Enforcement


Higher HIOSH Penalties Now in Effect

The maximum for a willful or repeated violation is now $132,598 per violation.

Justice Department Investigating Attorneys' Actions in Epstein Case

Alexander Acosta, the current U.S. secretary of Labor, was Miami's top federal prosecutor when he agreed in 2007 to allow multimillionaire defendant accused of coercing underage girls into sex acts at his Florida mansion to plead guilty only to two prostitution charges in state court, the Miami Herald reported in November 2018.

NTSB Issues Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 2019-2020

"The 2019–2020 Most Wanted List advocates for 46 specific safety recommendations that can and should be implemented during these next two years," said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. "It also features broad, longstanding safety issues that still threaten the traveling public."

HELP Committee May Take Up Mugno Nomination

President Donald J. Trump nominated Mugno, who was vice president for Safety, Sustainability and Vehicle Maintenance at FedEx Ground in Pittsburgh, Pa., to be the head of OSHA on Oct. 27, 2017. The failure of the U.S. Senate to confirm him for well over a year has puzzled many safety professionals and their professional organizations.

If It's Super Bowl Week, Counterfeit Cops Are Busy

Special agents from ICE teamed with industry, Customs and Border Protection, Atlanta police officers, and other partner agencies to identify flea markets, retail outlets, and street vendors selling counterfeit goods during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIII. They seized fake jerseys, hats, cell phone accessories, and thousands of other bogus items.

Atlanta Declared 'No Drone Zone' During Super Bowl LIII Events

The FAA will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on game day that will prohibit drones within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium, up to 17,999 feet in altitude.

Struck-By Incidents and Falls Lead Work-Related Deaths in NC

The largest number of work-related deaths in North Carolina in 2018 were caused by struck-by incidents and falls, based on preliminary information released Jan. 25 by the North Carolina Department of Labor.

Multiple Serious Asbestos Violations Result in Almost $800,000 in Fines

James Thorpe, Northlake Capital & Development, 3917 Densmore LLC, and Chris Walters have each been cited for 11 willful and serious violations, with fines for the four separate investigations totaling $789,200.



Michigan Agency Conducting Snowmobile Patrols

During the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend alone, five snowmobilers died in the state. So far this winter, nine snowmobilers have died in Michigan.

OSHA Cites Nebraska Beef Processing Plant

Noah's Ark Processors LLC faces penalties of $182,926 for 16 serious safety violations. OSHA cited the company for process safety management program deficiencies, failing to guard roof openings, and electrical safety and lockout/tagout violations.

NCDOL: No Fines for Old Labor Law Posters

The department will not fine businesses that have the old posters displayed, and NCDOL inspectors carry the newest posters in their vehicles and will offer them free to employers who have out-of-date posters.

Coast Guard Arrests Suspect in Laser Targeting Case

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a felony offense under 18 U.S. Code Section 39A.

Michigan Agencies Making Food Safety Inspections

"A seamless food safety regulatory system that involves many regulatory layers on the federal, state and local levels is key to preventing foodborne illness and protecting public health," McDowell said. "We hope our federal partners are back to business as usual soon, which will bring all food safety efforts up to full capacity."

OSHA Issues $422,006 Fine to Texas Contractor

OSHA's inspectors determined that the company exposed employees to a hazardous atmosphere, failed to train employees on the health hazards of hydrogen sulfide, and did not drain water from the trench.

Chicago Deploying License Plate Reader Vehicles

LPR technology allows the city to match license plates against the list of stolen vehicles sent to the LPRs daily by the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. If the LPR system identifies a stolen vehicle, CPD officers are automatically alerted so they can investigate further.

Trucker Pleads Guilty in Fatal Saskatchewan Crash

Sixteen people were killed and 13 players were hurt when a truck driven by Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, collided with the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team's bus in rural Saskatchewan.

OSHA Cites Company in NYC Crane Collapse

"This employer knowingly put workers at risk by failing to ensure that the crane was operated by a competent person," said Kay Gee, OSHA's Manhattan Area Office Director. "Effective training of employees, knowledge of equipment’s limits, and correct operation of equipment are critical to preventing injuries."

Colorado DOT Warns Backcountry Users About Leaving Unattended Vehicles

"Always obey road closures set in place for avalanche control mitigation and wait until authorities open the highway to ensure snow slide operations have been completed and roads cleared," said Matt Bennett, the CDOT maintenance foreman who supervises operations for US 50 Monarch Pass. "Backcountry users should never leave vehicles near or adjacent to snow slide areas, which are always well marked with signs."

The Agricultural and Biological Engineering group of Penn State University is currently conducting a research project on hydrogen sulfide releases from manure pits, with a focus on farms using gypsum products as bedding for dairy cows. (Industrial Scientific Corporation photo)

HSE Targets Farm Hazards

Farming is the most dangerous industry in Britain, with the latest figures showing 33 people died in agriculture settings during 2017/18. The country's agricultural industry has a fatal injury rate about 18 times higher than the all-industry fatal injury rate, according to the agency.

Two Roofing Companies Cited for Fall Hazards at Colorado Site

"Fall hazards are well known in the roofing industry, and these employers should have taken the proper steps to protect their employees," said David Nelson, OSHA's area director in Greenwood Village, Colo.

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