual–English & Spanish (1MB)
Forklift Safety Guide English or Spanish (1.6MB)
Personal Protective Equipment (96k)
Managing Worker Safety and Health (1.3MB)
Complying with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard - English (160k)
Complying with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard - Spanish (276k)
Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) (640k)
Assessing Safety and Health Management Programs (160k)
Residential Fall Protection Nailing It Down English or Spanish (1.4MB)
Work Smart - Be Safe English or Spanish (9MB)
Silica - Ready Mix (580K)
Slips and Falls

Written Programs: Available for download as Adobe Acrobat files (.PDF)* or Rich-Text documents (RTF). These are sample written plans provided as a guide to assist in complying with OSHA's standards.

Emergency Action & Fire Prevention Plan
Hazard Communication Program
Hearing Conservation Program
Chemical Hygiene Plan
Bloodborne Pathogens
    Option 1, Good Samaritan
    Option 2, Collatoral Dut y
    Option 3, Designated First Aid Provider s
    Option 4, Full Program, revised 2003
Energy Control Procedure (Lockout/Tagout)
Permit-Required Confined Space Program
Respirator Program

Safety Checklists Available For Download as Adobe Acrobat files (.PDF)* or Rich-Text documents (RTF):

Excavation Entrance Permit
Excavation Handout
Electrical Safety Checklist
Means of Egress and Fire Protection
Checklist for Hazardous Communication
Energy Control (Lockout/Tagout) Checklist
Personal Protective Equipment Hazard Review Forms
Checklist for Respiratory Protection Programs
Walking-Working Surfaces
Hazardous Material Checklist

Safety Posters Available as PDF files:

Safety Penguin (A)
Safety Penguin (B)
Slips and Falls
Why Daddy Can't Come Home Anymore

Risk Assessment Detail Sheets:

Machine Safeguarding Methods
Press Brake (metal)
Shear
Milling Machine
Risk Assessment
Abrasive Wheel Grinder
Drill Press
Horizontal Cutoff Saw
Vertical Bandsaw
Radial Saw
Three Roll Benders
Plastic Injection Molding
Ironworker

Five Families Awarded $1.5 Million In OSHA Violation Case

2011-12-21T06:47:00.002-08:00

This report comes from the Reuters news service.

In 2007 workers were relining a tunnel at a Xcel Energy Colorado hydroelectric plant when fumes ignited killing five workers. The new report stated:

"The company that employed five workers killed in a 2007 fire at a Colorado hydroelectric plant was ordered on Monday by a federal judge to pay more than $1.5 million to the victims' surviving family members."

"The compensation was part of the sentence imposed on RPI Coating Inc. in U.S. District Court for its guilty plea to five counts of violating a federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation, one for each worker's death."

In previous trials Xcel Energy Inc., an Xcel subsidiary that operated the facility, and Xcel executives were acquitted.

You can read the complete news report here.

OSHA Orders Union Pacific Railroad To Reinstate And Pay $300,000 To Terminated Employee

2011-12-21T06:47:00.001-08:00

OSHA has ordered Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific Railroad Co. to immediately reinstate an employee in Idaho who was terminated after reporting a work-related injury. OSHA also has ordered the company to pay the employee more than $300,000 in back wages, compensatory damages, attorney's fees and punitive damages.

The following is from an OSHA press release. A statement from Union Pacific follows the OSHA statement.

The employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA, alleging suspension without pay and then termination 23 days after notifying the company of an on-the-job injury. OSHA's investigation found reasonable cause to believe that the disciplinary charges and termination were not based on the complainant breaking a work rule but on the complainant reporting an injury to the railroad, in violation of the Federal Railroad Safety Act's whistleblower protection provisions. Union Pacific Railroad Co. was found to have similarly violated the FRSA in four other cases elsewhere in the U.S. since 2009.

"This case sends a clear message that OSHA will not tolerate retaliation against workers for reporting a work-related injury. An unreported injury is an uninvestigated injury. Nothing is learned that can help prevent the next injury," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "The safety of all workers is endangered when employers intimidate injured workers so that they do not report injuries."

The following is a statement from Union Pacific:

Union Pacific Response to OSHA's Whistleblower Claims

In recent days, Union Pacific was assessed fines by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for alleged whistleblower violations. OSHA added inaccurate comments about Union Pacific's safety programs that require response.

Union Pacific's very successful and heavily promoted core safety program, Total Safety Culture, is based on continuous reporting and resolution of safety concerns. OSHA's assertion that Union Pacific would undermine this successful program, which has reduced injuries to the lowest level in Union Pacific history, by retaliating against employees who participate, is simply not true.

In one of the cases for which Union Pacific received an enormous penalty, OSHA claims the employee was dismissed for making safety complaints. In reality, the dismissed employee had insisted on wearing a body decoration containing a well-known term of profanity and a death threat. He refused a simple request to cover his decoration while on duty. Union Pacific is entitled to restrict this misconduct.

In another case, the employee ignored a required procedure for reporting a track safety issue. The employee was issued minimal discipline under the terms of his Collective Bargaining Agreement, an agreement negotiated on his behalf by his union.

In the third case, the employee waited two months to report an on-the-job injury. Union Pacific has an obligation to the Federal Railroad Administration to report injuries immediately. More importantly, immediate reporting is necessary so that the safety issue can be addressed to prevent injuries to other employees.

Union Pacific is appealing these decisions to an Administrative Law Judge, requesting a full and fair trial. Union Pacific will be entitled to present all of its evidence, which will demonstrate that its actions were both legal and appropriate.

Free Safety Training Materials Available From OSHA

2011-12-21T06:47:00.000-08:00

OSHA Safety Training Materials Web Page

OSHA provides workplace safety training programs that are freely available for employers to use. These training programs usually provide Power Point presentations, PDFs, pre-tests and post-tests.; OSHA has posted the training materials on the web where they may be accessed and downloaded at no charge.

The safety training has been tailored to meet the needs of various training audiences including: workers, employers, young workers, and non-English speaking workers. Some of the safety training is available in languages other than English such as Spanish, Vietnamese, and Manda.

The available training materials are listed on this OSHA page (click here).

Some of the topics covered include:
Amputation Hazards
Combustible Dust
Disaster Response
Electrical Safety
Emergency Preparedness
Ergonomics
Excavation and Trenching
Fall Protection
Falls From Scaffolds, Ladders and Roofs
Food Processing
Heat Stress
Lockout/Tagout
Materials Handling
Oil and Gas Industry Safety
Process Safety Management
Slips Trips and Falls
Workplace Violence

Study Finds Investing In Occupational Health "Best Practices" Improves Outcomes For Injured Workers

2011-12-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

A new study of occupational health care in Washington State shows that improving medical care for injured workers can dramatically reduce lost work time. The study is published in the December 2011 issue of the American Public Health Association journal, Medical Care. Dr. Gary Franklin, medical director for the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), which enforces the state's occupational safety and health standards, was one of the researchers involved in the study.

"Work-related disability is a major public health problem that's largely overlooked in the U.S.," Franklin said. "This study shows that using occupational health best practices when treating injured workers can have an important effect on their recovery."

L&I's community-based Centers of Occupational Health and Education (COHE) work with medical providers to encourage the best ways to treat injured workers. These "best practices" focus on the safe, healthy return of injured workers to full function and full employment. The study found that injured workers treated by health-care providers operating under COHE best practices had 19.7 percent fewer disability days than other injured workers receiving treatment, and a reduction in total disability and medical costs of $510 per claim. Workers suffering from back strain had a reduction in disability days of 29.5 percent.

Read the news release for more information.

Court Upholds OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy

2011-12-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

A report on ISHN web site states that last week a D.C. Court upheld OSHA's multi-employer citation policy. The ISHN report states:

"The D.C. Circuit ruled that OSHA was not required to promulgate through notice and comment rulemaking its multi-employer citation policy and could impose multi-employer liability through adjudication before the OSHRC. The Court also rejected the contractor’s claim that multi-employer liability establishes a common law duty of care to subcontractor employees in violation of section 4(b)(4) of the OSH Act."

Under the policy, OSHA inspectors may cite employers on multi-employer work sites for violations that do not expose their own workers to occupational hazards. For example, a general contractor who controls the work site may be responsible for violations created by a subcontractor whose workers are exposed to safety or health hazards.

OSHA's multi-employer policy is available here on the OSHA web site..

New OSHA Tire Charts Help Workers Safely Service Single And Multi-Piece Rim Wheels

2011-12-19T07:13:00.000-08:00

OSHA has revised its tire servicing materials to address current hazards in the industry and help workers safely perform maintenance on large vehicle tires. The high resolution files are available free for downloading (see below).

The revised materials address OSHA's Materials Handling and Storage standard that protects workers who service single-piece and multi-piece rim wheels. Following recent talks with representatives from tire, rubber, and wheel manufacturers, OSHA determined a need for new materials with updates from sources such as the Tire Industry Association.

The updated information, available in a portable manual or as three poster-sized charts, is easier to access and use. OSHA's revised "Multi-piece Rim Matching Chart" provides an updated list of current and obsolete components, and the old "Demounting and Mounting Procedures for Truck/Bus Tires" chart is now expanded into two charts that deal individually with tubeless and tube-type tires.

"These updated materials will provide readily accessible information on how to prevent worker injuries and deaths from tire-servicing incidents," said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "The new format and easy access will simplify compliance with the standard by helping employers provide their workers with vital servicing information."

The revised tire charts are available free for download on OSHA's Publications page.

Judge Says Injured Whistle-Blower Got Railroaded

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

A short article in today's Business Management Daily reports on a court ruling against Norfolk Southern Railway that awarded $122,199 to a worker who had been told not to report an injury, and then was fired when he eventually reported the injury. The article reports that:

"OSHA speculated on the reason: Norfolk Southern won the E.H. Harriman Gold Medal Safety Award for 22 consecutive years and was concerned reporting the injuries would imperil winning the award again."

Read the complete article here.

OSHA Proposes $195,000 Fine After Worker Fatality At Recycling Plant

2011-12-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited Resource Management Cos. at its Earth City recycling facility for 37 safety and health violations. An inspection was opened after a worker died from injuries sustained on June 12 when he entered a baling machine to clear a jam and it became energized.

"Resource Management Cos. has a responsibility to ensure that its workers are protected from hazardous working conditions, especially ones related to dangerous equipment such as baling machines," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "Employers are required by law to ensure that work environments are safe and healthful. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so."

Twenty-two serious safety violations have been cited, including failing to lock out and tag out the energy sources of equipment and install adequate machine guarding. They also involve hazards related to fall protection, exits, flammable liquids, fire extinguishers, powered industrial trucks, and welding and electrical equipment. Additionally, eight serious health violations involve inadequate housekeeping, excessive noise, improper personal protective equipment, permit required space program, and blood borne pathogens hazards. 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.

One repeat safety violation has been cited relating to defective powered industrial trucks that were not taken out of service. 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. The company was cited in April 2010 for a similar violation.

Six other-than-serious safety and health violations have been cited, involving egress, fire extinguisher, personal protective equipment and hazard communications deficiencies. 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.

Proposed fines total $195,930. The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ResourceMgt_315652776_1206_11.pdf*
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ResourceMgt_315464289_1206_11.pdf*

Resource Management Cos. 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.

$468,000 In OSHA Fines For Lack of LOTO and Machine Guarding

2011-12-19T04:57:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited Boomerang Tube LLC for six willful, nine serious and one other-than-serious violation at the company's facility in Liberty, where three employees were seriously injured within a period of five months. Proposed penalties total $468,000.

"This employer jeopardized the safety of its employees by failing to follow OSHA's safety standards for energy control procedures and machine guarding," said John Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "It is very unfortunate that these workers were so seriously injured when the causes should have been prevented."

OSHA's Houston North Area Office began an investigation June 14 in response to a complaint from one of the injured employees that workers faced unsafe conditions while operating cranes and slitter, rolling and thread machines; performing service and maintenance work; and stacking and loading pipes in the yard and on trucks at the company's work site on Farm to Market 3361. In April, an employee was injured from becoming caught in an operating machine and in May, a second employee was struck by a piece of steel and knocked into a 5-foot-10-inch concrete pit. In September, another employee was injured from becoming caught in machinery. All three had to be flown to a local hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

The willful violations were cited for failing to repair a damaged under-hung crane, which lifts and lowers materials; ensure the use of lockout/tagout procedures to control the energy sources of equipment; and provide the required machine guarding on the pipe manufacturing line. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

The serious violations include failing to repair defective hook latches on operating cranes; ensure the facility was clear of trip and fall hazards, such as providing a cover for an open pit; and failing to ensure that loads did not exceed the rated capacity of industrial trucks. 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 other-than-serious violation was for failing to maintain required records of injuries and illnesses. 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.

Boomerang Tube, which employs approximately 460 workers and specializes in tube manufacturing, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Houston North area director, 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/boomerangtube_315610279_1214_11.pdf*.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742), the agency's Houston North office at 281-591-2438 or its Houston South office at 281-286-0583.

Mine Safety Director's Firing Called Unfair

2011-12-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

This report comes from the Kentucky State news web site. The news story states:

"A safety director at a Leslie County strip mine [T&T Energy LLC] was fired because he tried to correct potentially dangerous defects in equipment and pointed out other problems, a federal investigator concluded. The U.S. Department of Labor wants the miner, Jonathan Gregory, reinstated while he pursues a claim that he was improperly fired. Coal companies can reinstate a miner economically instead of physically, meaning it could pay a miner who would not come to work."

The news story provides information from the safety director giving some of the details of what happened, why the safety director felt part of the mine was unsafe, and how company managers responded.

MSHA Cites Corporate Culture As Root Cause of Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster

2011-12-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Massey is issued 369 citations and orders with $10.8 million in civil penalties

MSHA announced that it has imposed a fine of $10,825,368, the largest in agency history, following its investigation into the April 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch-South Mine, which was operated by Performance Coal Co., a subsidiary of Massey Energy Co. The investigation followed an explosion that killed 29 miners and injured two – the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in 40 years. A report concludes that Massey's corporate culture was the root cause of the tragedy. MSHA has issued Massey and PCC 369 citations and orders, including for an unprecedented 21 flagrant violations, which carry the most serious civil penalties available under the law.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith, MSHA Assistant Secretary Joseph A. Main and MSHA Administrator for Coal Kevin Stricklin met with families today to share the agency's findings.

"The tragic explosion at Upper Big Branch left dozens of families without husbands, fathers, brothers and sons," said Secretary Solis. "I made a pledge to the families of those we lost, and the entire mining community, to conduct the most complete and thorough investigation possible in order to find the cause of this disaster. The results of the investigation lead to the conclusion that PCC/Massey promoted and enforced a workplace culture that valued production over safety, and broke the law as they endangered the lives of their miners. By issuing the largest fine in MSHA's history, I hope to send a strong message that the safety of miners must come first."

The agency's presentation of findings follows a non-prosecution agreement reached today among the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, the U.S. Department of Justice, Alpha Natural Resources Inc. and Alpha Appalachia Holdings Inc., formerly known as Massey Energy Co. The agreement — which includes nearly $210 million for remedial safety measures at all Alpha mines, a trust fund for improvements in mine safety and health, payment of outstanding civil penalties for all former Massey mines and restitution payments for the victims' families — resolves criminal liability for Alpha but does not provide protection against criminal prosecution of any individuals.

"This agreement can go a long way toward changing a safety culture that was clearly broken at Massey's mines," said Secretary Solis. "Although this agreement is significant, it in no way absolves any individuals responsible for this terrible tragedy of their criminal liability. We will continue to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure that the responsible parties will be brought to justice."

MSHA concluded that the 29 miners died in a massive coal dust explosion that started as a methane ignition. While the investigation found the physical conditions that led to the coal dust explosion were the result of a series of basic safety violations at UBB, which PCC and Massey disregarded, the report cites unlawful policies and practices implemented by PCC and Massey as the root cause of the explosion – including the intimidation of miners, advance notice of inspections, and two sets of books with hazards recorded in UBB's internal production and maintenance book but not in the official examination book. The investigation found that the operator promoted and enforced a workplace culture that valued production over safety, including practices calculated to allow it to conduct mining operations in violation of the law.

"Every time Massey sent miners into the UBB Mine, Massey put those miners' lives at risk. Massey management created a culture of fear and intimidation in their miners to hide their reckless practices. Today's report brings to light the tragic consequences of a corporate culture that values production over people," said Main. "The secretary and I are committed to improving the health and safety of America's miners. To honor the memory of the lives lost at UBB, we will use the lessons learned from this terrible tragedy to fulfill that commitment."

MSHA issued PCC and Massey 12 citations and orders deemed contributory to the cause of the accident, and nine of those violations were assessed as flagrant, which carry the highest possible penalties. Violations include illegally providing advance notice to miners of MSHA inspections; failing to properly conduct required examinations; allowing hazardous levels of loose coal, coal dust and float coal dust to accumulate; failing to adequately apply rock dust to the mine; failing to adequately train miners; and failing to comply with approved ventilation plans and approved roof control plans. MSHA also issued 357 citations and orders to PCC and Massey that did not contribute directly to the explosion, including 11 assessed as flagrant. Additionally, MSHA issued two contributory and two non-contributory violations to David Stanley Consulting LLC — a contractor that supplied examiners and other miners to work at UBB — for its examiner's failure to properly conduct examinations. These violations carry penalties of $142,684.

MSHA conducted its investigation under the authority of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, which requires that authorized representatives of the secretary of labor carry out investigations in mines for the purpose of obtaining, utilizing and disseminating information relating to the causes of the accidents.

MSHA conducted the underground investigation in coordination with the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training, the Governor's Independent Investigative Panel and Massey Energy. The United Mine Workers of America participated in the investigation in its capacity as a representative of miners designated pursuant to the Mine Act, as did Moreland & Moreland l.c.
The accident investigation report, along with supplementary documents, is available on the agency's UBB single source page at http://www.msha.gov/PerformanceCoal/PerformanceCoal.asp.

OSHA Proposes $164,000 In Fines Against Central Transport International

2011-12-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited Central Transport International Inc. for 17 safety, including four repeat, violations at the company's Hillside facility. The violations involve allowing workers to operate unsafe forklifts and failing to provide proper eyewash facilities for workers exposed to corrosive chemicals, among others. Proposed penalties total $164,800.

OSHA's Chicago North Area Office initiated an inspection after receiving a complaint alleging that employees were not provided with forklift training and a hazardous material spill had occurred due to a forklift incident. No injuries were reported.

"Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to workplace safety and health standards. Deficient forklifts and improperly handled chemicals can lead to serious injuries or death," said Diane Turek, director of OSHA's Chicago North office in Des Plaines. "All employers must take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace."

Four repeat violations with proposed penalties of $132,000 have been cited, including exposing workers to hazards by allowing them to operate forklifts that remained in service even after deficiencies were noted; exposing workers' eyes, faces and hands to corrosive chemicals without providing suitable eyewash facilities; and failing to develop an emergency response plan and conduct fire extinguisher training. 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. The company was cited for the same violations at numerous facilities between 2006 and 2011.

Central Transport also has been cited for eight serious violations with proposed penalties of $30,800, including failing to train and evaluate forklift drivers, maintain forklift name plates in legible condition, label hazardous material containers, maintain the mechanic shop maintenance area in a dry condition, provide workers with training on hazardous chemicals and provide material data safety sheets for workers' reference. 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.

Finally, the company has been cited for five other-than-serious violations with $2,000 in proposed penalties for failing to maintain the OSHA 300 injury and illness log, maintain fire extinguishers, illuminate exit signs and unlock a fire exit door. 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/CentralTransport_77120_1205_11.pdf*.

Central Transport, a national freight company based in Warren, Mich., has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Chicago North area director in Des Plaines or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Chicago North office at 847-803-4800.

OSHA Settles Litigation In July 2010 Deaths Of Two Teens In Illinois

2011-12-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

OSHA has reached an agreement with Haasbach LLC in Mount Carroll, resolving 25 citations issued by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and child labor civil money penalties. The resolution follows the deaths of Wyatt Whitebread, 14, and Alex Pacas, 19, at the company's Mt. Carroll grain bin facility in July 2010. A 20-year-old worker also was seriously injured in the incident.

"This tragedy has had a profound effect on the community of Mt. Carroll and the grain industry nationwide," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "We hope that the deaths of these two young men send a profound and unmistakable message throughout the grain industry that loss of life can and must be prevented."

At the time of the incident, the workers were "walking down the corn" to make it flow while machinery used to convey the grain was running. All three became trapped in corn more than 30 feet deep, and Whitebread and Pacas suffocated.

OSHA cited Haasbach for 12 willful, 12 serious and one other-than-serious violation of the agency's grain standards. Following the agreement reached in this case, which was approved by an administrative law judge of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the company must pay $200,000 in penalties, an amount amended from the original fines assessed. Haasbach is no longer in business.

Since 2009, OSHA has fined grain operators in Illinois, Colorado, South Dakota and Wisconsin following similar preventable fatalities and injuries. In addition to enforcement actions, Michaels sent a notification letter to grain elevator operators warning them not to allow workers to enter grain storage facilities without proper equipment, precautions and training. "OSHA will not tolerate noncompliance with the Grain Handling Facilities standard," said Michaels in the letter. "We will continue to use our enforcement authority to the fullest extent possible."

OSHA's Region V, which includes Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin, initiated a Grain Safety Local Emphasis Program in August 2010. This program focuses on hazards associated with grain engulfment, machine guarding, lockout/tagout of dangerous equipment to prevent accidental start up, electricity, falls, employee training and combustible dust hazards.

A separate investigation by the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division found that Haasbach violated the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor provisions by employing workers under age 18 to perform hazardous jobs that are prohibited by the FLSA. Under the agreement, Haasbach will pay $68,125, the full civil money penalty originally assessed as a result of those violations.

"It is against the law to put the health and well-being of minors at risk by requiring them to perform prohibited hazardous jobs," said Nancy Leppink, deputy administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. "It is the employer's responsibility to know and adhere to child labor laws and regulations. If violators decide not to follow the law, they should know that the Wage and Hour Division will not hesitate to use all available tools, including litigation, to pursue those who put young workers in harm's way."

Under the FLSA's child labor provisions, the secretary of labor has declared certain jobs too hazardous for anyone younger than 18 to perform and other jobs too dangerous for anyone younger than 16. For example, employing and requiring anyone younger than 16 to work in occupations involving warehousing or transportation, including in a grain bin operation, is a violation. Similarly, employing a worker younger than 18 to climb on top of a high grain bin violates a hazardous order, as does having a minor work in a hazardous occupation involving the operation of a power-driven hoisting device. These rules must be followed unless a specific exemption applies. More information on child labor rules can be found at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/youth.html, and information about hazardous occupations orders is available at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/docs/haznonag.asp.

The Labor Department has proposed a regulation that would, among other changes, create a new hazardous occupations order involving the nonagricultural employment of individuals under age 18. The regulation would prohibit them from being employed in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm-product raw materials. Prohibited places of employment would include country grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions. For more information on the proposed rule, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/CL/AG_NPRM.htm.

DOT Final Rule Bans Hand-Held Cell Phone Use by Drivers of Buses and Large Trucks

2011-12-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a final rule prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles. The joint rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the latest action by the U.S. Department of Transportation to end distracted driving.

“When drivers of large trucks, buses and hazardous materials take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds, the outcome can be deadly,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.”

The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver's commercial driver’s license (CDL) after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000. Approximately four million commercial drivers would be affected by this final rule.

“This final rule represents a giant leap for safety,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “It’s just too dangerous for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle. Drivers must keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and head in the game when operating on our roads. Lives are at stake.”

While driver distraction studies have produced mixed results, FMCSA research shows that using a hand-held cell phone while driving requires a commercial driver to take several risky steps beyond what is required for using a hands-free mobile phone, including searching and reaching for the phone. Commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Dialing a hand-held cell phone makes it six times more likely that commercial drivers will be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event.

In September 2010, FMCSA issued a regulation banning text messaging while operating a commercial truck or bus and PHMSA followed with a companion regulation in February 2011, banning texting by intrastate hazardous materials drivers.

“Needless injuries and deaths happen when people are distracted behind the wheel,” said PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. “Our final rule would improve safety and reduce risks of hazmat in transportation.”

Nearly 5474 people died and half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2009. Distraction-related fatalities represented 16 percent of overall traffic fatalities in 2009, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research.

Many of the largest truck and bus companies, such as UPS, Covenant Transport, Wal-Mart, Peter Pan and Greyhound already have company policies in place banning their drivers from using hand-held phones.

The final hand-held cell phone ban rule can be accessed here.

To learn more about the U.S. Department of Transportation's efforts to stop distracted driving, please visit http://www.distraction.gov

OSHA Starts New National Emphasis Program For Chemical Facilities

2011-12-05T06:06:00.000-08:00

OSHA issued a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) for chemical facilities to protect workers from catastrophic releases of highly hazardous chemicals.

"Far too many workers are injured and killed in preventable incidents at chemical facilities around the country," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "This program will enable OSHA inspectors to cover chemical facilities nationwide to ensure that all required measures are taken to protect workers."

The new NEP replaces OSHA's 2009 pilot Chemical Facility National Emphasis Program which covered several OSHA regions around the country. The program establishes policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that are covered by OSHA's process safety management (PSM) standard. The program's inspection process includes detailed questions designed to gather facts related to PSM requirements and verification that employers' written and implemented PSM programs are consistent. The intent of the NEP is to conduct focused inspections at facilities randomly selected from a list of worksites likely to have highly hazardous chemicals in quantities covered by the standard.

OSHA implemented a multi-year pilot NEP for PSM-covered facilities in July 2009 in an effort to reduce releases of highly hazardous chemicals. "During our pilot Chemical NEP we found many of the same safety-related problems that were uncovered during our NEP for the refinery industry, which is also covered by the PSM standard," said Michaels. "As a result, we are expanding the enforcement program to a national level to increase awareness of these dangers so that employers will more effectively prevent the release of highly hazardous chemicals."

OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Web page on Process Safety Management contains information on PSM for general industry and construction, guidance on how to develop a process hazard analysis, and OSHA requirements for preventing the release of hazardous chemicals.

OSHA Proposes $204,800 In Penalties For Exposing Workers To Falls & Other Workplace Hazards

2011-12-05T05:30:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited Sigma Processed Meats Inc. for 16 serious and three repeat violations following an inspection that found workers were exposed to fall and other hazards at the company's processing plant in Seminole. The proposed penalties total $204,800.

OSHA's Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation June 1 at the company's plant on East Goodhope Road after receiving a complaint. Serious violations include failing to provide guardrails as fall protection for employees working on elevated walking/working surfaces, provide an adequate emergency action plan, provide personal protective equipment such as goggles or face shields, train employees on the use of hazardous chemicals and address hazards created by deficiencies in the company's process safety management system for anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is used for the refrigeration system. 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 repeat violations include failing to develop and implement a lockout/tagout program for isolation of energy sources as well as to provide training for employees on the use of lockout/tagout devices. 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.

"Failure to effectively implement OSHA's safety and health regulations to protect workers from potential hazards could lead to serious injury or death. OSHA will not tolerate such negligence," said David Bates, OSHA's area director in Oklahoma City.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/sigmaprocessedmeats_314932773_1130_11_safety.pdf. And http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/sigmaprocessedmeats_314933524_1130_11_health.pdf.

Sigma Processed Meats employs about 160 workers at the Seminole plant, which produces cold cut meats, cheese, creams and frozen foods. The company has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Oklahoma City or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Free Online Safety Training

2011-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma State University offers their EHS training online,. It may be freely used by anyone. The training courses and quizzes are available for anyone to use. Documentation of course completion and certifications are only available to OSU employees only.

These online safety courses provide basic safety training. They are used for OSU employees to meet quarterly safety training requirements.

The following courses are offered:

Asbestos Awareness
Back Safety
Bicycle Safety
Bloodborne Pathogens
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Electrical Safety
Fire Extinguishers
Hazard Communication
Hazardous Materials Transportation
Lightning Safety
Lockout/Tagout
Material Safety Data Sheets
Mower Safety
Office Ergonomics
Personal Protective Equipment in the Laboratory
Safety is Everybody's Business
Scaffolds
Sun Safety
Suspicious Package Training
Walking on Ice & Snow

The OSU EHS index page for the safety training also includes links to other safety training resources on the web. Be sure to look at the lower part of the page.

The OSU EHS training web page is: http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/

Canadian Companies Get Creative Sentences For Accidents

2011-11-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

Fort McMurray Today reports on two creative sentences recently issued for two Fort McMurry (Canada) area employers. The article states:

"More than $423,000 will be directed to first aid and occupational heath-related programs as part of the creative sentencing levied against Roofmart Alberta Inc. in Gregoire and Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Services Corp."

You can read the complete article here.

$338,500 of the fine will be available to provide a first aid education, and to expand a training classroom facility in Fort McMurray. Of that, $200,000 of the fine will to be used to expand the classroom safety training space. The remaining $138,500 will be used to offer free standard first aid training to approximately 1,000 high school students and young workers from the Fort McMurray area.

Employees At Fault For Workplace Injuries To Be Blocked From Suing Companies

2011-11-28T07:18:00.000-08:00

There is a movement in the United Kingdom to recognize that employers are not always at fault when there is an accident. As reported in the Telegraph, United Kingdom governmental sources are saying that a recent review of government safety laws, rules and regulations will also set out plans to radically reduce the number of health and safety rules. The articles states:

"Irresponsible workers who are injured at work because of their own mistakes should not be able to sue their employers for damages, a review of health and safety rules will say next week."

Prof Ragnar Löfstedt of King’s College London has been conducting the research and will be issuing the report reviewing current laws "told the Daily Telegraph last month: 'One of the things I will want to see is a situation where the fault isn’t always with the employer, that the employer is always wrong … I think there needs to be much greater levels of responsibility of the individual.'"

You can read the complete article here.

OSHA Orders Trucking Company to Reinstate Whistleblower and Pay Back Wages & Damages

2011-11-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

The following is a press release from OSHA:

OSHA has ordered Knoxville-based Heartland Transportation Inc. to reinstate a former employee and pay the individual $62,090 in compensatory and punitive damages plus more than two years of back wages, interest, benefits and reasonable attorney's fees. The order follows OSHA's determination that the company violated the employee's rights under the whistleblower provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by terminating the employee for complaining about defective vehicles.

"Putting defective trucks on American roads endangers the company's drivers and all other motor vehicle operators who share the road with a truck that is improperly maintained. Drivers have a right to complain without fear of retaliation when they are asked to operate an unsafe vehicle," said Teresa A. Harrison, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Atlanta.

Heartland Transportation is a contract mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. In August 2009, the employee was assigned to deliver a truckload of U.S. mail to a customer in Pontiac, Mich., when he found that his assigned trailer had a nonworking light. After complaining, the light was repaired and the delivery made. The employee had complained about such mechanical failures on a number of previous occasions, but the problems recurred. Accordingly, he informed his employer that he would not drive trucks with such failures in the future. After returning to the company's facility from Michigan, the driver found that his name had been removed from the driving schedule. He inquired about this development, and, during a meeting to discuss the issue, was informed that his employment was terminated. The employee then submitted a whistleblower complaint to OSHA.

The order issued by OSHA also requires the trucking company to expunge any adverse references from the complainant's personnel records relating to the discharge, and to post a notice to employees and provide them a fact sheet with notification of their rights under the STAA.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act and 20 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime and securities laws. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government. Employees who believe they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program. More information is available online at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

Do New OSHA Standards Raise Costs Of New Homes & Put Workers At Risk?

2011-11-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

An article in the Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star reports that a new OSHA standard requiring fall protection for workers framing roofs on new homes is significantly increasing the cost of new homes and may actually be making workers less safe. The article reports that:

"Regulations intended to protect residential construction workers aloft from falling from six feet or higher went into effect earlier this year, with some forbearance by OSHA, while builders, their advocates and OSHA attempted to reconcile them with the real circumstances the builders and their employees work in."

The article reports that builders are reporting increased costs of $10,000 to $20,000 per home. In addition, complying with the OSHA standard is exposing workers to greater dangers from nail guns and scaffolding erected on loose fill. It may be the unintended consequences are worse than the cure. Read the article here and let us know what you think.

In a separate article in the Journal Star OSHA's Jordan Barab defends the new standards stating that they were overdue. This article quotes Barab:

"First of all, falls are a major hazard in the construction industry," Barab said. "They're the leading cause of death in constrction and a major problem in residential. Between 2005 and 2009, 545 workers were killed in residential construction, 191 by falling off roofs. That doesn't even include disabling injuries. There are thousands of injuries every year from residential construction. We felt, given the technology and feasibility advances, and seeing too many (injuries and deaths,) changing the temporary directive was long overdue."

You can read this article here. It may be the new standards will do as intended and increase safety. What do you think? Your comments are welcome.

The Fight Over Exposure To Silica Dust

2011-11-21T05:32:00.002-08:00

There seems to have been a lot of news concerning OSHA updating standards for dust. In addition to combustible dust, slica dust is an issue. Industry, congress, unions and OSHA have been skirmishing over an OSHA proposal on silica dust that has been stalled at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for close to 300 days.

An article publish in "The Hill" describes what has been happening. You can read the article here. One of the opening paragraphs describes OSHA's proposal saying:

"It would limit exposure to crystalline silica, a common element in the earth’s crust, for general industry, maritime and construction professionals, according to an OMB summary. The proposal could have an annual impact of more than $100 million spread across several industries."

The article also pints out:

"But health advocates and unions insist that current regulations put workers in harm’s way and are pushing for the debate to occur in the “correct” forum — after the initial rule is published and the proposed exposure limits are disclosed."

OSHA Called On To Update Combustible Dust Standards

2011-11-21T05:32:00.001-08:00

Last week I reported on a worker who was angry about OSHA's slowness in setting standards covering combustible dust. Last Thursday the U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigators called on the Labor Department to propose broad new standards on combustible dust within a year.

The The Charleston Gazette has an article that states:

"The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been working on the combustible dust issue for years, but as recently as July OSHA officials said they were 'not able to project an estimate for when we will publish a proposed standard on combustible dust.'"

"We would like OSHA to come out with a timetable to deal with this," board chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.

You can read the complete article here.

A Now-Rare Tunnel Accident Claims a Worker’s Life

2011-11-21T05:32:00.000-08:00

This New York Times article reports on an incident in a new tunnel being constructed between Long Island and New York. A employee, working as a sandhog, was killed by a falling section of concrete. The article states:

"The days when dozens of lives could be lost in the making of a tunnel are supposed to be a part of New York’s past, swept aside by strict regulations and elaborate safety rules. But the brutal realities of the trade — extreme conditions, dangerous machinery and long hours spent deep underground, far from the nearest hospital — have never entirely lost their menace."

You can read the complete article, which describes the project and what happened, here.

Congress Accuses OSHA of Inserting Itself Into Hotel Labor Disputes

2011-11-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

OSHA is being accused of being used by unions to punish hotel employers who are in disputes with unions. An article on the Epstein Becker & Green web site states:

"OSHA’s recent string of hotel inspections in response to formal safety and health complaints filed by UNITE-HERE and others on behalf of hotel housekeepers is under serious scrutiny from the House of Representatives Subcommittee that oversees OSHA’s operations."

In one instance OSHA has used over 700 manhours on "two inspections of the same employer in the same city."

You can read the complete article here.

Utility Contractor Cited By For Serious Safety Violations Following Death Of A Worker

2011-11-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited Callaway Contracting Inc. of Jacksonville, and proposed $208,670 in penalties, for 13 safety violations. OSHA opened an inspection in May following the death of a worker who was electrocuted while unloading steel from a tractor trailer for a roadway rehabilitation project on Normandy Boulevard. The inspection also was expanded to include the company's main office on New Berlin Road.

"This fatality could have been prevented. Management knew about the hazards associated with unloading the truck near power lines, but rushed to get the truck unloaded and failed to take the proper precautions," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville.

Callaway, an underground utility contractor, was cited for one willful violation related to the fatality for failing to prevent the load line from contacting the energized overhead power lines. Three other willful violations involve failing to have a qualified person inspect the crane annually and exposing workers to being caught in a rotating superstructure, as well as "struck by" hazards. 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.

Eight serious violations involve failing to train employees on procedures to be followed in the event the crane makes contact with power lines, failing to conduct daily inspections of the crane prior to its use, ensuring that the crane's operating manual is readily available inside the cab, adequately training the crane operator, training and designating a signal person, and bolting the drill press to the floor. The employer was cited for exposing employees to flying chips of metal, electrical shocks and being drawn into the point-of-operation of equipment. 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.

One other-than-serious violation was cited, with no monetary penalty, for exposed electrical wires. 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/Callaway_Contracting_315477067_2011_11_02.pdf*.

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

OSHA has placed Callaway in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Initiated in June 2010, the program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. For more information on SVEP, visit http://s.dol.gov/J3.

Brother Of Man Killed By Dust Explosion Angry About OSHA's Slowness

2011-11-15T10:12:00.001-08:00

This article comes from today's edition of the Tennessean. Here are the first two paragraphs:

"When an accumulation of sugar dust ignited and blew up the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth, Ga., in 2008, killing 14 and injuring dozens, the state responded by issuing emergency regulations on combustible dust. No Georgia workers have been killed by exploding dust since."

"For most of the nation, however, tighter regulations are still years away even though federal safety officials have been closely studying the threat posed by dust at industrial sites since 2003."

Mitchel Corley, whose younger brother died in a dust explosion, is angry that nothing has been done by OSHA to improve safety related to dust explosions. He mentions several examples of conditions in a workplace knowingly being favorable to a dust explosion, but nothing was done. The article concludes with a quote from Mitchel:

"Speaking of his brother, Corely said, “He had talked about the dangers. He knew he worked in a dangerous facility. Like all the guys who worked there every day, he didn’t think it would happen to him. You gotta think that way.”

"Wayne Corley died May 21, leaving a wife and four children, ages 11 to 3."

Read the article here.

New OSHA Animated Videos Show How To Protect Workers From Construction Hazards

2011-11-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

Every year in the U.S. more than 800 construction workers die and nearly 137,000 are seriously injured while on the job. Construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocutions, silica dust, and asbestos.

OSHA has released 12 educational videos about potential hazards in the construction industry. The educational videos are easy to understand, short segments and geared to employers and workers. Each year, nearly 800 construction workers die on the job; one in every five workplace fatalities occurs within the construction industry. The videos are based on real-life incidents and include detailed depictions of hazards and the safety measures that would have prevented these injuries and fatalities.

"I urge anyone who works in the construction industry or operates a construction business to watch the videos. Share them with your co-workers and friends in the construction industry; organize screenings for your workers; and post them to your web pages," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Health and Safety Dr. David Michaels. "Every step we take to educate workers about their rights and the safety measures employers must take to protect workers in construction helps us avoid preventable injuries and the tragic loss of life."

These videos cover falls in construction, workers who are struck by vehicles and heavy equipment, sprain and strain injuries, trenching and excavation hazards, and carbon monoxide poisoning. These videos are written for workers and employers, including workers with limited English proficiency.

Most of the videos are two to four minutes in length, and all but one are animated. Each video is available in English and Spanish for Web viewing or downloading. All video scripts are also available online in English and Spanish. The videos are located at http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction.html (Spanish-language videos are available at http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction_sp.html). After selecting a video from this page, users may choose to watch the video online, download the videos for future screenings, or view the videos on the U.S. Department of Labor's YouTube channel.

OSHA Cites Chicago Construction Companies - $280,000 In Fines Proposed

2011-11-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited two Chicago companies, T2 G.C. LLC, which operates as T2 Construction, and Gramek Construction Inc. for failing to protect workers from asbestos hazards at a job site in May. T2 Construction faces proposed fines of $141,600 and Gramek Construction faces proposed fines of $138,600, for a combined total of $280,200.

T2 Construction was the general contractor at the Chicago job site, which involved a 90-year-old, 80,000-square-foot building. T2 oversaw the activities of demolition contractor Gramek Construction, including the removal of floor tile and pipe insulation that allegedly contained asbestos.

"Failing to conduct an asbestos assessment and require workers to wear personal protective equipment when working with material potentially contaminated by asbestos shows a blatant disregard for their health and safety," said OSHA Regional Administrator Michael Connors in Chicago. "Safe and healthful working conditions should be paramount on every job site, and OSHA is committed to protecting workers, especially when employers fail to do so."

T2 Construction was cited for two willful health violations including failing to have a competent person conduct an initial assessment prior to commencing Class I and Class II asbestos work, and failing to ensure compliance with the asbestos standard as the general contractor. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Additionally, T2 Construction was cited for 14 serious violations involving asbestos control procedures, such as failing to conduct air and exposure monitoring, failing to follow specific engineering controls and practices, failing to remove tile intact, allowing dry sweeping of dust and residue, failing to provide hygiene facilities for workers conducting asbestos removal and failing to ensure that employees wore adequate personal protective clothing while performing asbestos work. 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.

Gramek Construction was cited for one willful health violation for failing to have a competent person conduct an initial assessment prior to commencing Class I and Class II asbestos work. The company also was cited for 24 serious health and safety violations, 18 of which involved violations of asbestos control procedures such as failing to conduct air and exposure monitoring, failing to follow specific engineering controls and practices, allowing dry sweeping of dust and residue, failing to implement a respiratory protection program, failing to provide hygiene facilities for workers conducting asbestos removal and failing to ensure that employees wore adequate personal protective clothing for asbestos work. The remaining six serious safety violations were cited for lack of fall protection and training as well as electrical hazards.

The citations issued to T2 Construction can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/T2GCLLCdbaT2Construction_315512137_1102_11.pdf*

The citations issued to Gramek Construction can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/GramekConstrcutionInc_315512145_1102_11.pdf*

Each company 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.

OSHA Fine Could Close Small Company

2011-11-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

This article comes from the Hays Daily News, talking about a small company located in Quniter, Kansas. It is one of three small companies operating in this small town.

The fine resulted from a fatal accident. There appears to be some questions and confusion about how OSHA determined the fine -- the accident was determined to be caused by operator error, but the fine is related to machine guarding.

You can read the article here - OSHA Fine May Close Small Company.

Should the size of a company be a factor in determining the amount of a proposed fine? What about the company's ability to contest a fine and resolve questionable issues? A small company does not have the resources to contest a fine. While for a large company, they easily have the resources to get a fine like this substantially reduced. For a small company their only option is to lay everyone off and close their doors. Do you think the size of the fine is reasonable in this instance?

What Are People Asking OSHA?

2011-11-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here are the top ten phone questions asked of OSHA, top ten emailed questions, and top ten OSHA publications. These top ten lists are based on June 2011 activity.

The following were the top 10 safety and health topics raised in telephone calls handled by OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs:

Bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030) [Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention]
Indoor air quality [Safety and Health Topics - Indoor Air Quality]
Hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) [Hazard Communication - Foundation of Workplace Chemical Safety]
Sanitation (29 CFR 1910.141)
Powered industrial trucks (29 CFR 1910.178) [Safety and Health Topics - Powered Industrial Trucks]
Personal protective equipment, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.132) [Safety and Health Topics - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)]
Respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134) [We Can Help - Repiratory Protection]
Ergonomics [We Can Help - Egonomics]
Medical services and first aid (29 CFR 1910.151) [We Can Help - Medical and First Aid]
Guarding of floor and wall openings and holes (29 CFR 1910.23) [We Can Help - Walking/Working Surfaces]

The following were the top 10 safety and health topics raised in e-mail questions handled by OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs:

Indoor air quality [We Can Help - Indoor Air Quality]
Sanitation (29 CFR 1910.141)
Bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030) [Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention]
Personal protective equipment, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.132) [Safety and Health Topics - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)]
Ergonomics [We Can Help - Egonomics]
Mold [Safety and Health Topics - Mold]
Hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) [Hazard Communication - Foundation of Workplace Chemical Safety]
Medical services and first aid (29 CFR 1910.151) [We Can Help - Medical and First Aid]
Powered industrial trucks (29 CFR 1910.178) [Safety and Health Topics - Powered Industrial Trucks]
Foot protection (29 CFR 1910.136) [Safety and Health Topics - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)]

The following were the 10 most frequently requested publications from OSHA:

OSHA Poster (English) (OSHA Publication 3165) (also available as a 7 MB PDF)
How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations (OSHA Publication 3088) (also available as a 251 KB PDF)
Protecting Workers from Heat Stress QuickCard [PDF^* - 3 MB] (OSHA Publication 3154)
Construction Pocket Guide (OSHA Publication 3252) (also available as a 285 KB PDF)
Distracted Driving – No Texting [PDF^* - 250 KB] (OSHA Publication 3416)
Personal Protective Equipment (OSHA Publication 3151) (also available as a 629 KB PDF)
Construction Industry Digest (OSHA Publication 2202) (also available as a 631 KB PDF)
OSHA Poster (Spanish) (OSHA Publication 3167) (also available as a 123 KB PDF)
Health Effects of Heat Worksite Poster [PDF^* - 2 MB] (OSHA Publication 3431)
Permit-Required Confined Spaces (OSHA Publication 3214) (also available as a 20 KB PDF)

^*These files are available for downloading.

Green Job Hazards

2011-11-07T08:27:00.001-08:00

Green jobs are broadly defined as jobs that help to improve the environment. Green jobs do not necessarily mean that they are safe jobs. Workers in the green industries may face hazards that are commonly known in workplaces -- such as falls, confined spaces, electrical, fire, and other similar hazards. These hazards may be new to some workers who are moving into new green industries. Additionally, workers may be exposed to new hazards with which they are not familiar. For example, workers in the solar energy industry may be exposed to Cadmium Telluride, a known carcinogen,if adequate controls are not implemented.

The following provides links to OSHA pages with information about various green job hazards:

Hazards of Bio-Fuels
Hazards of Green Roofs
Recycling Hazards
Job Hazards When Working With Solar Energy
Hazards of Weatherization, Insulating, and Sealing
Green Job Hazards - Wind Energy
Job Hazards - Geo-Thermal Energy

A key concept for all industries, but especially those that are just beginning to grow,is "Prevention through Design (PtD)" – designing the process/equipment in a way that eliminates hazards to the workers who use them. Employers should have a system in place where safety and health professionals work with design engineers in "designing out" hazards throughout the design phase of their products. See NIOSH's efforts on PtD and its blog on green jobs.

New OSHA Case Blurs Lines Between Employees And Supervisors During Inspections

2011-11-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

The following comes from an article published by the Horton Group.

This article concerns a fatal accident involving an outside contractor's (M. C. Dean) employee, a journeyman electrician, who fell through a skylight.

The article states that an OSHA citation can only be upheld if the company knew about the hazardous condition resulting in the accident. By definition, if a company supervisor or manager was aware of the hazard, then the company is deemed to be aware of the hazard. The question that came up in this instance was whether or not the company was aware of the hazard. For purposes of this citation OSHA defined the lead journeyman electrician (an hourly employee) as being a supervisor, and thus the company was aware of the hazard.

The article reported:

"Perhaps the most vexing part of the Dean case for employers is the Judge’s acknowledgement that the ultimate determination that the “lead” journeyman electrician was a supervisor was inconsistent with OSHA’s own behavior during its inspection. During the inspection, OSHA interviewed the “lead” journeyman electrician outside of the presence of Dean’s legal counsel and in fact denied Dean’s counsel the right to be present at the employee interview. Under existing case authority, the employer has a right to be present for interviews of management representatives. Dean further argued at trial that if OSHA had believed the “lead” journeyman to be a member of management during its inspection, Dean’s legal counsel would have had the right to be present during his interview. The Judge did not address this argument in her findings."

Click here to read the complete article.

What to Do If You've Been in a Work Related Accident

2011-11-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

If someone is looking in Google to find out what they should do if they are injured on the job, they may find this press release published yesterday on World News Report (click here to see article). It makes the following recommendations to "ease the process of filing a workers' compensation claim:"

- Report your accident - workers' compensation requires that your employer be notified of any accidents, and you may need to fill out an incident report.

- Seek medical treatment - for both repetitive and accidental injuries.

- Get an attorney - a workers' compensation attorney will be able to assist you during every stage of your claim, and help ensure you are provided with the compensation you are entitled to.

What do you think? What steps should an injured employee take?

OSHA Cites Illinois Pet Food Company, Fines Exceed $750,000

2011-11-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited All-Feed Processing and Packaging Inc., headquartered in Alpha, for 23 safety and health violations at its pet food production and packaging facility in Galva, including willful violations of OSHA's air contaminant, respiratory protection and hearing conservation standards. Some violations were cited under OSHA's "general duty" clause, including failing to provide appropriate fire and explosion protection in locations where concentrations of combustible dust existed. Proposed fines total $758,450.

"Even after a powerful dust explosion and fire at this facility in 2009, along with a number of citations previously issued for similar conditions, All-Feed Processing and Packaging fails to comply with safety and health requirements," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "By showing a blatant disregard for worker safety and health, this employer continues to expose workers to deadly hazards."

OSHA issued nine per-instance willful citations for failing to mandate the use of respirators for six workers exposed to dust in excess of the permissible exposure limits; and failing to protect three dust collection units, which collect combustible dust such as starch, potato base, cellulose fiber and pea protein, from fire and explosion hazards.

Additionally, four single-instance willful citations were issued for requiring employees to work in areas where they were exposed to total dust in excess of permissible limits, together with failing to implement adequate engineering controls when employees were so exposed; failing to administer a continuing and effective hearing conservation program for employees exposed to excessive noise; failing to ensure the safe use, wiring and installation of equipment in hazardous locations; and allowing the use of liquid propane-powered industrial trucks in atmospheres where combustible dust may be ignited. 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. Proposed fines for the 13 willful violations total $700,700.

Three repeat safety violations were cited for failing to ensure that operators of powered industrial trucks had completed training and were evaluated on their skills, have the load rating affixed to lifting devices and post danger signs to warn exposed employees of potential dangers posed by work spaces involving hazardous conditions. One repeat health violation was cited for failing to post safety instruction signs indicating the presence of combustible dust. 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. The company was cited for similar hazards in 2009. Proposed fines for the four repeat violations total $50,050.

One serious safety violation, with a proposed fine of $3,850, was cited for failing to have a written certification indicating that all hazards in the permit-required confined space had been eliminated. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition about which the employer knew or should have known.

All-Feed Processing and Packaging was also cited for five other-than-serious violations, with proposed fines of $3,850, for failing to record work-related injuries and illness as required on the OSHA 300 log. 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.

Prior to this inspection, which was opened in May after OSHA procured a warrant to conduct the inspection, All-Feed Processing and Packaging had been inspected by OSHA 10 times since 2000, resulting in citations and significant proposed penalties on five occasions. Those citations encompassed a total of 17 willful, 44 serious, five repeat and 10 other-than-serious violations, many of which related to failing to monitor and limit employees' exposure to hazardous dust.

The workers' compensation carrier insuring All-Feed Processing and Packaging is Benchmark Insurance Co. in Shawnee Mission, Kan. Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits for an employee who has a job-related injury or disease, in exchange for relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for negligence. Each state has its own workers' compensation law. Illinois' law first took effect in 1912 and requires employers to provide workers' compensation insurance for almost every person who is hired, injured or whose employment is localized in Illinois.

The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses enforcement resources on employers with a history of safety violations that endanger workers by demonstrating indifference to their responsibilities under the law. The program includes mandatory OSHA follow-up inspections, and inspections of other work sites of the same employer where similar hazards and deficiencies may be present. All-Feed Processing & Packaging Inc was placed in the program due to its previous violations as well as the per-instance violations cited during both the current and a January 2011 inspection. For more information on SVEP, visit http://s.dol.gov/J3.

"Employers have a responsibility to provide appropriate safety equipment and training to protect workers from respiratory hazards, and to ensure that workplaces are safe and healthful," said Dr. Michaels.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AllFeed_314850454_1102_11.pdf and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AllFeed_314850421_1102_11.pdf.

All-Feed Processing & Packaging 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.

OSHA Announces Interim Final Rules For Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Procedures

2011-11-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

OSHA will publish interim final rules in today's (11-03-2011) Federal Register that revise the regulations governing whistleblower complaints filed under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The act protects employees of publicly traded companies and their subsidiaries, and of certain other employers, from retaliation for reporting mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud, violations of SEC rules or regulations, or violations of any provision of federal law relating to fraud against shareholders. OSHA is requesting public comment on the interim final rule.

"Fraudulent practices by publicly held corporations have contributed to the economic difficulties currently facing our nation," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "The best way to prevent this from happening in the future is to ensure that workers feel free to blow the whistle on corrupt corporate practices without fear of retaliation, and OSHA is committed to protecting the rights of those workers to speak out."

The whistleblower protection provisions changes include:

of SOX were amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 to:

- include an amendment by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 to clarify that subsidiaries of publicly traded companies are covered employers under the statute.

- add, as required by Dodd-Frank, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations as being covered employers.

- amends SOX to extend the statute of limitations for filing a complaint from 90 to 180 days.

- add changes to SOX to improve OSHA's procedures for handling complaints under SOX.

Among the changes to improve the complaint filing process, the revised rules will allow SOX complainants to file complaints orally and in any language, and enhance the sharing of information between parties throughout the investigation.

"The ability of workers to speak out and exercise their legal rights without fear of retaliation is crucial to many of the legal protections and safeguards that all Americans value," said Dr. Michaels. "In a continuing effort to improve the Whistleblower Protection Program and make the filing process easier, the rules have been updated to reflect the changes required by the statute."

The interim final rule can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/JN. Comments, which must be received by Jan. 3, 2012, may be submitted electronically via the federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov, or by mail or fax. Faxed submissions, including attachments, must not exceed 10 pages and should be sent to the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648. Comments submitted by mail should be addressed to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2011-0126, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and 20 other statutes protecting employees who report reasonably perceived violations of various workplace, commercial motor vehicle, airline, nuclear, pipeline, environmental, railroad, public transportation, maritime, consumer product, health care reform, corporate securities, food safety and consumer financial reform regulations. Additional information is available at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has Upholds Fine Of $137,200

2011-10-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

The independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has upheld willful and serious citations and $137,200 in fines issued by OSHA to Sand Cut Properties LLC, a Danbury, Conn., contractor.

OSHA cited Sand Cut Properties in November 2008 after inspectors at a Brookfield, Conn., work site found an employee working in a collapsing 6- to 9-foot-deep excavation that lacked cave-in protection and had piles of excavated materials overhanging its edge as well as water seeping into its bottom. The employee was exposed to an additional crushing hazard when he exited the excavation by riding in the bucket of an excavator. The citations and fines reflected the seriousness of the violations and the employer's knowledge of and failure to prevent the cave-in hazards.

The company contested the willful violations cited and accompanying fines to the review commission in December 2008. A hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge Dennis L. Phillips on June 28, 2011. On Sept. 22, Judge Phillips issued a decision affirming the citations and ordering Sand Cut Properties to pay $137,200 in fines. The decision will become a final order on Nov. 10 if Sand Cut does not appeal to the commission.

"This was an imminent danger situation that could have resulted in a fatality and should not have existed in the first place," said Marthe Kent, OSHA's New England regional administrator. "This decision should remind employers in Connecticut and elsewhere that failing to supply basic, common sense and legally required safeguards will result in financial and legal consequences, just as employees face the consequences of death or disabling injuries when such safeguards are absent from their workplaces."

"The U.S. Department of Labor will actively pursue the appropriate legal measures to protect the lives and well-being of America's workers when their employers fail to do so," said Michael Felsen, the Labor Department's regional solicitor for New England.

The original safety inspection was conducted by OSHA's Bridgeport Area Office in Connecticut. The case was litigated for OSHA by attorney James L. Poliantes of the Labor Department's Boston Regional Solicitor's Office.

$422,600 In Proposed OSHA Fines For Noise and Energized Equipment Hazards

2011-10-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited Anaheim, Calif.-based Bridgford Foods Corp. for 27 safety and health violations at its food manufacturing facility in Dallas,Texas with proposed penalties totaling $422,600. The violations include, among others, failing to establish and maintain a hearing conservation program for workers exposed to noise hazards beyond the permissible exposure limit, and failing to establish a lockout/tagout program for energy sources to protect workers from machines starting up unexpectedly.

"Bridgford Foods has a history of failing to implement necessary safety and health programs to prevent the unexpected start-up of machines and prevent hearing loss," said OSHA Regional Administrator John Hermanson in Dallas. "Under the law, it is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace."

OSHA's investigation of the facility on South Good Latimer Expressway found 20 serious violations carrying $129,000 in penalties. They include failing to provide guardrails on mixers, ovens and ice machines; provide machine guarding to prevent workers from coming into contact with rotating parts; develop energy control procedures for machinery with more than one energy source; and ensure that employees were trained on the use of energy control procedures. 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.

Six repeat violations, with penalties of $292,500, include failing to provide training on the hazards of electrical equipment, ensure that workers operating powered industrial trucks are evaluated at least every three years, establish and maintain an audiometric testing program, and train employees on hearing protection who are exposed to noise levels at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. 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. OSHA cited the company for similar violations in February 2008 with penalties of $8,000, in September 2008 with penalties of $33,900, and again in January 2010 with penalties of $106,000.

One other-than-serious violation, with a penalty of $1,100, was cited for failing to post a copy of the hearing conservation standard in the workplace. 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.

OSHA has placed Bridgford in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Initiated in June 2010, the program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. For more information on SVEP, visit http://s.dol.gov/J3.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/bridgford_314182544_1027_11.pdf* http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/bridgford_314182577_1027_11.pdf*.

Bridgford Foods employs about 84 workers who produce frozen bread dough products at the Dallas location. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Dallas Area Office or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Dallas Area Office at 214-320-2400.

What Happens When An Illegal Immigrant Is Injured In The Workplace?

2011-10-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

Francisco Martinez, an illegal immigrant employed in Texas, was injured in a work place accident. He fell from a roof and broke his neck. He was taken to a branch of the University of Texas Medical Center in Galveston where he remain paralyzed from the chest down. The hospital has provided required emergency treatment at no cost and would now like to release him to be returned for continued treatment in Mexico. A spokeswoman with the Mexican Consulate said the Mexican government is ready to assist with the transfer and will provide treatment in Mexico. The family of Mr. Martinez is fighting to keep him in the U.S.

You can read the complete article, on the CNN web site, at: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/us/texas-paralyzed-immigrant/

Top Ten Stupid Lab Safety Mistakes

2011-10-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

A blog with information for biologists had a post in 2009 that listed the ten most stupid things they have seen people do in a laboratory. My background is an industrial, utility and construction background, so I don't normally think about laboratories. But I found this list interesting. As with other industries, there seem to be three things that lead to our putting ourselves into unsafe situations. Not doing something (needed for safety) because it is inconvenient, doing things by habit, and not fully thinking through what we are doing to the point of seeing the obvious consequences.

Here is the link to the blog post with the Ten Stupid Lab Safety Mistakes
http://bitesizebio.com/articles/stupid-lab-safety-mistakes/

$258,900 in Fines Proposed - OSHA Sends Letter To All Grain Elevator Operators

2011-10-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited Corpus Christi Grain Co. in Corpus Christi for six willful and 20 serious violations with total proposed penalties of $258,900. OSHA's Corpus Christi Area Office initiated its inspection at the company's facility on Talbert Lane after it was reported that a worker was engulfed while emptying grain from a storage bin. The employee was rescued due to the exceptional efforts of the Corpus Christi Fire Department.

"Employees working in grain storage buildings are exposed to dangerous conditions, and proper safety measures must be taken," said Michael Rivera, director of OSHA's Corpus Christi office. "If OSHA's standards were followed, it is possible this unfortunate incident could have been avoided."

The willful violations include failing to provide personal protective equipment, such as a body harness and life line, for employees working with stored grain; perform lockout/tagout procedures for the energy sources of equipment, such as augers and conveyors, while workers are inside the grain bins; and have a competent attendant present with rescue equipment when workers enter grain storage bins. A willful violation is one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for OSHA's requirements or employee safety and health.

The serious violations include failing to ensure that employees are trained on the hazards associated with grain handling, cover openings with grates in grain bins, ensure that workroom floors are clear of combustible dust and provide a preventive maintenance schedule for machinery. 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.

In addition to the agency's enforcement actions to promote grain bin safety, OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels sent a notification letter in August 2010 and another in February 2011 to a total of more than 13,000 grain elevator operators warning them of proper safety precautions. These include prohibiting entry in grain storage facilities while grain is being emptied out or flowing in or out of the bin, prohibiting employees from "walking down the grain" and ensuring that employees enter the bin with the proper safety equipment. The February letter is available at http://www.osha.gov/asst-sec/Grain-Letter-2-1-2011.html.

Corpus Christi Grain, which employs about 25 workers, has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Corpus Christi, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CorpusChristiGrain_315367599_10192011.pdf*.

OSHA Proposes More Than $589,000 In Fines For Hazards At Market Basket Stores

2011-10-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited DeMoulas Supermarkets Inc., doing business as Market Basket, for 30 alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards at its stores in Rindge and Concord, N.H. The Tewksbury, Mass., grocery chain, which has stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, faces a total of $589,200 in proposed fines, chiefly for recurring fall and laceration hazards and also for improperly responding to a worker's serious injury.

"Employers with multiple locations have a responsibility to ensure safe and healthful working conditions at all of their workplaces," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "This employer has been cited for similar conditions at numerous other stores. Although those individual hazards were abated, this employer has not taken effective steps to correct these hazards across the board."

The inspection of the Market Basket store in Rindge on U.S. Route 202 began after an employee sustained broken bones and head trauma on April 17 when he fell 11 feet to a concrete floor from an inadequately guarded storage mezzanine. Instead of calling for emergency help, store management lifted the injured worker from the floor, put him in a wheelchair and pushed him to the store's receiving dock to wait for a relative to take him to the hospital.

The Concord store inspection began May 16 after an OSHA supervisor observed the same type of fall hazard as the one at the Rindge store while shopping at the Market Basket store on Fort Eddy Road.

OSHA found that employees at both stores were exposed to falls from heights greater than 11 feet while working on top of produce coolers, freezers and storage lofts that lacked adequate guardrails. OSHA previously had cited DeMoulas for the same hazard at the Concord store as well as stores in Fitchburg, Lawrence and Tewksbury, Mass.

Employees who worked in the produce, deli and bakery departments at the Rindge and Concord stores also were exposed to laceration hazards from knives due to the grocery chain's failure to conduct a hazard assessment and provide hand protection. DeMoulas previously was cited by OSHA for the same types of hazards at its Tewksbury and Westford, Mass., locations.

Due to the company's knowledge of the fall and laceration hazards and its systemic failure to correct them, OSHA cited four willful violations with $261,000 in proposed penalties. A willful violation exists when an employer has demonstrated either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Additionally, DeMoulas Supermarkets has been cited for seven repeat violations with $225,500 in fines for hazardous conditions similar to those previously cited at its Ashland, Andover, Fitchburg, Salem, Tewksbury and Westford, Mass., locations. These citations encompass amputation hazards stemming from a lack of procedures, training and equipment to ensure that a meat saw and seafood cooler would not be activated while employees were cleaning them, as well as hazards from exposed portions of the saw's blade; inadequate training of powered industrial truck operators; and a lack of bloodborne pathogen training for an employee required to clean equipment and work areas contaminated with human blood. 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.

Finally, the company has been cited for 19 serious violations with $102,700 in proposed penalties. One violation was cited under OSHA's general duty clause for failing to contact emergency services and for moving the injured employee. The remaining 18 violations involve obstructed exit routes; a lack of eye and hand protection and an emergency eyewash for employees working with or near battery acid; a lack of chemical hazard communication training for workers; and other hazards related to electrical equipment, machine guarding and bloodborne pathogens. 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/DemoulasSuperMarketsIncdbaMarketBasket_63192_1007_11.pdf* and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/DemoulasSuperMarketsIncdbaMarketBasket_29247_1007_11.pdf.*

DeMoulas Supermarkets 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 inspection was conducted by OSHA's Concord Area Office.

OSHA Cites Employer For Locking In Employees

2011-10-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

OSHA cited a Brooklyn, NY supermarket for alleged willful and serious violations of workplace safety standards after an inspection found that night shift employees were locked in and not allowed to leave the building without the employer's permission. Mermaid Meat Co., doing business as Fine Fare Supermarkets at 2901 Mermaid Ave., faces a total of $62,300 in proposed fines.

"One hundred years ago in New York City, 146 workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Many of them died because they were locked in and unable to escape swiftly," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "A century later, we still find employers locking in their employees or otherwise obstructing emergency exit access. These are imminent danger situations, potential catastrophes in the making. Conditions from 1911 should not continue to exist in 2011."

"Our inspection found that all five exit doors were locked at night and could not be unlocked without a manager's permission. These workers were essentially caged and that is completely unacceptable," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director based in Manhattan. "Employees must be able to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency. When they cannot do so, they face serious injury or death from burns and smoke inhalation."

OSHA standards require that employees be able to open an exit route door from inside at all times, without keys, tools or special knowledge. A device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted on exit doors. OSHA cited the company for one willful violation with a fine of $49,000 for the locked exits. 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.

Four serious violations with $13,300 in fines involve obstructed exit routes as well as electrical and tripping hazards. 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.

"One means of preventing hazards such as these is for employers to establish an injury and illness prevention program in which they work with their employees to identify and eliminate hazardous conditions," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES--2010

2011-10-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Nearly 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported among private industry
employers in 2010, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers--
down from 3.6 cases in 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The total recordable cases (TRC) injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers has declined significantly each year since 2002, when estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) were first published using the current OSHA requirements for recording
occupational injuries and illnesses.

Key findings from the 2010 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

* Incidence rates for injuries and illnesses combined among private industry establishments declined
significantly in 2010 for total recordable cases and for other recordable cases. The incidence rates for
cases with days away from work; for cases of job transfer and restriction; and for cases of days away
from work, job transfer, or restriction together each remained unchanged from 2009.

* Manufacturing was the sole private industry sector to experience an increase in the incidence rate of
injuries and illnesses in 2010--rising to 4.4 cases per 100 full-time workers from 4.3 cases the year
earlier. The increased rate resulted from a larger decline in hours worked than the decline in the
number of reported cases in the industry sector.

* The total recordable cases incidence rate in the private construction industry sector decreased by 0.3
cases to 4.0 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010--a seven percent decline. Specialty trade
contractors reported a similar decline of 0.3 cases in the injury and illness incidence rate--falling to
4.3 cases per 100 full-time workers--and was largely responsible for the reported decline in the
construction industry sector.

* Health care and social assistance experienced an incidence rate of injuries and illnesses of 5.2 cases
per 100 full-time workers--down from 5.4 cases in 2009--and was the lone industry sector in which
both reported employment and hours worked increased in 2010.

* The incidence rate of injuries only among private industry workers remained unchanged between
2009 and 2010 at 3.4 cases per 100 full-time workers.

* The incidence rate of illness cases alone remained relatively unchanged in 2010, as did rates among
all illness categories with the exception of poisoning, whose rate increased from 0.2 cases per 10,000
full-time workers in 2009 to 0.3 cases in 2010.

* National public sector estimates covering more than 18.4 million state and local government workers are available for the third consecutive year with an incidence rate of 5.7 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010, relatively unchanged from 2009.

More than one-half of the 3.1 million private industry injury and illness cases reported nationally in
2010 were of a more serious nature that involved days away from work, job transfer, or restriction--
commonly referred to as DART cases. These cases occurred at a rate of 1.8 cases per 100 full-time
workers, unchanged from 2009. (See table 7.) The rates for the two components of DART cases (cases
involving days away from work and those requiring job transfer or restriction) also remained unchanged in 2010--1.1 and 0.8 cases per 100 full-time workers, respectively. Manufacturing was the only private industry sector in 2010 in which the rate of job transfer or restriction cases exceeded the rate of cases with days away from work, continuing a 13-year trend. Other recordable cases--those not involving days away from work, job transfer, or restriction--accounted for the remaining nearly 1.5 million injury and illness cases nationally and occurred at a lower rate in 2010 (1.7 cases per 100 full-time workers) compared to 2009 (1.8 cases).

Read a PDF of the complete press release here.

OSHA Publishes New and Revised Materials on Worker Safety and Health

2011-10-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

OSHA recently published new and revised information that explains workers' and employers' rights, as well as how to protect workers from hazards in the construction, general and maritime industries. To order free copies of these materials online, visit OSHA's Publications page at http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.AthruZ?pType=AthruZ#S, or call OSHA's toll free number at 800-321-6742.

OSHA's Small Entity Compliance Guide for Respiratory Protection Standard* provides small businesses with a comprehensive step-by-step guide complete with checklists and commonly asked questions that will aid both employees and workers in small businesses with a better understanding of OSHA's respiratory protection standard.

It's the law of the land that workers have a right to a safe workplace. OSHA's Workers' Rights* booklet describes the rights to which workers are legally entitled to under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The booklet covers many topics, including rights provided under OSHA standards, filing a complaint with OSHA, whistleblower protections, and educational and training resources available.

OSHA provides employers with information on their rights and responsibilities following a federal OSHA inspection. The booklet, Employer Rights and Responsibilities*, explains what happens after an inspection, and defines the types of violations for which an employer may be cited as a result of an inspection.

OSHA has also published information to help protect construction, general industry and shipyard workers, and those who work outdoors.

Laboratory Safety document and fact sheets (http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.athruz?pType=Industry&pID=117) advise laboratory managers on how to protect their workers from exposure to chemical, biological and physical hazards.
Aerial Lifts Protect Yourself* details measures employers must take to ensure safe use of aerial lifts by workers required to use this equipment.
Aerial Lift Fall Protection Over Water in Shipyards* QuickCard lists ways to protect workers using aerial lifts from injuries and death resulting from equipment failure, tip-over, falls and ejection.
Permit-Required Confined Spaces in General Industry* QuickCard explains what workers should do before entering a confined space, such as an underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, silos or manholes.
Working Safely in Trenches* QuickCard provides illustrations of protective systems that should be used to prevent worker injuries and death from trench cave-ins.
Nail Gun Safety* educates construction employers and workers on how to prevent work-related nail gun injuries.
Protecting Workers from Heat Stress QuickCard* and poster* emphasizes the importance of employers providing workers with water, rest and shade to prevent workers from suffering heat illness, exhaustion and stroke

----------------------------------
* Accessibility Assistance: Contact OSHA's Office of Communications at 202-693-1999 for assistance accessing PDF documents.

Employers On The Hook For Worker's Injuries At Home

2011-10-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Gold Coast Mail (Australia) reports that allowing workers to telecommute and work from home may be something that will need to change. Injuries in the employee's home are being claimed as worker's comp injuries. As an example, the article mentions a woman who fell down the stairs in her home twice, and has claimed worker's comp for the injuries.

The article reports that: Brett Wilson, of Robina's Aitken Wilson Lawyers, has noticed his employer's clients have begun insisting on clear conditions defining work places and hours for staff wanting to work from home.
"They're scared their employees will trip on the stairs and claim it was work-related," Mr Wilson said.

Read the entire article here.

Mystery Explosions In Morristown Underground Electrical System

2011-10-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Manhole and other explosions have plagued the Morristown, NJ underground electrical system for ten years. A recent explosion resulted in one person suffering minor injuries. The utility, Jersey Central Power and Light, has determined the cause of some of the explosions, but the ongoing incidence of continued underground explosions has prompted the New Jersey state Board of Public Utilities to order JCP&L to hire a consulting firm to investigate "to evaluate the state of the network, look into the public’s concerns and make recommendations if necessary to increase the safety and reliability of the network, according to the order."

You can read the story on NJ.COM

Concrete Producer Cited by OSHA; More Than $120,000 In Fines Proposed

2011-10-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited Candler Concrete Products Inc. for 19 safety and health violations following an inspection of the company's Gainesville plant, which was initiated under OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting Program for industries with high occupational injury and illness rates. The proposed penalties total $120,370. The citation included violations of OSHA's exit sign codes.

The OSHA citation included one willful safety violation with a penalty of $48,400 for requiring employees performing maintenance on vehicles and equipment to work within 3 feet of an open and unguarded pit, exposing them to fall hazards.

Six repeat safety violations with a total of $45,830 in penalties included:

- failing to remove equipment blocking an exit route
- failing to mark signs at fire exit doors
- failing to correctly mark a door that could be mistaken for an exit door
- failure to provide lockout/tagout training to workers who perform maintenance on machinery and equipment
- failure to close an unused opening in an electrical panel
- failure to provide outer insulation to an electrical cord attached to a piece of machinery and protect employees from electrical shock hazards.

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. The company had been cited for these same violations following a March 2008 inspection.

There were also six serious safety violations with penalties of $19,250. They involved failing to keep a clean and orderly work site, illuminate an exit sign, maintain an operable emergency pull cable and provide flashback protection for a gas welding torch. Additionally, employees were exposed to fall hazards at two different platforms because the platforms were open-sided or had improper railings. 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.

One other-than-serious safety violation with a $1,000 penalty was issued because the company failed to post an annual summary of its injuries and illnesses for 2010. Two other-than serious safety violations with no monetary penalties were cited because the company allowed flexible cords to be used in lieu of permanent wiring and permitted electrical boxes to have openings that resulted in electrical conductors not being protected from abrasion. 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.

One repeat health violation with a $500 penalty was cited for failing to label and identify the contents of a drum containing hazardous chemicals. A similar violation was cited in a 2008 inspection. One serious health violation with a $5,390 penalty was cited for failing to develop and implement a confined space program to protect employees who did welding in the drum of a concrete truck with minimal ventilation. An other-than-serious health violation with no monetary penalty was cited because the diesel tank label beside the scale house was not legible.

"An employer's commitment to workers' safety and health must go beyond policies and involve taking real actions that prevent injuries and illnesses," said William Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "Management cannot be complacent about eliminating the workplace hazards that OSHA has found here."

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Holds that a Hostile Work Environment Claim Based on Age Discrimination Can Proceed

2011-10-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

The workforce is aging and this changes how we look at safety. It also means we need to pay attention to how we treat older workers. An article yesterday on the New York Injury News blog reported that:

"Over a two-month period, the plaintiff’s supervisor made daily age-based and religion-based comments to the plaintiff. The plaintiff quit work and filed suit, alleging a hostile work environment claim based on age, religion harassment, and constructive discharge. The trial court granted summary judgment for the employer. The plaintiff appealed."

The appeals court determined that the age-based hostile work environment claim could move ahead because the age-based comments made by the supervisor resulted in this being a hostile workplace. Creating a "hostile workplace" or conducting "unlawful harassment" is a form of discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal authority. The FCC web site defines this as:

"Hostile work environment harassment occurs when unwelcome comments or conduct based on sex, race or other legally protected characteristics unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Anyone in the workplace might commit this type of harassment – a management official, co-worker, or non-employee, such as a contractor, vendor or guest. The victim can be anyone affected by the conduct, not just the individual at whom the offensive conduct is directed."

New SpillArrest Catalog for Workplace Safety

2011-09-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

New SpillArrest Spill Containment and Cleanup Catalog from Graphic Products
10-Page Catalog Features Spill Kits, Removal and Isolation Products for Workplace Safety

Portland, OR – Graphic Products, the world’s leading safety and industrial label printer and supplier, has released its first spill containment and cleanup product catalog – SpillArrest – available to those who visit www.SpillArrest.com/catalog. Accidental spills harm the environment and cause injuries and fatalities. Organizations can minimize hefty EPA fines and hospitalization costs by containing the lateral spreading of industrial spills. Spills must first be contained and then cleaned up. SpillArrest products help accomplish this goal.

“The Spill Arrest catalog fully complements our line of safe facility signs, labels and printers which keep the workplace cleaner, safer and more productive,” explained Steve Stephenson, Graphic Products, General Manager.

Cleaning up oil and other types of spills is dangerous work requiring fast action and quick thinking to maintain a safe working environment. It is vital that containment supplies are on hand before spills occur. This 10-page catalog includes products that address:

• Removal -- pads, rugs and mats, pillows and loose sorbents
• Isolation -- berms, booms, containment pools, pallets, workstations, socks
• Oil, universal and HazMat spill kits
• Diverters/drain guards

Products are color-coded to help users identify products that absorb:
• Oil and petroleum-based fluids (white, blue)
• Oils, coolants, solvents and water (gray)
• Leaks and drips (camouflage)
• Universal (green)
• Oils, solvents, water-based fluids and aggressive liquids (yellow)

With more than 50 unique labeling supplies for all environments, a full family of printers for every application, a five year supply warranty, free technical support and satisfied customers throughout the world, DuraLabel and Graphic Products have solved unique problems in the industrial safety arena for more than 40 years.

For more information about DuraLabel, visit www.DuraLabel.com

To request your complimentary Spill Arrest catalog, visit www.SpillArrest.com/catalog

# # #

I Can't Believe The Chances People Take

2011-08-14T01:39:00.000-07:00

I've seen videos similar to this, but this one is the best I've yet seen. Having a "can do" attitude toward getting your work done is good, but only to a point.

Safety in the West Indies

2011-08-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's fun and interesting to think about safety culture in countries other than our own. This article, "What Happened to Safety First?," captures the flavor of Jamaica.

At times humorous and at other times frightening, the article paints the picture of a culture torn between two worlds -- compliance and personal choices.

Definitely worth reading.

Top 7 Workplace Safety Resources

2011-08-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

We thought we’d share these resources with you. Available online, we’re kept in the loop on all the major workplace safety stories daily. The more well-informed we all are, the more likely we’ll all have safer workplaces. And isn’t that the goal here?

1) FacilityBlog, always well-written, humorous and timely. Heidi Schwartz does a great job. http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog

2) OSHA. May be an obvious choice, but one that can’t be ignored. http://www.osha.gov/

3) PR Newswire. Resource for new products and trends. Check out http://www.prnewswire.com/

4) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Packed with regional data, covers many industries. You do your own analysis. Visit http://www.bls.gov/

5) Associated Press. Newspapers and websites pick up their stories. Again, not a lot of regional “flavor,” but useful information. http://www.ap.org/

6) Environmental Protection Agency. Timely alerts, investigations. http://www.epa.gov/

7) MSHA. Mining safety news, citations, disasters. http://www.msha.gov/

Are there others you'd care to add, please? Thanks.

Texas AMF Bowling Cited for OSHA Violations

2011-08-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

One doesn’t typically think of bowling as a particularly hazardous activity, but in this story one worker lost his life at a Dallas bowling alley while making repairs. Unfortunately, almost anyone can be the victim of a frightening workplace incident.

The article, which appeared in the Houston Examiner, reported that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited AMF Bowling Centers Inc. for three serious and three repeat violations following the death of a worker at the company’s Dallas facility on Belt Line Road in Addison. OSHA’s Dallas Area Office initiated an inspection, after receiving a report that a worker was fatally injured from being caught in a pinsetter machine while clearing a jam.

Stephen Boyd, OSHA’s Dallas director said, “This company failed to install the required machine guarding on the pinsetter machine. If OSHA’s standards had been followed, it is possible that this tragedy could have been avoided.”

OSHA’s machine guarding standard was the 10th most frequently cited standard in 2010

Information about machine guarding can be found at www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/index.html.

Employer OSHA Obligations

2011-07-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Hsu from http://www.findlaw.com/ recently wrote about OSHA employer/employee obligations. While some may already be familiar with these guidelines, other may find a review helpful.

According to OSHA, all employers engaged in business affecting commerce need to provide safe working conditions for their employees.

What does this mean? Most important: Employers need to remove hazardous or dangerous conditions.

As an employer, be sure to follow OSHA guidelines, which are federal law. Know what guidelines and regulations are applicable to your workplace, and have copies available for employees who request them.

Keep records of injuries and illnesses. Businesses with 11 employees or more at any time during a calendar year are required to keep records of occupational injuries and illnesses. Those in retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate and service industries are exempt from this rule.

Display OSHA's Safe and Healthful workplaces poster. Employers are required to post this poster, or its state equivalent, somewhere for all to see. Lunchrooms or break rooms are great places to display these posters.

Tell your workers about hazardous chemicals. If your business uses hazardous chemicals, employers need to inform employees about these hazards and train them on proper safeguards such as signs and labels.

Businesses are subject to OSHA inspections. Employees may contact local or state OSHA offices to request an inspection if there is a hazard or danger in the workplace.

OSHA and GHS Work in Tandem to Warn Workers About Workplace Safety

2011-07-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

While most know that OSHA 1910-145 requires safety signs to indicate specific hazards which may lead to accidental injury to employees and/or the public or lead to property damage, it’s always useful to review the basics:

According to OSHA, danger signs should be red, white and black. Caution signs must be yellow, black and white. Safety instruction signs need to be green and white. The sign’s wording should be easily read, concise, and contain sufficient information to be easily interpreted. Wording should make a positive, rather than negative suggestion and should be accurate. OSHA requires signs to have rounded or blunt corners and be free of sharp edges, burrs, splinters or other sharp projections. OSHA also specifies that the methods of attaching the sign to a wall, post or other supporting material must not cause a hazard.

If you don’t follow OSHA standards, you’re facing possible injury or deaths as well as possibly huge fines. Your signs and labels must always be there to communicate potentially lifesaving messages quickly and effectively.

There’s no reason to settle for basic, run of the mill safety signs when you can have highly effective custom signs that won’t peel off after rain storms, fade after years in the sun and be instantly visible during emergency evacuations.

Because our customers demand super high-performance signs and labels, we’ve already developed more than 50 unique labeling supplies.

DuraLabel Labeling Supplies & Innovations
New labeling supplies are developed to solve specific dilemmas. These may include adhesion problems, chemical resistance or abrasion properties.

Specially engineered supplies have been developed for lasting performance on surfaces like oily drums, near electrical circuits or even on freezing pipes. For example, DuraLabel poly cling tape supply uses a special, proprietary bonding layer that feels like a permanent bond, yet the label can be removed and repositioned time and time again.

Other DuraLabel innovations include:

• Improved printer technology for printer portability and more durable labels
• Advanced adhesives to label difficult surfaces like plastic, brick and wood
• New materials to withstand harsh environments
• Color coded wire and cable markings indicate different uses such as grounding, hot wiring and utility locations
• Economical, custom color labels on continuous rolls
• Non-adhesive labels which can be easily reused for temporary applications
• Support products such as mobile print stations, printer carts and application sprays

High performance safety labeling supplies are available for every budget, weather condition and application one might encounter.

Labeling chemical hazards has international ramifications as chemicals are often transported across borders. That’s where the Global Harmonized System (GHS) comes into play.

In August, OSHA will release the final rules on the new GHS which was created to enhance the protection of human health and the environment by providing an internationally comprehensible system. The standard label elements in the GSH are:

• Symbols (hazard pictograms) convey health, physical and environmental hazard information, assigned to a GHS hazard class and category
• Signal words such as “Danger” or “Warning” emphasize hazards and indicate the relative level of severity of the hazard, assigned to a GHS hazard class and category
• Hazard statements or standardized phrases assigned to a hazard class and category that describe the nature of the hazard
• Product identifiers
• Supplier identification
• Supplemental information

According to OSHA, products falling within the scope of the GHS will carry the GHS label at the point where they are supplied to the workplace, and that label should be maintained on the supplied container in the workplace. The GHS label or label elements can also be used for workplace containers (e.g., storage tanks). Employers may use alternative means of giving workers the same information in a different written or displayed format when such a format is more appropriate to the workplace and communicates the information as effectively as the GHS label. For example, label information could be displayed in the work area, rather than on the individual containers. Some examples of workplace situations where chemicals may be transferred from supplier containers include: containers for laboratory testing, piping or process reaction systems or temporary containers.

Whether you’re a safety manager in the UK or a facility manager from Ohio, consistent use of safety signs play a critical role in reducing injuries and saving lives at industrial facilities. For more information, visit http://www.duralabel.com/

OSHA Controversy Amid Tragic Workplace Accident

2011-07-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from an interesting article by Rick Babson from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting...

By Rick Babson
Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Four years ago, Marc Roudebush was only a couple weeks away from becoming a college graduate at the age of 46.

The El Dorado, Kan., resident did in fact earn his Bachelor of Science in Management from Baker University’s Wichita campus, but it was a posthumous honor. A production supervisor for Sherwin-Williams Co. in Andover, Kan., east of Wichita, Roudebush died on the job around 1 a.m. on July 1, 2007.

According to reports by the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Andover Police Department, Roudebush apparently reached toward a moving conveyor belt and became wedged between a metal control panel and a “rake,” which automatically sweeps cans of paint from a pallet to a conveyor that takes them to be filled and labeled. According to the OSHA report, it is believed that Roudebush went to “check on a jam or other problem with the cans” and that he was caught “when the rake automatically cycled to sweep another layer of cans onto the conveyer.”

Roudebush’s death came even as OSHA recognized Sherwin-Williams as a paragon of workplace safety; the job site earned entrance into the agency’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) less than a year before the fatal accident. And even though OSHA cited Sherwin-Williams for one “serious” violation – under a regulation governing machinery guarding – and fined the company $5,000 after Roudebush’s death, the plant earned the highest level of recognition through VPP – star status – a little more than a year after the accident.

To read the rest of the article, click HERE.

Study Shows Laundered Shop Towels May Expose Millions of US Manufacturing Workers to an Expected Source of Heavy Metals

2011-07-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gradient, a nationally recognized environmental and risk science consulting firm, today announced the publication of a study that finds elevated levels of heavy metals in tested laundered shop towels. The study, “Evaluation of Potential Exposure to Metals in Laundered Shop Towels,” builds upon an earlier analysis published in 2003 and concludes that, even after commercial laundering, the towels studied retain elevated levels of metals. This could result in worker exposures that exceed agency guidelines, which are based on various health effects such as cancer. Additionally, the tested shop towels may unexpectedly introduce new metals that are not otherwise in a facility.

The new report, “Evaluation of Potential Exposure to Metals in Laundered Shop Towels,” is available at http://www.thedirtonshoptowels.com/

Keeping Food Processing Workers Safe

2011-07-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Contact:

Jack Rubinger
Graphic Products, Inc.
503-469-3024
jarubinger@graphicproducts.com

Keeping Food Processing Workers Safe
Food Labeling Safety Guide Announced by Graphic Products, Inc.

Portland, OR – Graphic Products – known worldwide for DuraLabel printers, supplies and safety products – has released the colorful, 10-page Keeping Food Processing Worker Safe Guide to protect insiders from the dangers of ammonia refrigeration system leakage, food conveyor hazards and contamination of food and equipment.

The Guide addresses:

• Organizing your workplace with 5S Lean Manufacturing
• Important signs for food processing workers
• OSHA/ANSI standardized colors, designs and wording including Danger, Caution, Warning and Notice Signs
• Ammonia pipe marker standards
• Metal-detectable labels – used where contaminants may harm food products
• The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) specifications for conveyor safety labels

The Guide is available to those who fill out a form located at http://www.duralabel.com/free-gifts/free-safety-in-the-food-processing-industry-guide.php

For more information, visit http://www.duralabel.com/

Landmark Awards Program to Recognize Companies' Efforts in Reducing the Chain of Germ Transmission via Hygiene and Education Programs in the Office

2011-06-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

ROSWELL, Ga., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Professional today announced a new awards program designed to recognize and reward companies that have made a comprehensive corporate commitment to better hand and surface hygiene in the workplace as well as to the education of its employees in the importance of "wash, wipe and sanitize" office hygiene.

The Healthy Workplace Project* Award, an additional initiative of Kimberly-Clark's landmark The Healthy Workplace Project*, will be awarded to companies that have demonstrated a sustained, significant effort toward breaking the cycle of germ transmission in the workplace. The award recognizes and celebrates the implementation of best practices around office hygiene initiatives as well as employee engagement and education. The announcement of the awards program was made at the 2011 Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference in Washington, D.C.

"We are delighted to introduce a new awards program for companies developing and implementing programs that make our offices a healthier place to be. By advocating for and providing education on healthy workplace hygiene habits, businesses can significantly reduce the frequency with which germs are spread throughout the office, creating a positive impact on employee productivity and absenteeism-related expenses," said Richard Thorne, Vice President of Kimberly-Clark Professional* North America. "Importantly, a healthier workplace also promotes employee morale, and inspires a higher level of engagement between the company and its employee."

About The Healthy Workplace Project* Award

The Healthy Workplace Project* Award is an annual program. Any office environment is eligible to participate, from those operated by building owners, managed by facility managers and, of course, individual offices. The program is self-nominating and applicants will be asked to complete a questionnaire that will serve as their award submission. Participants will be asked to describe the hand and surface hygiene initiatives their company has implemented, as well as any educational programs that have been introduced to reinforce these initiatives. The application also requires a description of how the success of these initiatives is measured. Applications for the awards will be accepted through April 30, 2012.

The program will be judged by independent, third-party experts in the fields of workplace health, office hygiene and germ transmission. The judges will be announced this summer. Winners, to include a Gold, Silver and Bronze winning company, will be announced at the 2012 BOMA International Conference in June 2012. In addition to other health and wellness awards the grand prize winner will receive $15,000 worth of hand and surface hygiene products from Kimberly-Clark Professional*. The second place winner will also receive an office-based health and wellness award and will receive $10,000 of products and the third place winner will receive $5,000 of products.

Complete information on The Healthy Workplace Project* Award, including a sample award application can be found at http://www.healthyworkplaceproject.com/

DuraLabel Announces Industry First 5-Year Supply Warranty Bringing Safety and Quality Assurance to New Level

2011-06-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Jack Rubinger
Graphic Products, Inc.
503-469-3024
jarubinger@graphicproducts.com

DuraLabel Announces Industry First 5-Year Supply Warranty Bringing Safety and Quality Assurance to New Level

Portland, OR – DuraLabel, a leading global manufacturer of facility safety labels and printers, has released a new 5-year supply warranty to pro-actively address the importance of product longevity and reliability in the marketplace. The company warranty now states:

If labels made with DuraLabel Premium Vinyl fail within five years of purchase, we will provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply.

The warranty applies to DuraLabel Premium Vinyl Tapes and DuraLabel XPressPeel Vinyl Tapes. These tapes are DuraLabel’s most popular vinyl labeling material and are used for applications such as pipe marking, safety signage, arc flash, 5S labeling, and OSHA required labeling.

With this robust warranty, DuraLabel helps ease purchasing decisions and reduce labor costs associated with labeling.

“No other manufacturer offers anything comparable,” said Steve Stephenson, Managing Director, Graphic Products. “We trust our customers to define a successful labeling application. So, if they’re unsatisfied for whatever reason, we’ll honor our warranty.”

If someone creates a label using DuraLabel Premium Vinyl, and that label fails for any reason within five years of the date of purchase of the vinyl, we'll provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply. This warranty is unique because it is so simple and straightforward. There is no fine print. No “whereas” or exceptions.

How can DuraLabel make such a bold and confident statement without resorting to fine print?

Driven by the desire to innovate and provide the highest quality supplies for customers, DuraLabel’s vinyl supply undergoes constant testing to gauge the resilience and durability necessary to perform in a wide range of workplace conditions and climates. Using certified testing equipment, DuraLabel’s team of technicians check adhesive strength, print quality, surface quality, tensile strength and elongation, and film and adhesive thickness to ensure that all printers and labels meet or exceed specifications.

DuraLabel printers and supplies are manufactured and distributed by Graphic Products, providing visual communication solutions since 1970. DuraLabel offers more than 50 application-specific supplies and offers same-day shipping to meet our customers’ just-in-time delivery requirements. All printers come with free technical support for as long as the printer owner is a Graphic Products' customer, unlike other printers which require you to pay for support. Graphic Products is the only custom label printer company that is confident enough in the quality of our products that we can provide this level of support.

Contact us today at http://www.duralabel.com/five-year-warranty.php
to learn more about the DuraLabel Warranty or to place your supply order for quality DuraLabel Vinyl Tape.

Big Facts on Workplace Accidents

2011-06-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

The prevalence of workplace accidents is staggering: On average, 22 U.S. workers die each day from accidents.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual number of fatal accidents from 1994-2008 ranged from 5,071 to 6,588, and 4 million non-fatal private sector injuries were reported in 2007 alone.

The financial costs are also staggering. A 2002 report by the National Safety Council estimated that work-related injuries cost the U.S. economy $132.1 billion.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11164/1152877-499.stm#ixzz1PBVYcK4t

Canadians Focus on Young Worker Safety

2011-06-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of paragraphs from a June 9 article in the Ottawa Citizen.

OTTAWA — Workers in Ontario have the right to say no. No to standing on a 40-foot ladder without a harness. No to working without a supervisor. No to using equipment before being trained. No to taking shortcuts.

But often, they still find themselves in dangerous situations, resulting in accidents, injuries, and even death. All of which can be prevented.

That’s the message Ontario’s labour minister is hoping to spread through a four-month safety blitz across the province. Charles Sousa is focusing the program on young workers, since most workplace accidents happen in the first month on the job.

“We want those kids to come home safe and sound,” Sousa said. He spoke Wednesday to a group of young workers at the Ottawa Walls and Ceilings Training Centre in an industrial park in Gloucester. “The thought of any of you — any young person — being killed on the job is too awful to contemplate.”

Sousa said that in 2009, more than 7,500 young workers were injured on the job. Though the number is lower than previous years, the summer blitz aims to reduce it even more.

The entire article may be found here.

Leading the Evolution toward Total Worker Health

2011-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Below is an excerpt from the June National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) eNews:

In many ways, the health risks and challenges facing today’s workers and employers are significantly different than they were 40 years ago. The American workforce is rapidly aging as more workers choose to, or by economic necessity are forced to, remain in the workplace. The workforce is increasingly burdened by epidemic levels of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Middle-aged and young workers are facing earlier onset of chronic health conditions, such as obesity and diabetes.

There is increasing evidence that the work environment and the overall health of the workers within it are inextricably linked. Disease and injury, whether caused by work, nonwork activities, or lifestyle, reduce quality of life, opportunity, and income for workers and those dependent upon them. For employers, the collective burden of diminished workforce health and ability adversely impacts recruitment, retention, productivity, and, ultimately, economic viability.

The complete article may be found here.

Toro Touchscreen -- Easier to Read, Less Fumbling

2011-05-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

Most of us will agree that squinting and fumbling with too-small touch screens causes frustration and makes work more stressful.

Already generating great feedback is the DuraLabel Toro portable integrated label printer with its 9-inch wide touch screen. Nice and big. Easy to see and touch!

DuraLabel Announces New “Toro” Portable Integrated Label Printer

2011-05-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS: Jack Rubinger, 503-469-3024, jarubinger@graphicproducts.com
Jim Bocci, 503-469-3034, jbocci@graphicproducts.com

DuraLabel Announces New “Toro” Portable Integrated Label Printer
Standalone industrial label printer requires no network connectivity

PORTLAND, OR – DuraLabel has launched a new portable, fully integrated label printing system called Toro. The DuraLabel Toro combines a full-sized flip-down keyboard, tilting touch screen, OSHA-ANSI compliance software and a thermal-transfer printer into one durable, mobile standalone unit.

Toro does not need IT support or connectivity to a computer. “We engineered Toro to be network independent because many of our customers needed it,” said DuraLabel chief marketing officer, Steve Stephenson. “Many government agencies and industrial IT departments have strict security rules regarding the connection of peripheral equipment like label printers to their networks. Toro has its own customized software so it doesn’t need a network.”

Network independence plus Toro’s rugged, lightweight design and optional battery power make it perfect for printing labels and signs at several locations within the same facility or even at remote sites. The Toro battery provides the power to print continuous labels for three hours without a charge. Optional Soft-shell and hard shell travel cases are available for taking Toro on the go.

Toro’s embedded software includes QLabel-IV for barcoding, DuraSuite with hundreds of templates and symbols for pipemarking, arc flash, NFPA diamond labels and RTK bar labels and more than 1,300 Common Hazard and PPE symbols. Toro software also lets you create and save your own custom label designs.

Toro’s thermal-transfer label printer produces durable labels and signs from one-half inch to four inches wide at any length needed. Toro prints up to three inches per second at a crisp 300-dot-per-inch resolution giving you high-quality labels and signs fast. No other industrial label printer on the market offers the independence, flexibility and mobility of Toro.

DuraLabel printers and supplies are manufactured and distributed by Graphic Products, providing visual communication solutions since 1970. DuraLabel offers more than 50 application-specific supplies and offers same-day shipping to meet our customers’ just-in-time delivery requirements. Toro MSRP is $1,794 and comes with a one-year warranty and fast, friendly lifetime technical support.

Product and application photos are available.

To find out more visit us at http://www.duralabeltoro.com/

Railroad Safety "Ties" to Lean Continuous Improvement

2011-05-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Railroad safety is not something we typically focus on, but we saw this story from the Association of American Railroads as a shining example of teamwork and innovation.

Note that the biggest safety award went to John Kirwan, a machinist with Union Pacific in Hinkle, Oregon and a practitioner of LEAN continuous improvement, for which we share a passion.

Here's a link to the original article:

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/harriman-awards-ns-streak-at-22-3156.html

Company Doc Makes A Comeback

2011-05-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

Bridging the gap between workplace safety and general health and wellness is the new breed of company doctor. Employers, on the other hand, see on-site health care clinics as a way to cut medical costs and boost productivity.

Read the following article in the Saturday, May 14th Star Tribune for more details:

http://www.startribune.com/business/121839084.html

Respect Your Safety Pro

2011-05-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

It is ironic that in some cases safety professionals are treated with disdain by their co-workers. Why would you resent someone whose job is to prevent injuries and save lives?

Read on for details from this Edmonton Sun article:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2011/05/12/working-albertans-face-risks-every-day