Risk Management


Cave-in Hazards Could Cost Connecticut Contractor $61,800

"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.”

Projects to improve the flow of freight and people have been green-lighted in Chicago.

Chicago Getting Congestion Relief

According to DOT, about 25 percent of rail traffic in the United States travels through the Chicago region, in some instances taking longer to transit the city than the time it took to reach it from the east or west coasts.

Rule proposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection would strengthen state regulations for casing and cementing oil and gas wells.

Concern Rising about Marcellus Shale Wells

The last of four public hearings about proposed rule changes by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection takes place tonight, and the U.S. Senate HELP Committee holds a field hearing today about safety – both are in Pittsburgh.

The long-awaited Doyle Drive Replacement Project should take about three years.

Road to Golden Gate Bridge Getting Billion-Dollar Makeover

When completed in 2013, the project will replace the 73-year-old Doyle Drive southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge. The project will also result in structural and seismic improvements to the Presidio Trust and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area nearby.

Texas Company Charged with Electrocution Hazards, Faces $197.5K Fine

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.

Report: $77.7 Billion Needed to Bring Nation’s Rail, Bus Systems Up to Speed

“Transit remains one of the safest forms of transportation, but this report shows the clear need to reinvest in our bus, subway, and light rail systems,” said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. “As a nation, we must lead when it comes to infrastructure development and commit ourselves to rebuilding America.”

Two N.H. Firms Face $177,500 in Fines for Oil Spill Prevention Violations

According to complaints issued by EPA, Munce’s Superior and Munce’s Superior Petroleum Products of Gorham, and Ryezak Oil Co. of Rumney failed to fully prepare and maintain spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) plans.

Aircraft Parts Plant Lands $130K in Fines for 41 Alleged Violations

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.



ASSE Offers Heat-Illness Safety Tips

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.

Cookware Manufacturer in Frying Pan with OSHA

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.

Toxic Substances Control Act Reform Bill Introduced

The subcommittee chaired by co-sponsoring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., will hold a hearing July 29 on H.R. 5820.

Multiple doses of the vaccine contain enough mercury-based Thimerosal to be treated by EPA as a hazardous waste and will be incinerated.

Service Will Incinerate Unused H1N1 Vaccine

Clean Harbors, based in Norwell, Mass., is offering the service to health care providers because multiple doses of the vaccine contain enough mercury-based Thimerosal to be treated as a hazardous waste.

Home Depot Cited for Recurring Chemical Hazards in NY

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.

This CDC photo shows a Special Pathogens Branch researcher at work in a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory.

HHS Seeks Comments on Bioterror Select Agents List

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.

Not one of the 155 crew members who died from falling overboard was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), CDC reported.

Gulf Shrimping Highest for 2000-2009 Fatalities

CDC's analysis confirms commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous U.S. occupations, recording 504 deaths during the period for an annual fatalities rate of 128 per 100,000 workers -- 32 times higher than the rate for all workers.

Hospital's History of Violence Leads to OSHA Fine

OSHA has cited the hospital for an alleged serious violation of OSHA's general duty clause for failing to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious injury to workers, in this case the hazard of employees being injured by violent patients.

DuPont Penalized Following Phosgene Fatality

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.

OSHA Tries to Cement Fall Hazard Charges Against Tuckpointing Firm

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.

Jet Fuselage Manufacturer Pays $132K to Settle Hazwaste Issues in Kansas

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.

Woman Loses Arm in Machinery; Company Fined $130,500

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.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence