Facility Safety


New Jersey Chemical Company Runs Afoul of OSHA's Site-Specific Program

The agency described Kuehne Chemical Co. Inc. as a bleach manufacturer and chlorine and caustic soda reseller that employs 45 workers at its Delaware City, Del. facility, where the inspection took place.

OSHA Busts Manufacturer for Burn Hazards, Issues $55,000 Fine

The violation was cited after an investigation prompted by a complaint determined that employees working on mold machines and exposed to hot temperatures that could result in burns were provided with ineffective personal protective equipment.

$226,000 in Fines, Costs Assessed in UK Asbestos Case

A freight company, its managing director, and a contractor pleaded guilty in connection with a remodeling job that may exposed at least 20 people to asbestos fibers.

NIOSH Announces Winners of Safe-in-Sound Excellence Awards

Colgate-Palmolive, 3M’s Hutchinson Plant in Minnesota, and Bechtel National Inc. are the recipients of this year’s Hearing Loss Prevention Awards.

Amputation Hazards Add Up to $77,100 in Fines for Food Firm

OSHA's Houston South Area Office initiated a safety inspection Sept. 1 following a complaint alleging that several employees had suffered near amputation incidents while operating machinery.

Postal Service to Consolidate 223 Mail Processing Facilities

Located all across the country, they are among 264 the agency has been studying with an eye toward closing them.

OSHA Unearths Electrical Hazards at Produce Firm, Issues $40,500 Fine

The serious violations include failing to ensure that workers were provided with adequate working space around electrical equipment and that the working space was not used for storage and properly cover electrical equipment.

OSHA Nails Miss. Lumber Company for Combustible Dust Hazards

OSHA initiated its inspection as part of the agency's national emphasis program to reduce employees' exposure to combustible dust hazards. Proposed penalties total $103,356.



Indiana Convenience Store Panel Fast-Tracks Alliance

Proposed by INSafe, the alliance document will be signed next month. A final report from the working group will be issued by May and will recommend best practices and standards for safety audits.

OSHA Hits Food Manufacturer with $174,500 Fine for Machine Hazards

The serious violations include failing to provide required machine guarding to prevent workers from coming into contact with rotating parts on drill presses, ensure that employees are trained on the use of energy control procedures, and prevent slip and "struck-by" hazards by ensuring walkways are kept clean and dry.

Worker Loses Hand in Conveyor, Supermarket Fined $182,000

"Publix is well aware of the hazards the cleaning crew was exposed to, yet took no steps to safeguard employees by controlling the conveyor equipment's energy source," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville, Fla.

Apple's Foxconn Factories Being Audited

The president of the Fair Labor Association, a nonprofit the manufacturer joined a month ago as its first technology company member, began the first "special voluntary audit" at Foxconn City in Shenzhen on Feb. 13.

Wal-Mart Hit with $365,000 Fine for Repeat Hazards

"The sizable fines proposed here reflect not only the seriousness of these conditions but the fact that several of them are substantially similar to hazards identified at nine other Wal-Mart locations in New York and eight other states," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo.

Norovirus Causes Most Hospital Infection Outbreaks, Study Says

Thirty-five percent of the 822 hospitals responding had investigated at least one outbreak in the previous two years.

Teenage Workers Still Recovering from Amputation Injuries

As OSHA filed $21,500 in penalties and four serious violations against Zaloudek Grain Co. in connection with the case, one of the victims spoke about his recovery to classmates on Feb. 3, his 18th birthday.

New ASSE Podcasts Highlight Variety of Workplace Safety Topics

The free podcasts on a variety of occupational safety, health, and environmental topics are available at ASSE’s virtual classroom.

Signs and labels provide 24/7/365 safety communications at facilities, in the field, and in multiple languages.

Visual Communications & Spill Containment Strategies and Techniques

For those unavoidable times when spills do occur, work areas that contain hazardous chemicals should have a properly labeled chemical spill response kit.

FSIS Allows Faster Poultry Production Lines

The faster line speeds would be permitted under a new inspection system the agency has proposed.

EPA Penalizes Potato Company for Failing to Report Ammonia Release

On July 2, 2009, the company's facility released approximately 300 pounds of anhydrous ammonia into the environment, according to the EPA settlement.

Utility Robots Now Highly Skilled

An article in the EPRI Journal describes several robots being used for nondestructive evaluation, collecting data on light intensity, and inspecting transmission lines.

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