“Improper management of stormwater can have serious environmental consequences for our harbors, rivers, lakes and streams, and the violations at the Park Square site in Rahway compromised surrounding waterways,” said Judith Enck, regional administrator for EPA.
Citations address the farm's failure to provide a guarding mechanism to prevent power-driven machinery from accidentally falling into the earthen manure storage facility, alteration of seat belts on that machinery, and the lack of adequate training and instruction for operators of the skid-steer machinery, among other things.
In addition to the combustible dust violations, an inspection found that the Delaware company failed to provide fire retardant clothing for employees and require them to wear adequate eye protection with side shields, among other hazards.
Based on the violations found, total penalties assessed would amount to $125,000 if the employer was in the private sector, but under the law, federal agencies are cited without penalties.
The latest example is a reflective decal that will be required on the front and back license plates of New Jersey drivers who have a Graduated Driver License, as of May 1.
The company, which manufactures guyed and self-supporting towers and monopoles, was charged with three willful and 38 serious violations.
According to EEOC, a store pharmacy manager openly professed on several occasions that the worker was "too old," "should just retire," and was "greedy" for continuing to work at age 70.
The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) advises OSHA chief David Michaels, Ph.D., M.P.H., on worker safety and health in the construction industry.
“Employees were exposed to a potentially fatal fall hazard of more than 13 feet from scaffolds while applying a final coat of stucco to a building,” said Patricia Jones, director of the OSHA office in Avenel, N.J.
Northwest Airlines flew more than 90,000 passenger flights on multiple 757s that were not in compliance with an airworthiness directive.
A March 19 memo sent to regional administrators and state plans by Richard Fairfax and Steve Witt, who head the OSHA enforcement and state programs units, clarifies when citations should be issued for failing to provide it.
EPA said that by issuing complaints it is sending a message to construction site operators, public or private, that these regulations must be met.
Priorities will include developing courses for small businesses and employees who speak no or limited English regarding construction safety and health hazards.
Using it, the state will hire more inspectors to visit public sector workplaces, part of its outreach to 1 million public employees.
As part of its new approach, the agency is revising the existing drinking water standards for four contaminants that can cause cancer.
According to FMCSA, safety belt use was at 78 percent in states with primary safety belt laws, which allow law enforcement to stop drivers for not using a safety belt, versus 67 percent in states with weaker laws.
The requirements under the rule apply to maintenance, renovation, or repair activities where six square feet (about the size of a poster) or more of a painted surface is disturbed inside, or where 20 square feet or more of painted surface (about the size of a door) is disturbed on the exterior.
MSHA's investigation found that the 2007 fatality occurred because the mine management failed to ensure that adverse ground conditions identified during the mining cycle were adequately supported.
The order results from an inspection of the facility following three releases of the gas in January, including the release that caused the death. EPA determined that the facility has not satisfied Clean Air Act requirements that are designed to help prevent accidental releases and minimize the consequences of releases that do occur.
Previous meetings in this series addressing combustible dust hazards were held in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. OSHA will consider participants' comments in developing its proposed standard on the issue.