Enforcement


MSHA Announces Results of July Impact Inspections

Coal mines were issued 232 citations and 24 orders, while metal/nonmetal operations were issued 108 citations and 11 orders.

Rules May Be Tightened for Gas Transmission Pipelines

Citing the San Bruno explosion in September 2010, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said safety of gas transmission in high consequence areas has improved but may need additional mandates.

Laceration, Fire Hazards Add Up to $49,210 in Fines for N.Y. Manufacturer

Eight serious violations involve a storage cabinet for flammable liquids that did not meet fire resistance requirements, an auger that did not have its power source locked out to prevent its activation while employees cleared jams, and blocked and unmounted fire extinguishers.

Google Pays $500 Million to Settle DOJ Suit

The forfeiture, one of the largest ever in the United States, represents the gross revenue received by Google as a result of Canadian pharmacies advertising through Google’s AdWords program, plus gross revenue made by Canadian pharmacies from their sales to U.S. consumers.

Worker Fatally Crushed on Oil Rig, Firm Fined $132,300

OSHA's Baton Rouge Area Office began its inspection March 10 following a report that an employee was fatally injured when a land-based portable rig, which was mounted on a barge, tipped over and crushed the employee to death.

OSHA Penalizes Plastics Firm for Electric Shock, Machine Hazards

"This inspection identified a broad range of hazards that, if left uncorrected, expose workers to electric shock, potential falls and 'caught-in' hazards posed by work around machinery," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.

FAA Finalizes New Ice Protection Rule

For aircraft equipped with an ice detection system, the new rule mandates that the system alert the crew every time they need to activate ice protection.

OSHA Slams Texas Construction Firm for Scaffolding Hazards

OSHA cited Roma Construction after an inspection of the company's worksite in San Antonio found employees exposed to scaffolding hazards while applying stucco to the exterior of a home. Proposed penalties total $50,820.



Worker Fatally Struck in Stomach by Debris, Firm Fined $194,400

The willful violations involve a failure to have proper machine lockout/tagout procedures to prevent equipment from unexpectedly starting up and failure to have proper point-of-operation machine guarding in place.

$165,000 Fine in UK Forklift Rundown

A 60-year-old worker at a Scottish meat plant was run over by the driver of a forklift who couldn't see him because the vehicle was so badly loaded, HSE reports.

OSHA Tosses Salad Maker $51,000 in Penalties for Repeat Violations

Two repeat violations with penalties of $30,000 involve to the company's failure to ensure workers were wearing safety glasses and ensure the proper level of compressed air was used for cleaning food particles.

Lead Exposure Carries $97,000 Penalty for Ohio Manufacturer

One willful violation was cited for allowing employees to dry sweep in areas where lead is used and processed. OSHA standards require lead to be removed by a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter or other equally effective method.

New Zealand Forms High Hazard Inspection Team

The unit's initial focus will be mining and petroleum/geothermal industries, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson announced.

Air Force Contractor Cited for Exposing Workers to Hazardous Contaminants

The serious violations include exposing workers to air contaminants including hexavalent chromium, cadmium, and methylene chloride.

DOL Releases Mobile App that Monitors Heat Index at Worksites

The app, available in English and Spanish, combines heat index data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the user’s location to determine necessary protective measures.

Hazardous Trenching Leads to $73,000 Fine for Construction Firm

As OSHA inspectors were traveling to an inspection near Auburn they passed an open excavation where workers were not being protected from cave-ins. The OSHA officials stopped and opened an inspection at the NPL Construction site, and requested that the workers be removed from the trench.

OSHA Pounds American Pulverizer Co. for Electrical, Repeat Violations

The serious violations address hazards associated with cranes, lockout/tagout of energy sources, and powered industrial trucks.

CPSC Settles Perfect Fitness Case

A $425,000 civil penalty is included in the settlement, which involves Perfect Pullup exercise equipment that was sold in 2008 and recalled in February 2011.

Task Force: Commercial Liability an Effective Strategy to Reduce Alcohol-Related Problems

The independent, nonfederal, volunteer body of public health and prevention experts has determined that commercial host liability, otherwise known as dram shop liability, can be an effective intervention for reducing alcohol-related harms.

OSHA Brews Up $46,550 in Fines for Georgia Coffee, Tea Manufacturer

Fourteen serious violations involve the company's failure to install isolation devices on the dust collector system to prevent fires and explosions, keep steel beams and floors free of coffee and tea dust accumulation, and develop and implement an emergency action plan and training in the use of fire extinguishers.

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