Enforcement


$500,000 Fine Issued in UK Ergonomics Case

"This was a case of the company completely failing to grasp the importance of HAVS health surveillance," HSE Inspector Janet Hensey said. "“If they had understood why health surveillance was necessary, it would have ensured that it had the right systems in place to monitor workers' health and the employees' condition would not have been allowed to develop to a severe and life-altering stage."

Virginia Starting Increased DUI Enforcement This Friday

Supported by the 17th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce outreach campaign, increased enforcement will take place from Aug. 17 through Labor Day weekend and resume periodically through "target moments" such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Eve.

Speaker Lineup Set for Safety+ 2018

The speakers at Safety+, which takes place Aug. 28-31 at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., include Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam; Phyllis L. Bayer, assistant secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment); and Steve Hawkins, Tennessee Occupational Safety & Health Administration assistant commissioner.

OSHA Sends Message to Texas Pipe-Laying Company

The inspection was conducted in February 2018 after OSHA personnel saw employees working in an unprotected trench; OSHA cited the company for serious and willful violations.

SoCal Gas Announces $119.5 Million Gas Leak Settlement

The parties had submitted a tentative consent decree to the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Aug. 8 to settle the litigation over the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak. At least 109,000 metric tons of methane emissions were released during the leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, according to CARB.

Ohio Governor Signs Bill to Help Protect Waste Collectors

Ohio Law to Help Protect Waste Collectors

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill July 30 that requires drivers to move over when passing waste collection trucks with flashing lights.

Seattle Company Cited Again After Burn, Amputations

The burn injury happened at a National Products facility where workers were carrying molten aluminum from one machine to another in ladles slung over their backs, and they were not wearing proper personal protection equipment.

OSHA Cites Oregon Shipbuilder

OSHA has issued $370,358 in proposed penalties to Vigor Marine Inc. and cited the company for 16 willful and serious violations following an inspection at the shipbuilder's Portland, Ore., facility.



Washington State Contractor Sentenced in Wage Theft Case

Alejandro Sandoval and his company, Sandoval Construction, were sentenced after pleading guilty to false reporting and first-degree theft. Sandoval Construction has been ordered to reimburse the workers for their unpaid wages, and Sandoval will be responsible for unpaid workers' comp insurance payments to the state. Under separate civil proceedings, he also owes L&I at least $197,000 in unpaid premiums, interest, and penalties.

Coast Guard Enforcing New Towing Regs in Alaska

The new regulations bolster the existing requirements for fire-fighting and life-saving equipment, establish standards for construction and arrangement of newly constructed vessels, and phase in machinery and electrical standards during the next decade.

New Director Hired for NRC Investigations Office

Edward "Andy" Shuttleworth has been selected as the new director of the Office of Investigations, which develops policy, procedures, and standards for conducting all NRC investigations of alleged wrongdoing by licensees and other entities.

OSHA Cites Delaware Company in Amputation Case

OSHA personnel inspected the facility in December 2017 after an employee suffered an injury while using an improperly guarded punch press and had three fingers subsequently amputated.

OSHA Cites Contractors After Towboat Explosion

Three employees were killed and two others critically injured following an explosion aboard a towboat in Calvert City, Ky., on Jan. 19, 2018. The five contractors collectively received 55 violations with proposed penalties totaling $795,254.

Safety Groups Release Red Light Camera Checklist

Deaths from red light-running crashes in the United States have been rising since 2012, and the number of communities with the cameras has been falling.

HSE to Prosecute Two Companies for Refinery Explosion

An explosion and fire the Pembroke Refinery on June 2, 2011, killed four workers and serious injured another worker.

PHMSA, FERC to Sign Agreement on Permitting LNG Facilities

It will clarify each agency's role in the permitting process for potential LNG projects and implement procedures into FERC's authorization process that will leverage PHMSA's safety expertise to evaluate potential impacts on public safety.

Big Fine Issued in Unsafe Trenching Case

"A trench can collapse in seconds and trap workers under thousands of pounds of soil," said OSHA St. Louis Area Office Director Bill McDonald. "Employers performing excavation work must develop and implement safety procedures to properly protect their employees from cave-ins, and train crews to recognize and evaluate hazards."

Asbestos Contractor Cited, Fined in Washington State

In two recent site inspections, the workers did not use proper safety equipment, required air sampling was not performed, and asbestos-containing material was left exposed to the public and was improperly taken through public areas.

The impairment argument is incredibly complex. Many employers use the term in workplace drug and alcohol policies but this may not be the most prudent choice as marijuana impairment cannot necessarily be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Health Canada Warns Medical Marijuana Producers About Sponsoring Events

Cannabis advertising is subject to several prohibitions in both the Narcotic Control Regulations and the Food and Drugs Act, with paragraph 70(b) of the NCR stating that no person shall publish or cause to be published or furnish any advertisement to the general public respecting a narcotic.

OSHA Cites Company in Amputation Case

The company, a wooden post manufacturer, faces $109,548 in proposed penalties.

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