The 33 serious violations OSHA found in its inspection include improper machine guarding, inadequate PPE, a deficient hazard communication program, electrical hazards, and deficient use of lockout/tagout devices for energy sources that prevent the inadvertent start-up of machines.
Two workers were burned while applying primer inside a tanker trailer. One worker died and another remains hospitalized with burns to more than 90 percent of his body. A third worker, the attendant monitoring the confined space in the event of an emergency, was blown off the tank when the vapors ignited.
"The gravity of this type of hazard cannot be overstated," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's acting area director in Hartford, Conn. "The collapsing walls of a trench can crush or bury workers in seconds.”
Willful violations were issued for failing to develop specific procedures to protect workers from the unexpected release of electrical energy, and for failing to provide adequate machine guarding for employees working around rotating shafts.
An investigation found workers were exposed to potential fire and explosion hazards from combustible dust collected in an inadequately designed dust collection system and several electrical safety deficiencies, including unguarded or ungrounded live electrical parts and equipment, and workers not trained in electrical safety-related work practices, among other things.
Dry, hot skin with no sweating is not a good sign; it’s one of the symptoms of heat stroke and can be deadly. When working in the heat, try to have a cool cup of water every 15 minutes.
The first of two important EU phase-in deadlines arrives a few days before the UNECE Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals meets Dec. 7-9 in Geneva.
The company was cited for 43 safety and health violations for hazards ranging from inadequate PPE and machine guarding to failing to determine employee exposure levels to hexavalent chromium.
The subcommittee chaired by co-sponsoring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., will hold a hearing July 29 on H.R. 5820.
The retail giant received two notices of failure to abate after a new inspection found that workers in the store's painting and plumbing departments still lacked suitable emergency drenching facilities and methylene chloride information and training.
The biennial review required by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 is under way. Comments about biological agents or toxins that should be added or removed are due by Aug. 20.
Proposed fines total $43,000 for violations including the company's failure to properly inspect piping used to transfer phosgene, perform a thorough process hazard analysis for its phosgene operation, train workers on hazards associated with phosgene, thoroughly inspect all high-risk sections of piping used to transfer oleum, and properly install energized electrical conductors.
An inspection earlier this year resulted in the St. Louis company receiving five repeat citations, mainly for problems involving its use of scaffolds, plus two other serious allegations.
According to EPA, the Wichita, Kan.-based plant generates significant quantities of hazardous waste, including industrial wastewater treatment filter sludge, primer residue waste containing chromium and cadmium, tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene waste from degreasers, and hazardous waste oil.
The investigation that followed the incident resulted in one willful, one repeat, and six serious citations. The willful charge, which alone has a proposed penalty of $70,000, is for failing to provide proper guarding on the mechanical power presses to prevent an amputation.
“Air pollution from particulate matter directly impacts the health of the community. It’s an especially serious issue in Maricopa County, where air quality does not meet the federal standard,” said EPA’s Jared Blumenfeld.
In one challenge, players participate in a series of tasks that center on increasing awareness of the dangers associated with environmental and physical impairments, such as foul weather, lack of sleep, and the effects of medication. During this virtual simulator experience at the nFocus Laboratory, the player attempts to shoot targets to score points as the impairment progressively becomes more and more severe.
If electrical equipment is used in ways for which it is not designed, you can no longer depend on safety features built in by the manufacturer. This may damage your equipment and cause employee injuries. Here are some common examples of misused equipment.
Twenty-six health hazard evaluation investigators have visit the gulf region. This second interim report evaluated cases treated at a Venice, La., infirmary; June 8-10 offshore oil burns; and a barge oil vacuuming operation involving 18 barges moored together off Grand Isle, La.
The agency has proposed $279,000 in fines after finding that the company failed to conduct an incident investigation of a January 2001 anhydrous ammonia leak, certify or evaluate its process safety management program every three years as required, establish and implement procedures to maintain changes in the process, and provide and document employee training, among other citations.