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We never fail to hear news about OSHA citing a company almost every day. It has become a routine and it seems it will continue to do so. Yet another citation has been slapped by OSHA and this time it’s Miranda Roofing Inc., a Fall River, MA, roofing and siding contractor. The firm had committed an alleged willful violation of safety standards. One employee was injured after falling 15ft from a ladder at a Portsmouth work site. The company now faces a maximum proposed fine of $70,000 for their failure to provide fall protection for their employees working atop a roof at 3001 East Main Road in Portsmouth. OSHA has issued a willful violation as this accident seems to be committed with plain indifference to or an intentional disregard for the employees’ safety and health. The agency has also found employees at Miranda Roofing performing their task without any form of fall protection at heights up to 15ft and it is a well known fact that these kinds of acts are risky. Any worker working at ...

Cal/OSHA has received a series of posts regarding its latest meeting that addressed the standard STD safety protocols, of the adult film industry. Currently, Cal/OSHA seems to be weighing the merits of a petition that was issued by the AIDS Health Care Foundation to alter the state's blood borne pathogen standard. The industry representatives, the state and local public health officials and activists have already discussed how this blood borne pathogens standard can be effectively revised. In fact, this discussion was the fourth in a series of public meetings. The existing blood borne pathogen safety standard requires "personal protective equipment," which is also defined as "specialized clothing or equipment worn or used by an employee for protection against a hazard." However, the adult film industry representatives still believe that the AIM testing program is good enough to eliminate the need of using condoms on the sets. AIM (Adult Industry Medical Health C...

OSHA, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has heavily fined Rockford's Lowe's Distribution Center. They are looking at a penalty of almost 200,000 dollars for failure of documenting and reporting employee injuries. This documentation and reporting is required as per OSHA Safety and Health regulations. The OSHA Area Director of North Aurora Ill, Kathy Webb says that correct records for injuries and illnesses are extremely important in protecting workers' health and safety. “Accurate records are an important tool that employers and workers can use to identify hazards in the workplace, and they also enable OSHA to better target its resources”, she adds. The Lowe's Distribution Center has already received two repeat violations with hefty fines of $20,000. Interestingly it has also received two penalties of $2,000 for other not very serious record keeping violations. After hearing about the proposed fines, Lowe's issued a sta...

The regulatory agency of the United States, OSHA, has penalized Simsmetal East, for exposing several workers and employees to lead hazards, at its Claremont Terminal site, which is located in Jersey City. These proposed penalties have mounted up to a total sum of $188,500. The director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office in New Jersey, Kris Hoffman, said that, "Simsmetal East knowingly put its workers at risk by failing to protect them from overexposure to lead, which can cause brain damage, paralysis, kidney disease and even death," he went on to say that, "OSHA is fully committed to holding this company legally accountable for its blatant disregard of federal law." The company has been penalized for 3 willful violations and 10 other serious safety violations. Willful violations can be defined as violations that are committed with an intentional or a voluntary disregard, for all legal requirements. The three willful violations are: 1.Failing to fit-test workers an...

The United States, Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA), has recently proposed to narrow the exemption from compliance inspections, that are usually enjoyed by the facilities that participate in the agency's SHARP, which is also known as the Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program. Under the Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program, employers often receive exemptions of up to three years, from the programmed OSHA inspections, and only if they have demonstrated exemplary achievement in workplace safety, allowed an on-site OSHA consultation and corrected all workplace safety and health hazards. OSHA programmed inspections are aimed at specific high-hazard workplaces, industries, health substances or occupations. Currently though, the facilities that the Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program offers, is not exempted from non programmed inspections that are intended to address three primary circumstances, they are: 1.Imminent dan...

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation of Los Angeles has recently learned that the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, has launched a formal investigation on Larry Flynt Productions. Cal-OSHA is the state’s workplace safety and healthy regulatory and watchdog organization. Whereas, LPF or Larry Flynt Productions, is also know as the adult entertainment empire that's headed by Larry Flynt. This formal investigation was launched after OSHA investigators had visited Flynt’s corporate headquarters, which are located in Beverly Hills. Furthermore, in August 2010, a formal ‘Notice of Safety or Health Hazards’ complaint was filed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. This complaint stated that Flynt's films demonstrate life-threatening and unsafe behavior. But more importantly, AHF supported their claims by submitting more than a 100 Flynt Productions adult DVDs. Michael Weinstein, The President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, has this to sa...

One cannot deny the fact that medical residents do work for longs hours, which in turn invite deadly mistakes. The Federal agency has acknowledged this point and has hence agreed to consider setting limits. Yes! The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have agreed to examine this profession. It is also important to note that OSHA is also going to be considering the long hours put in by truck drivers and pilots. Elaina Tsui is a second-year surgery resident, who works for six days a week and nearly 12 hours a day. With regards to the long working hours, Elaina Tsui had this to say, "It's longer work hours than what most people usually work, but for us, it's a normal work day." She went on to say that, "You are tired. But once it gets busy, you just don't notice it anymore." The Occupational Safety and Health Administration doesn't ever take these concerns lightly. Many people are not aware of this, but OSHA can create industry specific standa...

According to the latest news, Molalla mill of Interfor Pacific was honored by Oregon OSHA with congratulatory Best in Class comments for five years without a lost time injury. The Interfor Pacific has not even had a single employee miss a days work or more due to injury since purchasing the plant in 2005. OSHA, even recognized the Molalla mill, as being one of the best mills in the lumber manufacturing industry in the Northwest Pacific. The production manager, Mike Richardson stated that, "Three years prior to Interfor purchasing the mill there were 32 lost time injuries reported", he further stated that, "Five years with zero lost time injuries is a big safety accomplishment for our company" Inferor Pacific, managed to pull off such a herculean task by making sure that certain safety systems and programs were in place, to ensure every employee returned home safely at the end of each day. The Molalla mill is also a part of the Oregan OSHA SHARP. Inferor, in one of t...

People are depending on the clean up workers to control the biggest oil spill in history, but if these workers are poorly trained, then it would pose as a great risk to their safety and health. Now, the federal regulators are investigating after complaints were made that numerous companies are providing poor training to some supervisors of the Gulf clean up workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) said they received reports that some companies are not training supervisors with the mandatory 40 hours of training course and hands on instruction to handle the hazardous materials. The supervisors are required to get a 40 hour HAZWOPER training in order to qualify for the clean up operations. OSHA is also focusing their investigation on yet another complaint where numerous companies are promising people secure jobs for prospective supervisors. Some workers have complained that their training certificates were being withheld. It is quite unfortunate that in such a t...

As soon as hurricane Alex came along, the long efforts to clean oil from the Gulf of Mexico has been halted. It was previously predicted that a severe storm season was ahead. The storm Alex has closed the Mexico-Texas border on 29 June and has halted BP's oil spill clean-up efforts. 3.6 meters (12ft) high waves caused due to the hurricane are expected to delay the company's plans to employ a further system to clean more oil from the blown-out oil well until later in the week. Flights spraying dispersant chemicals and other booming operations were all halted. The hurricane with winds of 80mph was located about 255 miles south-east of Brownsville, Texas, in the early hours of the morning on 29 June. The US national hurricane center predicted that the storm was moving at 5mph to the west. Generally, the Atlantic hurricane season occurs from 1 June to 30 November, and this year the meteorologists predicted it to be an active one. Because of the strong surf created by the hurricane,...

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has opened yet another door for the importance and enhancement of workplace safety for the oil and gas workers. Now, OSHA in collaboration with the Association of Energy Service Cos. has developed and signed an alliance of workplace safety for oil and gas workers. William Burke, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Dallas, said "We welcome this opportunity to join with the AESC in emphasizing employer awareness of hazardous working conditions in the oil and gas industry. The joint resources of this continuing relationship will help make this industry as safe and healthy as possible." The members of AESC have agreed to work closely with OSHA for the sake of enhancing and building upon existing training and educational goals, outreach and communication goals, and workplace health, safety and environmental goals. This alliance will help OSHA work with groups that are committed to the workers safety and health, including businesses, trade and ...

OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has found that the Iowa Interstate Railroad has violated the Federal Rail Safety Act. The Iowa Interstate Railroad was found to have retaliated against a train conductor because he reported a workplace injury. According to OSHA, Iowa Interstate Railroad will have to make amends for the conductor. In January 2009, an employee was issued a notification of formal investigation by Iowa Interstate Railroad for reporting a work injury and also retaliated against the employee by disciplining him in the form of a letter of censure. The employee filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that the railroad had retaliated against him for reporting his work injury. After getting the complaint, Whistleblower Protection Program of OSHA conducted an investigation under the Federal Rail Safety Act, and found merit to the complaint and ordered relief. Michael G. Connors, OSHA regional administrator in Chicago, said, "An employer does not have the ...

OSHA has cited Infineum USA L.P. as the company's Linden facility has violated safety rules including the involvement of employees exposed to chemical hazards. The company has proposed penalties of a total of $88,500. OSHA got a complaint regarding chlorine release at the facility and so on the basis of this tip started inspection on Nov. 24, 2009. The result of the inspection showed the violations that had been done by the company related to a deficient process safety management system. The company failed to establish and implement written procedures required to manage any changes to technology, facilities, equipment and procedures that can potentially impact a chemical process. Patricia Jones, the director of OSHA's Avenel Area Office said, "Chlorine is a highly hazardous chemical that can have a severe impact on the employees' safety and health. All aspects of the OSHA safety management standard must be followed by employers in order to ensure that workers go home s...

OSHA Administrator, David Michaels, has expanded on the actions that are taken by OSHA till date in a plenary session at the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Safety 2010 conference on June 14. His speech was quite inspirational and has inspired safety professionals across the globe to get involved and help shape the agency’s future. Michaels told ASSE attendees, “We want you to hear from us that OSHA is back and we are a strong regulatory agency first and foremost.” Explaining the aim and objective of OSHA, he said that OSHA is working “to make fundamental changes to secure workplaces.” He emphasized on the matter that OSHA's goal is to encourage employers to plan, prevent and protect, but not to punish or react. Michaels gave a brief idea regarding some of OSHA’s priorities and actions over the past months, including: hiring additional standards writers and inspectors; moving more personnel into enforcement; developing a Severe Violator Enforcement Program; making the a...

Potential health hazards have been a burning issue at the Gulf of Mexico Oil spill as the spilled oil has spread and has begun to cause life threatening pollution. Workers and the general public residing in the nearby areas have become victims to this large scale destruction. Serious medical problems have been observed that can only be limited by taking certain safety precautions. As we know, the government as well OSHA has taken effective steps to ensure the safety and health of the workers and also that of the common people. The oil spill needs more and more workers with the passing of time, and that may be the reason for the rapidity of growth in adverse health effects. The workers have been facing problems like headaches and breathing difficulties and many have been hospitalized due to sudden illness. Till date, at Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 60 exposure-related complaints have been filed. Dr. David Michaels, the assistant secretary of the labor for the Occupation...

OSHA is going to conduct the first-ever stakeholder meeting on June 28, 2010, for the sake of getting more inputs on combustible dust workplace hazards for the safety and the health of the workers. The meeting format is going to provide quick and easy access to a broader audience including all kind of businesses who would otherwise not be able to participate. They need comments from all concerned, which in turn will help the agency develop a proposed standard on combustible dust. It is not a new thing for workers who are exposed to combustible dust to face problems at the workplace. According to OSHA more than 130 workers have been killed and 780 injured in combustible dust explosions since 1980. This is the fourth meeting addressing combustible dust hazards. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, has said, "OSHA is committed to expanding the opportunity for the public to engage in its rule making activities, and this virtual stakeholder meeting will provide a wi...

Safety of the clean up workers in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has become a burning issue. Obama administration has been bombarded with many questions regarding the safety of the workers and have since been called on to ensure that BP has been properly protecting their workers. Two of the congressional Democrats have cited a memo from a Labor Department official calling attention to a "systematic failure on BP’s part to ensure the safety and health of those responding to this disaster." Reps. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said in a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, “We cannot allow BP’s oil spill to cause any more damage or claim any more lives than it already has.” David Michaels, assistant secretary of Labor for occupational safety and health, said, “ The problems appear to be indicative of a general systemic failure on BP's part to ensure the safety and health of those res...

As the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has effected to a great extent, the clean up operation has also been going for a long time and the most important point is that the catastrophe that is made by this big oil spill has snatching the attention of all the world political leaders, environmentalist and socialist. At this point of time all we hope is to diminish the effect soon. US president Barack Obama has also paid much attention regarding this oil spill. He has said already that BP will have to face criminal charges and also a year-long ban on new offshore deep-water drilling. But it's surprise that the boss of BP has been commenting on all the matters differently. According to Obama, BP's catastrophe "may prove to be a result of human error – or corporations taking dangerous shortcuts that compromised safety". So, he mentioned that this is the time for the oil industry to pay for green energy. This is count as the world's biggest economy off fossil fuels and he hopes...

The federal government has proposed a fine of more than $214,000 against a Canadian seafood processing company for alleged violations at its Portsmouth, N.H., plant. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), inspectors found 17 violations of workplace health and safety standards at High Liner Foods. The problems were mostly involved with the ammonia piping system used for freezing. The company which is based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is accused of failing to do the inspection and test the system, which OSHA says was corroded and encased in ice. It also was fined for failing to correct previously identified problems with the system. The company has been given a time period of 15 days to comply or contest the findings. No spokesperson was available to comment on this issue.

More BP oil spill clean-up workers are experiencing health problems resulting from the use of dispersant and the effects of the oil spill. Two more workers have been hospitalized after they were experiencing headaches, dizziness and nausea after chemical dispersant was applied within a mile of their operating clean-up vessels. Earlier, seven workers were complaining of feeling unwell and were sent to a hospital. All of the workers were properly trained and had been using appropriate protective gears. The workers seem to be in contact with some sort of irritant, but so far, the hospital where they are being admitted doesn’t have the ability to run the test and determine the cause. It is possible to get sick if volatile compounds are still there in the oil and if a worker comes in direct contact with the concentrated dispersant, the chemicals tend to break the oil before they get mixed with the water and that could affect the health. The smell from the oil throughout the coastal area has...