Enforcement


OSHA Cites Two Companies After Fatal Fire

"Providing workers with a safe and healthful workplace is required of every employer," said OSHA Area Director Christopher Robinson in Pittsburgh, Pa. "This tragedy could have been prevented if the employer had followed safety processes to control the release of gases from highly hazardous chemicals."

U.S. House to Consider 2020 Appropriations Bill for Labor, HHS This Week

H.R. 2740 would provide a total of $13.3 billion in discretionary appropriations for the Department of Labor, including $298 million for the DOL Wage and Hour Division and $661 million for OSHA, which would be an increase of $103 million above the 2019 enacted level.

OSHA Cites Florida Farm After Ammonia Leak Hurts Worker

OSHA cited the farm for failing to develop procedures for notifying employees of emergencies and evacuation, and a written emergency response plan; and failing to provide safety and health training to employees operating ammonia refrigeration systems and ensure that employees required to respond to ammonia releases were provided a full-face respirator fit test.

Former Bus Company President Sentenced in Fraud Case

Xiu Cheng Zheng (Ah Sen), former president and officer of multiple bus companies, was sentenced May 28 in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, Pa., to 10 months' imprisonment, 12 months' supervised release, $600 in fines and fees, and to forfeit $1,492,633.

OSHA Heavily Fines Tire Manufacturer

OSHA launched the follow-up inspection of the tire manufacturer after the agency did not receive abatement documents regarding a June 2017 inspection and citations. OSHA has now placed Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

NRC to Host Webinar on Pennsylvania Plants' 2018 Performance

The purpose of the webinar is to provide information on the plants' safety performance in 2018 and NRC's oversight activities at the facilities.

Dollar Tree Now in L&I's Severe Violator Enforcement Program

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries recently issued one of its largest fines ever, $503,200, to the company after finding blocked emergency exit routes, unsafe ladder use, improper stacking of merchandise, and other safety hazards at a Vancouver, Wash., store.

Four Florida Construction Contractors Cited by OSHA

Collectively, the four companies received 12 citations, with proposed penalties totaling $220,114.



Wholesale Pharmaceutical Distributor Agrees to Settlement with DEA

In addition to paying $22 million in civil penalties, Morris & Dickson agreed to upgrade its compliance program by investing millions of dollars to hire additional staff and implement new protocols and standards to ensure compliance with federal regulations requiring them to report suspicious orders of controlled substances.

NYC Readying Big School-Zone Speed Camera Expansion

Starting July 11, school-zone speed cameras can operate year-round on all weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., including summer and school vacations.

NRC Approves Renewed Fuel Loading at San Onofre

Fuel loading operations were suspended following an Aug. 3, 2018, incident involving a loaded spent fuel storage canister that was misaligned and became stuck on a flange while being lowered into a storage vault.

FAA Changes Recreational Drone Rules

Until further notice, ATC facilities will no longer accept requests to operate recreational drones in controlled airspace on a case-by-case basis. Instead, FAA is granting temporary airspace authorizations to fly in certain "fixed sites" in controlled airspace throughout the country.

Five Homeopathic Product Companies Warned on Violations

Four of the FDA's warning letters went to companies that jointly produced a product labeled as homeopathic that posed a significant safety risk to consumers because their purportedly sterile products were not shown to be sterile and the fifth letter outlined a company's failure to have systems in place to assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes.

British Columbia Work Zone Campaign Under Way

In 2018, two British Columbia roadside workers died as a result of being hit by a motor vehicle, and 29 others were injured. Between 2009 and 2018, 13 roadside workers were killed and 213 were injured under similar circumstances.

E-Filing Requirement Nears for OSHRC Represented Parties

Effective June 10, e-filing is mandatory for parties represented by attorneys or non-attorney representatives. Self-represented parties have the option of using the E-File System or filing documents by conventional means.

New Director Selected for NRC's Office of Enforcement

George Wilson had been serving as the office's acting director. He joined NRC in 1999 as a Region III operator licensing examiner in Illinois and subsequently served in several key positions in the region and at the agency's Rockville, Md., headquarters.

Expert Panel to Issue Safety Recommendations for Autonomous Vehicles

"Autonomous vehicles and burgeoning safety technologies hold tremendous potential for saving lives on our roads, but public understanding of what these vehicles are – and aren't – capable of is paramount toward achieving these benefits," said Jonathan Adkins, GHSA's executive director.

New Commissioner Chosen for NYC Department of Buildings

"Melanie La Rocca's experiences managing complex projects have given her a bird's-eye view of the construction industry, which will be essential to helping her ensure the Department of Buildings continues to guard the safety of every worker on every job site across the city," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin.

Michigan Governor Declares May 2019 Building Safety Month

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation May 3 declaring May 2019 as Building Safety Month in Michigan, with this year’s observance themed “No Code. No Confidence.”

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