Now is the time to digest the full complement of new rules, evaluate the impact to organizational reporting, determine whether gaps exist in expertise or capabilities, and understand what options exist to fill those gaps.
OSHA began an inspection in October 2010 after an employee died when he was crushed by a large steel frame weighing approximately 1,550 pounds. Proposed penalties total $127,200.
"Eliminating safety barriers and failing to develop emergency plans because they are inconvenient or time-consuming is no excuse for endangering employees," said William Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 3,570 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks in 2003-2006.
Workers are at risk of severe injury and death during machine maintenance and servicing if proper lockout/tagout procedures are not followed.
"This case is a stark example of the devastating consequences to workers when adequate machine guarding is absent," said Edward Jerome, OSHA's area director in Albany.
The seventh annual Take a Stand Day asks companies to request a consultative visit now, promising there will be no citations or fine for participating workplaces.
Current Intelligence Bulletin 63 is the first time the agency has issued separate guidelines for the same chemical based on particle size.
OSHA proposed $82,700 in penalties for the violations following its inspection, which was conducted based on high injury and illness rates reported at the site.
The number of people treated in U.S. hospitals for illnesses and injuries from taking medicines jumped 52 percent between 2004 and 2008--from 1.2 million to 1.9 million--according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. These medication side effects and injuries resulted from taking or being given the wrong medicine or dosage.
The serious violations include failing to maintain the structural integrity of pipe hangers and pipe support rods and report a leak in a critical 4-inch valve at the ammonia storage tank.
“There has been an increase in recent years in promoting the use of foams and sealants by do-it-yourself energy-conscious homeowners, and many people may now be unknowingly exposed to risks from these chemicals,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The United States Fire Administration issued a special report today examining the characteristics of restaurant building fires. The report, titled "Restaurant Building Fires," was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is based on 2007 to 2009 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System.
In addition to the combustible dust hazards, among 32 serious violations cited are failing to provide a lockout/tagout system to control the release of hazardous energy, ensure exits were unblocked, and protect employees from electrical and chemical hazards.
OSHA’s inspection, which began Oct. 4, 2010, found serious violations including the company’s failure to dike a fuel tank, ensure the bi-directional alarm on a powered industrial truck was not defective, and examine industrial trucks before they were put in service.
OSHA initiated an inspection on Oct. 21, 2011, in response to a complaint alleging that the employer had not abated safety and health violations cited on July 14, 2010.
OSHA's Dallas Area Office began the investigation Oct. 10, 2010, at the plant after workers were injured while vacuuming explosive dust to clean out a natural gas processing unit.
OSHA initiated an investigation in October 2010 following the death of one employee and the wounding of another, allegedly committed by a client at the addiction treatment facility.
Irreversible effects from work-related exposures even at low levels, without taking appropriate precautions, can include cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, allergic reactions, and others.
Workers exposed to welding fumes may be at increased risk of damage to the same brain area harmed by Parkinson's disease, according to a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.