The newly developed tool permits mine operators, miners, the media, and the public to determine, based on the most recent data available, how a specific mine matches up with the criteria for a potential pattern of violations.
At least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments last year, and the numbers of entrapments are increasing, according to researchers at Purdue University.
"A trench can become a grave in seconds. Disregarding workers' safety by leaving them unprotected from potential cave-in and struck-by hazards is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's area director in Birmingham.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced that it will hold a briefing on June 29 to share with the public information gathered during the investigation of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.
Special impact inspections, which began last April following the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.
In September 2010, as part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation, a compliance officer observed several violations at a worksite where the company was installing pipe in a deep excavation.
Gavilon Grain LLC, which is privately held, says it operates 110 grain facilities and 60 feed and food ingredient storage and handling facilities in North America.
One employee died and another was hospitalized after wet, heavy soil collapsed into a deep trench while the men were installing a sewer pipe.
The willful citation alleges that employees were working in a trench at a depth greater than 7 feet without cave-in protection during an October 2010 inspection.
OSHA's inspection, initiated in response to a complaint about unsafe conditions, found A.A. Will Corp. employees working in a trench deeper than 5 feet that lacked protection against collapse of its sidewalls.
The company’s fourth quarter profit dropped by 8 percent to $12 million, and year-end profit decreased by 12 percent to $38 million. Costs related to the October 2010 acquisition of General Monitors and $10 million in restructuring charges offset revenue growth.
The screening will include a work history questionnaire, a chest X-ray, and blood pressure testing.
Employees were also exposed to fall hazards of up to 14 feet from a lack of fall protection and from using a ladder that did not extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing service for required stability.
In October 2010, two employees were painting the inside of a water tank when a suspended scaffold device anchored on the outer surface of a roof hole fell through the hole, causing one side of the scaffold to collapse.
MSHA recently announced that federal inspectors issued 377 citations and orders during special impact inspections conducted at 15 coal and seven metal/nonmetal mine operations last month. The coal mines were issued 208 citations and seven orders; the metal/nonmetal mines were issued 148 citations and 14 orders.
In the settlement, the company agreed to permanently reinstate the worker to his job at the mine and to pay the full $6,000 in back wages, as well as the full $15,000 penalty.
The employee had complained to company management for being required to climb microwave towers, work in manholes, and enter asbestos-filled buildings without safety training or equipment while working at several San Diego military installations.
It doesn't matter what the emergency response team or individual is called. The assigned function defines the intent, and the appropriate rules apply.
OSHA announced that it has proposed a total of $220,000 in fines against Oberdorfer LLC, which manufactures aluminum castings.
In any confined space rescue, some common denominators should be established immediately, including air monitoring.