Risk Management


OSHA Urges BP to Turn Fishermen into Oil Spill Cleanup Workers

Training of cleanup employees is ongoing throughout the Gulf Coast region. The agency has officials monitoring the training and observing the cleanup efforts that are already underway.

Richard Sarles, general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in Washington, D.C.

WMATA's New Boss Promises Safety Overhaul

General Manager Richard Sarles told Congress on Wednesday that the safety department of the transit system serving the nation's capital will be strengthened and his agency's safety culture will improve. The National Transportation Safety Board will meet July 27 to consider the final report on the most serious of four WMATA accidents NTSB is investigating: the June 22, 2009, collision of two trains between two Red Line stations.

Kansas City to Spend $2.5 Billion to Eliminate Sewer Overflows

"This is a landmark day in the history of Kansas City," EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said of the 25-year improvement plan. "This agreement charts a course for the largest infrastructure project in the city's history, and what we believe to be one of the largest municipal green infrastructure projects undertaken anywhere in the nation."

Har-Conn Chrome Charged with HexChrome, Electrocution Hazards

The Connecticut-based metal finishing company also was cited for not establishing a regulated work area and ensuring contaminated protective clothing remained in the work area, and for not conducting cadmium exposure sampling.

UN Aims to Prevent, Control Noncommunicable Diseases

"There is a sense of urgency," said WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Ala Alwan. “Tackling these diseases constitutes one of the major challenges for sustainable development in the 21st century."

The amendment alerts contractors working on National Highway System construction projects that FHWA requires them to comply with AASHTO standards, including one that requires a Registered Engineer for some bridge drawings.

OSHA Adds FHWA Reference to Steel Erection Standards

The technical amendment was added as a result of the May 15, 2004, collapse of a steel bridge beam onto an interstate highway in Colorado, killing three people in an SUV passing below.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

Drillers' Group Wants OK for Shallow-Water Work

The International Association of Drilling Contractors' president asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to allow new drilling, saying these wells pose virtually no threat to the environment and are being unfairly harmed by the deepwater hiatus.

NJ Manufacturer's Sixth Inspection Results in 36 Citations

The 33 serious violations include a lack of training, electrical hazards, inadequate personal protective equipment, failing to implement an adequate hazard communication and respiratory protection program, and failing to properly handle confined spaces.



Construction Firm Faces $56,000 Fine for Fall Hazards in Pa.

During an inspection that was part of a regional emphasis program, investigators observed employees working without adequate protection on platforms as high as 20 feet.

This CSB photo shows the aftermath of the Little General Store propane explosion in Ghent, W.Va.

Third Ghent Firefighter Dies from Explosion Injuries

USFA announced Lt. Donnie Caldwell, 74, of the Ghent Area Volunteer Fire Department died May 13 as the result of complications from injuries he sustained in the Jan. 30, 2007, propane explosion at the Little General Store.

Tortilla Factory Faces 25 Safety & Health Violations in Texas

OSHA issued citations for, among other things, failing to ensure workers were not exposed to noise levels at or above 85 decimals and to adequately protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde.

Fragrances or dyes in soaps potentially can irritate the skin.

Getting Clean, Going Green

Clean and healthy hands depend on clean and healthy soap.

Women's Apparel Maker Cited for Bloodborne Pathogens Hazards

The company was cited for violations at its Parsippany, N.J., worksite, which it shares with Salonika Associates LLC, also cited after a Site-Specific Targeting Program inspection.

Scientists Aim to Eliminate Phantom Traffic Jams

Traffic speed and how many cars are on the road, or density, are used to calculate the conditions of these jams. Understanding how they form could someday help design better roadways.

Bike to Work Week is May 17 through May 21

Gear Up for Bike-to-Work Week, May 17-21

The Department of Motor Vehicles reported fewer cyclist injuries in 2009 than 2008, with 2,730 cyclists hurt and 12 killed in traffic crashes in NYC last year, compared to 2,916 injuries and 26 deaths in 2008. The department adds that the trend stretches back more than a decade.

Sugar Cane Mill Cited for Laceration, Amputation Hazards

"This facility has been inspected previously and received citations for various workplace hazards," said Darlene Fossum, OSHA's area director in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Management cannot delay taking action any longer to improve its safety and health program in order to protect workers."

The analysis of heavy truck accidents in Europe showed truckers are seldom at fault for injury accidents.

Trucking Industry Bullish on Future, Tonnage

"All modes of freight transportation were impacted by the 'Great Recession,' but I'm growing more optimistic about the long-term outlook," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "There are certainly some risks, but I think better days do lie ahead for the freight hauling business."

Cal/OSHA Campaign Highlights Heat Hazards, Prevention

“Our heat sweeps are designed not only to send employers a strong enforcement message but also to provide employers and employees with information they need to keep their workers safe," said Cal/OSHA Chief Len Welsh.

Treating Truck Drivers with Sleep Apnea Offers Safety, Health Benefits

“Addressing OSA in the workplace offers the possibility of early identification and intervention for a chronic disease that is associated with increased health benefit utilization," said Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, chief medical officer of Waste Management Inc.

Minneapolis VA Hospital Cited for 37 Violations, Fined for None

Inspections at the facility found improper bloodborne pathogens control, amputation hazards, noncompliant confined space entry, improper storage of fuel and oxygen, and more.

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