OSHA, in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is strengthening its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by improving how trainers become authorized to teach and ensuring these trainers are in compliance with OSHA program guidelines.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently announced that an administrative law judge of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has approved a settlement between MSHA and Tri-Star Mining Inc. regarding an April 2007 highwall failure that resulted in the death of two coal miners at Tri-Star Mining's western Maryland surface operation. The mine operator will pay a total of $105,324 in penalties.
More than a million toys have been voluntarily recalled by the company due to the possible presence of lead in the paint; the items are being stored at its facilities in Illinois and Iowa.
The facility failed to report many hazardous chemicals stored at the site including sulfuric acid, lead, zinc, and hydrochloric acid, EPA said.
OSHA is proposing $175,000 in penalties against W.G. Yates & Sons Construction and Spectrum Concrete Services following the November 2008 collapse of a wood shoring system at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center's medical towers addition in Meridian, Miss.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Corp., of Everett, Wash., recently announced a voluntary recall of about 52,000 Fluke Digital Clamp Meters.
"OSHA's process safety management regulations are designed to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards associated with the catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals," said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's area office in Avenel, N.J., which conducted the investigation.
In addition to working with OSHA to develop training resources designed to prevent exposure to construction hazards, NAWIC-Chapter 96 said it will enhance the promotion of construction safety and health education to area youth through its Annual Block Kids Program.
OSHA, the New Jersey School Development Authority (NJSDA), and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOLWD) have renewed their alliance to promote workplace safety and health on New Jersey school construction sites during a signing ceremony at NJSDA headquarters in Trenton.
The alleged failure to protect its employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards has brought H & H Plumbing & Utilities Inc. $46,200 in proposed penalties from OSHA following an inspection at the company's worksite in Edmond.
According to the Department of Justice, the company suffered damage and losses in excess of $94,200 as a result of the former employee's computer intrusion and intentional, unauthorized deletion of programs and files.
"Whether it's in a far corner of Alaska or in a crowded urban area, stormwater rules protect our waterways from polluted runoff," said Michelle Pirzadeh, EPA's Acting Regional Administrator in Seattle.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Nancy Nord recently announced that a lease has been signed to expand and modernize the agency's testing facilities. The new facility, located off the "I-270 Technology Corridor" in Rockville, Md., will enhance CPSC's efforts to protect the public from dangerous consumer products and brings scientists and engineers together in one testing facility.
OSHA has cited a Cambridge, Mass., contractor for alleged willful and serious violations of safety and health standards after three of its employees were overcome by lack of oxygen on Oct. 20, 2008, while cleaning underground steam pipes on the Boston College campus in Newton, Mass. Thomas G. Gallagher Inc. faces a total of $71,000 in proposed fines.
"It is particularly disturbing and sadly ironic when a health care facility, of all places, refuses to reasonably accommodate an employee's disability," said EEOC Acting Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence.
The agency said the toxic insecticide is used on a very small percentage of the U.S. food supply but added that all uses must be eradicated.
The 67-29 vote on an amendment put forth by Sen. Tom Coburn would restore regulations enacted by the Bush administration and later halted by a preliminary injunction.