Enforcement


CVS Pharmacy Fined $89,000 for Hazards in Connecticut

A single citation for obstructed exit routes alone amounted to $70,000 because the company was cited for similar conditions at other locations three years ago, making it a recurring hazard.

Dollar Tree Stores Hit with $56K Fine

The OSHA area director urged the company to evaluate all of its store locations for hazards after this latest filing.

Landowners, Businesses Ordered to Halt Hazwaste Pollution at Chemical Processing Site

An inspection’s sampling of water from various locations on the property confirmed the discharge of boron, arsenic, copper, ammonia, zinc, chromium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, selenium, aluminum, barium, cadmium, and 2-Butanone into the Weaver Branch tributary.

MSHA Issues Safety Alert, Fatality Update

The Mine Safety and Health Administration recently issued a safety alert and fatality update to the mining industry to draw renewed attention to deaths that have occurred this year in mines throughout the country.

Conditions Surrounding Death, Injury at Lumber Yard Lead to $439,400 Fine

“Employers are legally bound to provide a safe work environment for their employees,” said OSHA chief David Michals. “This company has repeatedly failed to do so, costing one worker his life and grievously injuring another. This must stop.”

FDA Seeks Court Order against Michigan Dairy

The complaint is based, in part, upon illegal neomycin, penicillin, and sulfadimethoxine drug residues that the USDA found in the edible tissue of dairy cows that defendants had offered for sale for human consumption.

CPSC Makes Recall Data Available Via API

Recall data from 1973 forward is available, containing information such as brand names, product types, product descriptions, companies involved in recalls, where the products were manufactured, hazards, recall dates, and UPC codes (when those are available).

DHS plans to expand the If You See Something Say Something campaign nationally with public education materials.

FEMA Hosts Webinar on Remaining Vigilant, Stopping Threats

The event is part of a campaign designed to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism, crime, and other threats and emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.



MSHA: Don't Restrict Miners' Right to File Complaints

The Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners' protections against discrimination.

Western Swing: OSHA Opens Four New Area Offices

One is in Las Vegas, bringing praise from the congresswoman who district includes that city. The other three are in Oakland, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz.

Dusti Gurule, the new sec rep for the Department of Labor, is based in Denver.

DOL Appoints New Regional Representative

Serving as the Department of Labor’s liaison in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, the new “sec rep” is responsible for amplifying key programs and initiatives.

Broad New Category Proposed for Inspecting SHARP Participants

Imminent danger investigations, fatality/catastrophe investigations, and complaint investigations are already in the regulation; the added category would be "other critical inspections as determined by the Assistant Secretary."

Brass Foundry Cited for 'Deliberate' Lead-Exposure Hazards

The citations allege, among other things, that the company did not take air samples as required for workers who were overexposed to airborne lead nor provide the required annual training associated with the hazards. An additional willful violation alleges that the company stopped providing hearing tests to employees overexposed to noise.

OSHA Rings Up $4 Million Day

Announcing a $3 million fine against one employer and $1.2 million against another, the agency continues come down hard on violations even when no fatality is involved.

AirTran Fined $500,000 for Boarding Violations, Disability Complaints

An investigation by DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office of disability complaints filed with AirTran and DOT revealed a number of violations of the requirement for boarding assistance. In addition, the carrier’s complaint files showed that it frequently did not provide an adequate written response to complaints from passengers.

We Can't Quit

It appears we simply won't give up our phones.

Raising Workers' 'Voice' on NACOSH Agenda

The committee's Sept. 14-15 meeting in Washington, D.C., also features an update on Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup monitoring by OSHA and NIOSH.

OSHA Announces Interim Final Whistleblower Rules, Invites Public Comment

The regulations, which establish procedures for handling worker retaliation complaints, allow filing by phone as well as in writing and filing in languages other than English.

Amtrak Employee Awarded $160K in 'Historic' FRSA Case

An investigation found that the company terminated one of its cleaning crew employees after she reported to her manager that she had sprained her ankle while at work. The lawsuit became the first case to be tried under a 2007 amendment to the Federal Railroad Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 20109.

FMCSA asked about challenges motor carriers have in interacting with FMCSA that prevent them from conducting business effectively.

FMCSA Seeks Planning Help with Injury Reduction in Mind

Three public listening sessions on Sept. 8 will help the agency hear from stakeholders, who have a chance to influence the agency's next five-year Strategic Plan.

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