The report highlighted that the number of occupational diseases went up from 124 in 2010 to 361 in 2011, primarily due to the increased reporting of noise-induced deafness cases.
Charles Greer Lumber Co. has been cited by OSHA for 18 safety and health violations following an April inspection of the company's plant in Suwanee, Ga. Penalties total $87,780.
The strike force, launched in coordination with the summit, is part of FMCSA's nationwide Passenger Carrier Strike Force. The two-week inspection sweep will continue through Oct. 7, 2011.
According to the complaint, the employer discharged a dental assistant who raised concerns about an office procedure that required workers to remove protective caps from contaminated needles before putting the needles in disposal containers for sharps.
"Our inspection found that all five exit doors were locked at night and could not be unlocked without a manager's permission. These workers were essentially caged and that is completely unacceptable," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director based in Manhattan.
The violations involve uncorrected deficiencies in ammonia processing equipment, not developing and implementing safe work practices for all mechanical and maintenance tasks, and incomplete written standard operating procedures.
OSHA initiated an inspection after a worker who was riding on the forks of a powered industrial truck fell and sustained compound fractures. The company faces $126,000 in proposed fines.
It says injury prevention is possible if contractors take steps such as using full sequential trigger nail guns, establishing nail gun work procedures, and providing workers with personal protective equipment.
The violations include failing to comply with the requirements of OSHA's process safety management standard, which resulted in workers being exposed to ammonia during maintenance of pipe lines.
An inspection was opened after OSHA learned that a worker sustained serious eye and facial injuries when the grinding wheel of the portable grinder he was operating ruptured and kicked back in his face.
OSHA cited the contractors for safety hazards after a worker received burns from an electrical shock during the installation of a new landfill gas processing and compression facility at the U.S. Marine Corps Logistic Base in Albany, Ga.
The employee led internal investigations that revealed widespread and pervasive wire, mail, and bank fraud involving Countrywide employees.
The serious violations involve failing to investigate incidents as being related to process safety management and address inconsistent thickness measurements collected during pressure vessel inspections.
The willful violations involve failing to ensure that the excavation spoil pile was at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation, ensure that the ladder extended 3 feet above the level being accessed, and provide cave-in protection for employees working in the excavation.
"It's critical that we restore the workers' comp reserves. Savings from the reforms create an opportunity to do this without large rate increases," said L&I Director Judy Schurke.
The BOEMRE panel released its report Sept. 14, dedicating it to the 11 workers killed in the explosion and praising rescue work by nearby vessels and crews that helped 115 survivors evacuate safely.
This plan applies to establishments in the targeted industries with 20 or more workers; earlier versions applied only to establishments with 40 or more.
OSHA said Bostik Inc., an adhesives manufacturer, did not follow proper process safety management procedures for handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals -- acetone, in this case.
The State Administration of Work Safety said the inspection program was begun because of the Bohai Bay oil spills that began in June. ConocoPhillips has agreed to create a fund to compensate victims of the spills.
Two willful violations involve failing to train employees in the use of powered industrial trucks and causing a potential electrocution hazard by providing damaged extension cord sets to be used in wet locations without ground fault circuit interruption protection.