Enforcement


OSHA Cites Florida Transportation Services Following Employee Deaths

OSHA has cited Florida Transportation Services for one willful and four serious safety violations. In May, three employees died after entering a cargo hold filled with argon gas.

$210,000 in MSHA Fines for Wreck Caused by Brake Failure

The trucking company was cited for failing to train the contract driver, who was permanently disabled by the July 31 crash, and for not equipping the truck with adequate brakes. The mine operator also was cited for an alleged training violation.

Survey Finds Avian Flu Could Cause Drop in U.S. Poultry Market

If a case of avian flu is discovered in a United States poultry flock, it's likely that poultry consumption would decline and the level of decline would also be likely to vary in different parts of the nation, according to a survey by Kansas State University.

New Project to Explore Safety of Organic Poultry

Organic food is all the rage, but, according to a team of food and poultry scientists, despite popular opinion it's not automatically safer than conventionally grown foods.

Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee Sets December Meetings, Invites Public

The Dec. 1 meeting will be held via conference call, but the Dec. 10 meeting will be held at the Department of Transportation Media Center in Washington, D.C.

Chao Welcomes 5 New NACOSH Members to 2-Year Terms

"OSHA relies on this committee to provide a real-world perspective to our work," said Thomas M. Stohler, acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.

2 Developers, Excavating Co. to Pay $110,000 for Fouling Public Water Supply

Sediment-laden storm water was repeatedly observed discharging from the construction site to nearby Chaffins Brook, which is ranked as a "Class A" waterway by Massachusetts.

Catalyst Maker Fined for Not Disclosing Toxic Chemical Info

"Because exposure to high levels of nitrates causes a wide range of illnesses and environmental damage, communities need to know when these chemicals have been released," said Enrique Manzanilla, Communities and Ecosystems Division director for EPA's Pacific Southwest region.



MSHA Forms Safety Alliance with Portland Cement Association

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced the formation of a health and safety alliance with the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a membership association consisting of 30 companies operating 115 plants in 36 states.

Bulletin Reminds of Liquid Pipelines' Corrosion Risks

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration also said it will conduct a workshop about risks and mitigation in the first quarter of 2009.

Henshaw, Howard to Opine on OSHA under Obama

The Dec. 9 webcast will focus on possible new directions for OSHA under the new administration and the potential impacts on the practice of SH&E professionals.

TSA Expands Airport Family Lanes for Holiday Travel

Families, and individuals traveling with medically necessary liquids this holiday season will be able to take advantage of the Transportation Security Administration's family lanes, regardless of which airport they use.

Energy-from-Waste Facility Earns 'Star' Renewal; Logs 6 Years, 0 Injuries

Among the plant's areas of excellence are a comprehensive program to analyze, identify, and address hazards associated with each job and task, along with discussion and correction of near-miss incidents, OSHA notes.

Union Embezzlement Bulk of OLMS October Convictions, Indictments

DOL office recovers more than $625,000 in restitution for unions affected

An image of a worker standing on a scaffold.

Scaffolding Violations Again Top OSHA's Most-Cited List

Meanwhile, fall protection in construction accrued the highest total penalty amounts of all the categories in FY 2008.

South African Parliament Passes Tough Mine Safety Law

Mining company CEOs labeled the bill "too punitive" and called it unconstitutional. It subjects company executives to five years in prison or a $300,000 fine if a worker dies.

Roofing Contractor Cited for Repeat Fall Hazards in Connecticut

"Working without fall protection is like walking a tightrope blindfolded in that one slip or misstep can swiftly result in death or disabling injuries," said C. William Freeman III, director of OSHA's Hartford Area Office.

Combustible Dust, Other Hazards Cited after Facility Roof Collapse

A post-collapse inspection by the agency revealed 46 alleged safety and health violations, including struck-by, fall, electrical, and noise hazards, as well as failure to prevent explosive dust from accumulating on machinery and the shop floor.

Lockout-Tagout Standard--ANSI Z244.1-2003--Reaffirmed

"A great deal of technical development and capabilities have evolved since the 1982 edition of the standard," said Jeff Fryman, Z244 Committee vice chairman. "These new technologies make the control of hazardous energy both more complex and easier to achieve.

Confined-Space Death Leads to $64,400 in Proposed Penalties

OSHA's Dallas Area Office began its investigation following the May 13 incident that took place at a water treatment facility in Paris, Texas, where a diver's lifeline became entangled in the water pump of a 500,000-gallon in-ground water tank.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence