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Showing posts from May, 2010

OSHA Ascertained Safety of Highway Construction Worker

Now the workers who involve in highway bridge construction are going to be provided better protection during their working time. OSHA has added a note regarding the safety and the health of the workers to the “Steel Erection Standard” that will inform the employers about some requirements of Federal Highway Administration. This new amendment will improve the safety of the highway construction worker and motorists during highway bridge construction. Till the date, so many accidents have been occurring due to lack of proper information regarding the safety of the workers at working place. No one can forget the accident that took so may lives in 2004. That time, from an overpass under construction in Golden, Colo., a 100 foot long 40 ton steel bridge girder fell down and crushed an SUV that carried three people of the same family and all died on the spot. But fortunately the workers were at that time not working there and thus saved from the disaster. Otherwise, the accident would be m...

OSHA Cited Contractor $61,000 Regarding Worker's 30-Foot Fall

Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Misdea Enterprises LLC, a Weymouth, Mass., masonry contractor because the contractor was involved in willful violation for the safety and the health of the workers. The contractor did not pay attention to the workers safety and an employee fell down from 30 feet while climbing a scaffold in Brookline, Mass. For this willful violation, OSHA has proposed $61,600. OSHA had done inspection on that site and found that there was no ladder in the scaffold. The safety and health of the workers was a big question in that site. There was no fall protection while working on the scaffold, scaffold was not fully planked, the workers were threatened by electrocution, and many more. The company was not complying with OSHA regulations. This is the duty of the employers to provide fall protection for each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level. In this case, the height was 30 feet and still the employer did not provide an...

OSHA Takes Major Role For Workers Safety During Oil Spill Response And Clean Up Operation

Hazards at oil spill site has become a sensitive issue as the effect of oil spill has been seen spreading more and more. It has become a threat to the workers who are involved with oil spill response and clean up operation. But the hazards are not the same in all the affected areas. Somewhere there are less hazards and somewhere the situation is very horrible. So, what kind of hazards are there in the work site will depend on the location and type of job that the workers will have to do. More to that, workers at oil spill locations will experience many kind of hazards as they will expect to work in heat, in swamps, to use boat, walk on slippery, wildlife danger, controlling and using heavy equipment and many more. To involve in the actual cleanup, the workers must have to get at least 4 hour safety training regarding the hazards at the site and any kind of possible hazards that the cleanup operation may carry out. BP requires this training to be provided for the workers otherwise it w...

New Security Features updated for OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Training Cards

OHSA has incorporated new security features into the 10 and 30 hour wallet cards issued to trainees after completing the OSHA Outreach training courses by the trainers. This is something new and OSHA had incorporated the new features quietly. Numerous states and general contractors have possession of the a 10 hour or 30 hour OSHA training card, which is mandatory for workers on certain sites but, there are quite a lot of cases where bogus cards were sold or provided to workers or their employers. The OSHA wallet-sized cards are the same in terms of its size and colors, which is gold for the construction courses and medium blue for the general industry courses. However, in the new cards, the OSHA logo will be there in the upper left hand corner with the letter ‘O’ in blue ink. Again depending on the OSHA course completed a large number ‘10’ for OSHA 10 hour training and ‘30’ for OSHA 30 hour training will be placed faintly in the front center of the OSHA cards. These two new features ar...

BP Oil Spill Clean-up Plans Not Addressing Health Issues

Most of the times, the media has been covering the BP oil spills since the minute it started and most of them have been focusing the impact to wildlife and who will take responsibility of the clean up. However, what they fail to cover is the impact that oil spill will have on human. Most people have taken up the volunteer to clean the oil spills along with the workers. These people will come in contact with a myriad of toxic substances, which makes up the oil, the dispersant which is used to break and sink it as well as the chemicals which is used to clean it up. What Danger The Workers Face: Frankly we are still clueless about the potential risks to the workers. Oil spills are actually ecological events and not human health events. However, to clean this ecological mess, they need human hand. Workers and volunteers will come in direct contact with the toxic fumes and chemicals. Again, boats that belong to fishermen and other locals aiding the clean up might become contaminated. These ...

OSHA cited Wisconsin manufacturer for 19 safety violations

OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the main federal agency of the US Department of Labor, has cited KBRK Inc. and proposed with $60,750 for alleged knowing and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards. The company has been doing business as Baird Display in Waukesha, Wis. The inspection was done in January 2010 and OSHA has found that company involves in so many willful safety rule violations. The inspection has brought it into the light that the employees in that company were bypassing safety switches in order to reach into running machinery to in-jam it without shutting down the machine. The employer and the employees both are not ignorant about the danger that can occur from such work and they know the rules of OSHA regarding the same case. And after knowing all these, the company has violated the rules and so OSHA has proposed penalty of $35,000. Another issue that OSHA has found out and put penalties of $25,750. The violation of the company inclu...

OSHA Charges Ohio Foundry For More Than Two Dozen Violations

Elyria Foundry Co. LLC, Elyria, Ohio was charged by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with 29 alleged serious and three repeat safety and health violations after a worker sustained an injury which required a lower arm amputation. Proposed penalties total $201,500. Based on a November 2009 safety inspection, OSHA charged the company with 25 serious and three repeat safety violations with $183,000 in proposed penalties. Some of the violations addressed the company's failure to give proper personal protective equipment to employees; failure to provide sufficient eye protection while working with a sulfur dioxide tank; a lack of emergency escape respirators for employees; blocked exit doors; a lack of proper guarding on power band saws;failure in providing safety latches on crane hooks; and failure to provide fall protection. The employer also has been charged with four serious health violations and are proposed with $18,500 penalty. The citations address the failure ...

OSHA Took Final Decision to Protect Workers From Hexavalent Chromium Exposure

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the main federal agency of US department of labor has now confirmed to effect the rule that will require the employers to notify their workers of all hexavalent chromium exposures. The rule will be effective from June 15, 2010. Workers who are to expose to toxic chemicals are at maximum risks to suffer from lung cancer, damage to throat, nose and respiratory tract. Now the new rule suggests the employers that when there is chance to exceed the permissible exposure limit, then the employers will need to follow the OSHA's Hexavalent Chromium standard and they must have to notify it to the workers. Hexavalent chromium occurs while working with pigments, operating chrome plating baths, spray paints and coatings containing chromates, and welding or cutting metals containing chromium, like stainless steel. Worker involving in such works for a long time can suffer from lung cancer, irritation or damage to the eyes and skin. Before comi...

Since 1980, 60 Workers Killed in Grain Elevators in Kansas

It has been disclosed that more than 680 workers have died at workplace in Kansans. View some accidents: 1. About one in 10 died when working at a grain elevator. Three painters who fell down from the top of an elevator in Jetmore in 1982. The height was 125 feet where the painters fell down and died on the spot. 2. Forty-eight workers died in elevators while doing jobs classified by OSHA as "grain and field bean" work. OSHA counts this work as the most dangerous job in Kansas. 3. The DeBruce explosion killed seven and injured 10 which was exploded in 1998. The accident made national headlines and resulted in a substantial OSHA fine. Besides these, the other grain and field bean workers died in single-fatality accidents since 1980. And half of them were killed when they were engulfed by grain. Regarding this, Ron Hayes says, "It's just one of the most dangerous places in the world to work.” Ron Hayes had lost his 19 year old son while the son was buried by 60 to...

N.J. Manufacturer Charges For 14 Serious Safety And Health Violations

The Church & Dwight Company Inc. faces citations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 serious violations that involves employee exposure to chemical hazards at its plant in North Brunswick, N.J. Proposed penalties total $55,125. Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's Avenel Area Office said "The identified violations could potentially place workers at risk and could result in injury or possible death," she also further "One way employers can prevent potential hazards is by establishing an effective comprehensive workplace safety and health program that engages employees to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards." OSHA started an investigation on November 18, 2009, as part of its Site-Specific Targeting Inspection Program for industries with great injury and illness rates. And as a result to the investigation, OSHA inspectors have cited the company for its failure to comply with a process safety...

Oil Spill Clean-up Safety Materials Distributed by OSHA

OSHA is circulating several safety guides as well as fact sheets in numerous languages to the workers involved in the oil spill clean up along with the Gulf Coast. Before any workers could be hired to engage in the clean up, OSHA requires the workers to receive the material supplement. Apart from English, the safety guides and fact sheets will be initially printed in Vietnamese and Spanish since there’s a diverse population inhabiting the Gulf Coast region. The safety materials will be made available by BP’s education contractor, PEC, as well as OSHA officials at the cleanup staging areas. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has urged BP to employ some local workers displaced by the oil spill, though many of them have limited English proficiency. Solis has said that she has directed OSHA to work close with BP in order ensure OSHA safety training of cleanup employees. The OSHA safety training must be thorough, prompt and adequate, and must be conducted in those languages that the workers ...

Milk Specialties Co. agrees to penalties

As a part of the legal settlement between OSHA and Milk Specialties Co. in Whitehall, the later has agreed to a pay a sum of $535,000 as the penalties. This happened after the company was cited for willful, repeat as well as serious safety violations that concern combustible dust hazards, untrained workers working in potentially dangerous locations and limited permits for working in confined areas. Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA said, "We are pleased that Milk Specialties Co. has recognized and agreed to abate the health and safety violations addressed in the settlement. "Our number one concern is to ensure the safety and welfare of all workers. With this agreement, I am confident the company is moving in the right direction." The inspection was conducted in December 2008 by OSHA in response to a complaint which allege numerous safety hazards at the whey processing plant of the company. The employer’s failure to comply with the agency’s confin...

Top Saftey Award For Del Monte Employees

at Del Monte Farm Shop in Mendota employees work hundreds of days without incident but when there occurs a few minor injuries in 2006 erased the 742 consecutive days they had earned, they decided to improve their own record by earning a top award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A safety committee consisted of the men and women at the farm shop reviewed safety regulations and began implementing new procedures that finally led them to the distinction as one of only a handful of Illinois companies to achieve OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program award. SHARP certification required website visits and reviews of safety procedures along with an increasing number of days without incident. Full-time and the seasonal employees fine-tuned their safety procedures and policies to fulfill all of the required OSHA regulations along with a goal of zero lost time days. By April 30, 2010, the new procedures not only made a new recor...

BP keeping facts on spill far from public view

BP, responsible for the explosion of rig last month in the Gulf Of Mexico has not disclosed the test results on the extend of worker’s exposure from the combustion of crude or to evaporating oil over the Gulf, even though the data is crucial to determine whether the situations are safe. Moreover, the company is not observing the extend of the spill and only release videos of the spill site reluctantly, which is important for the scientists to get a clue about the amount of oil in the Gulf. Questions has been raised, on BP’s role as the main source of information, about whether the government must step in to gather the important information and to publicize it. Again does an adequate cleanup must be accomplished without the information about the amount of crude oil that’s spreading across the Gulf. BP had earlier released four videos under the pressure from senators, however, they haven’t agreed to monitoring better. Further, the air sampling for oil spill workers hasn’t been publicly r...

OSHA finds CSX Transportation Inc. to retaliate against NY dispatcher

U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found out that CSX Transportation Inc. had retaliated against an employee who had repeatedly reported about safety matters to his managers. Robert Kulick, regional administrator in New York, OSHA, said, “ Retaliating against an employee who raises safety concerns is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. If workers are intimidated into remaining silent, that silence carries an ominous price as hazards may go unreported and thereby place the safety of railway workers and the public at risk." CSX had disciplined the veteran employee in December 2008 and so the employee filed a complaint with OSHA in 2008. OSHA had investigated on it and found reasons to complain against the railroad and cited with $5,000 to pay to the worker for punitive damages. The company had violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act by disclosing the workers personnel record. The order required CSX to delete the worke...

2 workers died and 2 received 3rd degree burns in a confined space

OSHA (U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has cited a shipbuilder company named VT Halter Marine Inc., and proposed penalty $1,322,000. The company experienced an explosion in November 2009 that killed two workers and seriously injured two other workers. Hilda L. Solis, the Secretary of Labor said,"This was a horrific and preventable situation. The employer was aware of the hazards and knowingly and willfully sent workers into a confined space with an explosive and toxic atmosphere. Loss of life can never be something considered acceptable or as a course of doing business." The company has been cited for 17 willful and 11 serious violations. The willful citations are due to the companies negligence in inspecting and testing the confined space before entry. It is a very hazardous point not to prevent entry into confined spaces where concentration of flammable vapors exceed the prescribed limits. More over the company exposed the work...

Jeffboat has a record history of safety violations with OSHA

Recalling the two deaths that happened in Jeeffboat in a matter of two days apart, it has raised questions about the safety of the workers in the company. Families of the deceased workers have expressed their disbelieved and unsatisfactory over the whole matter. There has been a record of 7 investigations since 2003 according to OSHA. Out of it, 3 investigations were planned with giving any notice to Jeffboth and the other four investigations were in reponse to complaints. In one investigation dating back in May 2007, there were at 27 violations and 23 were cited as serious. OSHA had also fined an amount of $20,700. Now, following the death of two workers recently, OSHA has two new investigations pending. Jeffboat has been cited by OSHA for fire safety plan, maintenance of safe conditions, general housekeeping and exposure to flammable and combustible liquids. It is the responsibility of the organization to provide a safety and healthy work experience to their employers. They need to c...

Del Monte Food's Mendota Farm Operations Receives OSHA Safety and Health Designation Award

Del Monte Foods' Mendota Farm Operations Group has been awarded with OSHA Safety and Health Designation. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognized Del Monte Foods' Mendota, IL Farm Operations group for its world class safety operations and culture. Del Monte's Farm Operations group was awarded a Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Award Program (SHARP) designation sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The SHARP award recognizes those employers who operate an ideal safety and health management system. As a result of the SHARP designation, Del Monte's Farm Operations group will now get a two-year work site certification that demonstrates OSHA's confidence in the group's safety operations. In year 2009, the Farm Operations management team, which includes both seasonal and full-time employees, demonstrated safety excellence by expanding its safety program to further increas...

OSHA Takes New Steps To Enhance Safety And Health Of Workers

As always, OSHA has come out with an innovative ideas to help the workers regarding safety and health at working place. OSHA Buffalo Area Office has constituted four alliances to ensure and enhance safety and health at the working place for a cross-section of workers in western New York. Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo, said, "Each of these alliances is targeted to a distinct group of workers in western New York - workers in construction, general industry, health care and small business, as well as Hispanic workers. Each alliance will provide information and training on work-related hazards and safeguards, and help workers understand their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act." OSHA's regional administrator Robert Kulick says on this matter that they share with their alliance partners the common goal to equip the workers with the knowledge and ability so that they could identify and address workplace hazards and return home healthy and wh...

BP’s Long History Of Accidents

The recent oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is only a number more to the list of accidents that BP has a record of. In 2005, an explosion occurred at the Texas City refinery, which killed 15 people and injured 170. OSHA had fined BP with an astounding amount of $21 million for safety violations. A year later, a BP pipeline leak had dumped near about 267,000 gallons of oil into the Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay, which was caused by failing equipment. The environmental advocates had red-flagged it for a fix earlier before the incident. BP had not detected the leak for a number of days and it was the worst kind of onshore oil spill in state history. The investigation has cited that the matter was caused due to the negligence and cost cutting from BP’s part. Even if BP enjoys being the second largest fossil fuel producer but it also has the largest number of explosions and other incidents at their US refinery. Based on its environmental and human rights record, BP had been listed the 10 worst compani...

Nearly $136,000 Proposed By OSHA In Penalties To Sewon America Inc

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Sewon America Inc. in LaGrange, Ga., for several safety violations after receiving a complaint. OSHA did extensive inspection of the company's facility in March. Penalties total is $135,900. Sewon America Inc. has been cited with two willful violations; one for failing to provide workers with appropriate hand protection and second was failing to protect workers from arc welding flash burns. According to OSHA a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employees' safety and health. The company also has been cited for other 12 serious safety violations and proposed penalties for failing to train or evaluate all workers operating industrial trucks,during wielding operations failing to guard against confined sparks, failing to provide tagout/lockout procedures for energy sources, failing to provide proper machine guarding on various mac...

BP Dips - Refinery Violations Surface

BP has given people a reason to calm down as they have inserted a tube into the undersea riser in the Gulf of Mexico. It seems they are succeeding in taking out some of the oil flow into the Gulf but the this process has not stop BP from dipping $ 1.30 to $45.57 as the cost of the whole thing is not known. BP had tweeted that the customary cap on liability for damages for most oil companies operating in US water does not apply in the Gulf spill case. The tweet was made in response to an interrogation put by Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano to BP. According to a report from a Freedom of Information request to OSHA, it shows that over the past three years BP was causative 97% of the “flagrant violations” as US regulators found in the refining industry. A total liability for violations was tallied at $90 million. If the refinery violations is a fact and are excluded from the upstream exploration business issues then it is worth noting.

OSHA Has Cited Jersey City For Exposing Employees to Hazards

OSHA has cited Importers Service Corp., Jersey City. The reason is the company has failed to lock out energy sources and it has exposed the workers during the maintenance and repair of equipment to potential injuries. OSHA has proposed penalties $158,500. On Nov. 10, 2009 OSHA started its inspection. OSHA inspection brought it to the light that the company has willfully violated two rules and so it has got the penalty of $98,000. More over the company has been cited for 33 serious violations with a penalty of $60,500. Phil Peist, OSHA area director of Parsippany said, "Each of these violations leaves workers vulnerable to hazards that can result in serious injury and illness. The company has a legal obligation to provide a safe and healthful environment for workers." The willful violations includes poor lockout/tagout system of the company, that is used to make the workers know about the release of hazardous waste. OSHA counts a willful violation as intentional, or voluntary...

Eye Protection While At Work: Tips From Defog It Antifog During National Healthy Vision Month 2010

Each year there are nearly 800,000 work-related eye injuries, resulting in approximately 2,000 workers receiving some form of medical treatment every day. Because 90% of eye injuries are preventable, Defog It antifog is promoting Healthy Vision Month 2010 with workplace eye safety tips. There are various statistics that emphasize the costs of workplace eye injuries to companies, individuals and society and the need for vigilance about eye safety. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics about $924 million in workers' compensation payments were made in a recent year. Bureau of Labor Statistics further adds; almost $4 billion in wages and productivity were lost in a recent year. Approximately 60% of workers suffered from eye injuries were not wearing proper protective eye wear. Vision loss is among one of the top ten workers disabilities. In recent years, mining,construction and manufacturing have had the highest incidence of eye injuries. Jodi Groh, Director of Marketing for...

OSHA Fines $7,000 To A Company For Oilfield Death

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) has fined a Montana company $7,000 after a worker faced death from injuries sustained while he was working for a seismograph crew near the Beach. On 5th March, about three miles north of Beach, Christopher Whalen, 22, of Havre, Mont., was doing seismographic drilling operations for Erickson Contract Surveying, Inc. when he was injured badly after a 250-pound steel pipe fell on his head. As a driller with his assistant were pulling pipe out of a hole on a rig, the 20-foot section of pipe was placed on the “beaver slide” and the fast plug failed or the pipe released, and that caused the steel pipe to strike Whalen in the head, according to OSHA documents. On May 5, OSHA had issued two citations. The first one was for $3,500, cites Erickson Contract for not providing a place of employment free from recognized hazards that may likely to cause serious harm or death. The second citation was of $3,500 was due to a lack of ensuring each a...

Safety Measures And Lockout Tag out Procedures

Lockout and tag out procedures ensure the safety and health of employees at workplace. The procedures are used while the workers involve in releasing harmful chemicals or gases. Hazardous wastes handling is a very difficult work that has adverse effects. It needs safety training for the workers to go with such jobs that can sure assist them in using electrical or special equipment well. Any particular mechanical or an electrical equipment is dangerous as well helpful. Lockout is the practice of locking such mechanical or equipments that cause damage to the employees or the workplace on activation. A lockout device keeps the equipment in a safe position and prevent it from an unexpected start up. But only to lock the equipment itself may not help every time. It needs a tag out device to be complemented. A tag out device increases the visibility of the lock and indicates the actual status of the equipment. It helps the workers to know if it is turned off, under maintenance or under s...

Further BP Legal Action Looked Upon

Safety Regulator in US believes that BP has a systemic safety problem at the refineries and they are discussing for further legal action against the energy company in UK with the Department of Justice. BP is considered not to have sufficiently improved safety despite being warned repeatedly. This was told by Jordan Barab, who is a senior official at OSHA. As we can recall, OSHA had fined BP with an astounding amount of $87.4m back in 2009 for its failure to correct the potential hazards that are faced by their employees. A fine of $21m was issued to them in 2005. It seems BP is no stranger when it comes to paying heavy fines. According to the agency, BP executives was enthusiastic about improving safety but they have never translated it. They do still have a serious systemic safety problem. BP has always maintain that they do continue to co-operate with OSHA but OSHA believes they have not done enough.

OSHA has cited Okeelanta Corp. in South Bay, Fla

OSHA (U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has proposed penalties $45,775 and cited Okeelanta Corp. in South Bay, Fla for repeated and serious violations of OSHA rules. The cited company has exposed workers to lacerations and amputation injuries. OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting Program incited the inspection done that payed more attention in social control efforts on comprehensive safety inspections where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur. The inspection found that Okeelanta has repeated violation that done before also. For this repeated violation, OSHA has proposed penalty of $12,500. The inspection has disclosed the violation includes failing to enclose sprocket wheels and chains on the specific machinery and also exposing employees to rotating parts and pinch points. If an employer previously was cited for the same violation of any regulation, standard, rule or order in federal enforcement states during the last three year...

Jeffboat broke 27 OSHA safety and health standards

A southern Indiana shipyard has been visited by OSHA for the second time in a week. The agency has to open two open investigation when two workers died after a fall in different occasion. The incident happened only two days apart from each other when a worker died on May 10 after falling 20 ft from a walkway on a barge. Right two days after, another employee fell from a ladder and died the next day after sustaining head injuries. Ken Martin,VP and GM of Jeffboat L.L.C later said, "Despite Jeffboat's constantly improving safety record, and the fact that the facility meets or exceeds OSHA standards at all of its work stations, it is still a heavy metal manufacturing plant with all of the challenges of an outdoor assembly line." Jeffboat has been investigated before by OSHA. As per the records filed on OSHA's website, it indicates there were 4 investigations at the Jeffersonville shipyard between the period of 2007 and 2009. An investigation resulted with the company get...

Huge Penalties for Violation of OSHA Regulation

OSHA has cited penalties for many industries and companies as because of violation of the OSHA rules and regulations. The rules and regulations are created so that the accidents, deaths and other work related problems reduce. But, many times it is seen that the companies do not comply with the rules and regulation of the OSHA and thus invite many catastrophe to themselves. The employees become the worst victim of such violation. Questions arise, why the employers do not comply with OSHA regulations that are a mandate to them? The definite answer will be that the industry owners see only the self-benefit and they deny the safety and health of the workers that work in their company. Recently, OSHA has proposed with $45,500 penalties for exposing workers to dangerous heights without proper fall protection to the Spieker Co., a general construction contractor based in Perrysburg. A construction site inspection was done on March at a high school in Delta, Ohio where it was found that Spiek...

OSHA looking out for higher fines and aggressive enforcement

There are many reasons why safety environment is important in a work site. Most of all, when you get hurt on a job, you might risk your health, job, income and even your life. Looking at these facts, OSHA has mandated that every workers should be well trained under the OSHA safety training program and qualified to fit the kind of work they are handling. Even the employers should know that, work related injuries or death can get them a big fine from OSHA. OSHA has recently released an annual list of work related injury and illness rate, which are higher than the national average. Fortunately for most companies, there are still no fines given in the survey program. However, one third of the companies on the list will be possibly given an inspection anytime. For the worst violators, the the fines may raise and higher penalties and more aggressive enforcement will be focused now to encourage employers to provide safety and healthy workplaces for their employees. Although, we see a new fa...

OSHA Offers Free Safety And Health Training Expo For Construction Workers

The construction workers of South Florida is going to receive free training that will help them recognizing and preventing of construction and health hazards on Saturday, May 15. The training will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT at the Sheridan Technical Center in Hollywood, Fla. This training is co-sponsored by OSHA, the South Florida and Florida's East Coast Associated General Contractors of America chapters and the Sheridan Technical Center. The free training is intended to provide formal and interactive training for the employees in the construction industry. This huge expo is going to offer 15 safety courses in two languages: English and Spanish. Darlene Fossum, area director of OSHA in Fort Lauder dale said, "Once again Florida's construction community is demonstrating its commitment to worker safety and health by coming together in support of the 10th annual South Florida Safety Expo." The demand of OSHA safety trainings are increasing as many horrible...

BP now offers environmental clean up training along with OSHA

Owing to the big catastrophe of Gulf of Mexico oil leak today, the need of Post-Emergency Spilled Oil Response Training is highly required. For those interested in participating in shoreline clean up, Health, Safety and Environmental Training has been provided for them. The safety training is basically fit for purpose basis for volunteers, contractors or vessel owners. The training has been prepared and provided by Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) after it was reviewed and approved by BP, OSHA and the the US Coastal Guard personnel. Post-Emergency Spilled Oil Response Training is ideal for those assigned in the Vessel of Opportunity program or registered a a contractor participating in clean up. For non-contaminated beach clean up volunteers, they will have to receive a basic OSHA safety training, BP health and safety and environment orientation enforced by the Coast Guard. Those who are interested in volunteering can contact the BP volunteer hot line. If you stay in coastal ...

The causes of BP oil disaster

The proximate causes of the BP oil disaster seem not on any technical or mechanical failures but on their recklessness and arrogance. Recent reports show a pretty good idea of the exact causes of the oil disaster. The arrogance of the industry’s effort to achieve voluntary self regulation which blocks authorizations for better technology and oversight, which might have well prevented the disaster. Now, it is clear that their self regulation has not worked at all. The lack of oversight is also a prime reason in terms of death and injuries in major oil producing countries. Another cause is the recklessness from BP’s part. According to NYT, BP has a history of oils spills and blasts and when it comes to safety they continue to lag behind other oil companies. According to OSHA, BP has got some “systemic safety” problems which they have tried to wave off. Lastly, BP’s overbearing hubris seems the root cause of the whole thing. BP calls the recent blowout disaster as unprecedented, ...

Changing Tone Of OSHA With US President Obama

Richard Teets at the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) conference and exhibition in Pittsburgh said,"There is just as much appreciation of safe practices, but the verification has changed. The past administration had greater emphasis on voluntary programs and employee involvement. The current one has more of a 'prove it, we don't believe it, we need to confirm it' attitude." Richard Teets is the president and chief operating officer of steel operations at Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI), Fort Wayne. US president Obama has introduced new rules regarding federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). And many of the administrators like Teets are not convinced with this new rules. They are view that offering incentives for safety because he thinks that incentives may incite the workers not to report incidents as to get the offering bonus. Teets said that employees like SDI employees must have to report an accident but can not cite two incident...

Company Fined By OSHA for Plant Violations

An Illinois milk-related company has been fined with a cost of $535,000 for safety violations. This has happened at a a Wisconsin plant and the company has agreed to pay for it. OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced settlement between Milk Specialties Co. and them. Based in Carpenters ville, Ill, the company produce protein supplements for dairy cows. The fine came after the 2008 inspection at the Whitehall plant. The plant was cited for the violations that included combustible dust hazards and untrained employees working at the dangerous work sites. However, the company said that the settlement was not something for any wrong doing but it was stemmed from a new acquired plant. Whatever the allegation is, it is the responsibility of the employers to provide a safe working environment to their workers. It is also their responsibility to provide OSHA safety training so that the workers can be equipped with all the knowledge to handle potential hazards.

USPS cited by OSHA for ‘Willful’ Safety Violations

For yet another violation by a company, OSHA has slap them with a fine of about $558,000. USPS, a postal service was cited as they ignored the long established OSHA safety standards and put their workers into harm knowingly. The violations was for exposing the workers to serious and potential fatal hazards of electrocution, shock and arc-flash at the Providence facility. The Postal service failed to adhere with the OSHA standards for electrical safety. Moreover, during the inspection at the Providence Processing & Distribution Center, the agency found untrained and unqualified workers testing on live electrical equipment. They generated 8 citations for willful safety violations and a fine of $530,000. A remaining $28,000 fines were associated with 4 citations for serious safety violations that included the employers failure to instruct the workers on proper procedures to lock out machines’ power sources that would prevent unexpected start-up during the maintenance or related hazard...

Online OSHA Safety Training Courses

There are options in taking the OSHA safety training courses as you can get both online and on site courses. Though it depends on you, online OSHA training has more demand as it offers more advantages. This OSHA safety training is designed to help workers at working place so that they can recognize, reduce and eliminate hazards that are associated with their work. OSHA has made OSHA training courses compulsory for all workers and approved the online courses. But on the web you will find both OSHA approved and unapproved online OSHA training providers, and you must be careful about it and select the approved one. Some advantages of online trainings are: Online OSHA training is more affordable and also saves money many ways. You will not have to travel anywhere to attend the traditional classroom teaching. You can complete the online courses at the comfort of your home or even at your office. There is no need take leave to attend these courses. Online OSHA training can save your time an...

OSHA cites company after workers’ fall on stadium roof

A subcontractor is facing the axe after workers felt from the roof of the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium. The accident resulted in injuring two workers seriously. OSHA has cited Birdair, Inc., of Amherst, NY, for the accident where two workers slide 260 ft down the domed roof side. According to OSHA, the workers were not wearing the required safety fall protection equipment and not trained for hazards related with falls. OSHA has the penalties for about $45,000, which one is for willful violation where employees were not wearing the required fall protection equipment and one for serious workers for employees not trained in hazards associated with falls. The company has said that they will contest the citations. The safety of the workers lies at the hand of the employers. It is the responsible of the employers to provide OSHA safety training programs to ensure the safety of the workers. The OSHA training courses are available both online and on-site for the worker’s training.

OSHA Investigates Grain Elevator Death In Blooming field

The federal government's workplace watchdog continued its investigation on Wednesday into the death of a grain elevator employee that took place in Bloomfield. An employee of the Battle Creek Farmers Cooperative, Rod Hennings, 64 of Crofton, died at the co-op's Bloomfield branch Monday when he went inside a storage structure and got trapped in a pile of corn. Bernard Hauber of Omaha office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) said it could take monthsto find out the particulars of what happened. According to Evelyn Hennings,her husband who was of more than 40 years was transferring corn out of the bin when the accident happened, but she knew only few details. The Feed Association and Nebraska Grain has been urging greater vigilance about potential of grain entrapment this spring due to the unusually wet condition of much of the 2009 corn crop. Wet corn can cake up against the walls of bins while unloading, forming air pockets under the surface and stoppi...

OSHA to increase fines for serious violations

Any company or organization coming under the scanner of OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a good reason to fear as OSHA is increasing the penalties for serious safety violations. The average penalty for a serious violation by OSHA has been around $1000 and under the new policy, the average fine for serious violations will be between $3000 to $4000. However, the agency has indicated its likeliness to increase the penalties even further but constrained by the current legal maximums of $7,000, which is for serious violations and for willful violations $70,000. The maximum penalties would increase to $12,000 and $250,000 and adjust for future inflation if the legislation pending in Congress, which the agency favors, would go through. OSHA’s director, David Michaels said, "Although we are making significant adjustments in our penalty policy within the tight constraints of our law, this administrative effort is no substitute for the meaningful and substantial...

Chicago-based ERA Valdivia Contractors Inc. to be penalized for health violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA has cited an industrial painting and sandblasting company, ERA Valdivia Contractors Inc. A total $130,300 has been proposed for exposing the workers to a dangerous lead material. After inspecting the company in 2009, OSHA has come to a conclusion that the company was wrongful for their act and they have been cited with two willful violations and OSHA has proposed a penalty as they have failed to provide an adequate protection equipment to the employees. The employer of the company has also been cited with 8 serious citations and $18,300 penalty has been proposed. The citations given addressed the company’s alleged failure to protect the workers and failing to ensure their safety on the work site. The violation will become serious if physical harm or death of a worker results from a hazard that the employer knew or should have known exists. OSHA Area Director Diane Turk in Des Plains said that it is the responsibility of the employers to ensure th...