Enforcement


Doctor Sentenced for Submitting Fraudulent Data to FMCSA

Dr. Anthony Lefteris pleaded guilty in a federal court in Atlanta on June 5 to federal false statement and false data entry charges. The DOT OIG conducted an undercover operation after receiving allegations during 2016 that he had not complied with DOT's medical examination protocols for applications and renewals for commercial drivers' licenses.

HIOSH Back on Track with New OSHA Agreement

OSHA and the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) have worked together to strengthen the State Plan, and HIOSH has achieved the milestones established to resume practically all private-sector enforcement authority.

Michigan Agency Preparing for Medical Marijuana License Applications in December

A non-refundable application fee to offset costs of a background investigation of those applying for licenses is expected to be in the $4,000 to $8,000 range, depending on the number of applications received.

Florida Nursing Home to Be Terminated as Medicaid Provider

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sept. 14 reported that of Florida's total 309 hospitals, all operational facilities have power or are running on generator power. Ten Florida hospitals were closed and are continuing to coordinate with the state on reopening, he said.

Hurricane Irma caused flooding in Naples, Fla., The U.S. Department of Labor has initially committed up to $40 million in Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant funding to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to aid in disaster response.

DOL Offering Grants to Aid in Disaster Response Following Irma

Included in DOL assistance is that OSHA is posting guidance to help employers keep their workers safe during cleanup and recovery operations, and most OSHA programmed enforcement actions will halt in affected areas to avoid disrupting recovery operations. An OSHA Emergency Response Team will provide compliance assistance.

Comments Due by Oct. 27 on Canada's Proposed Vaping Regulations

Information that vaping device manufacturers would have to submit would include engineering drawings for devices, the contents of vaping liquids, information on R&D activities, and quarterly sales data. The proposal would require a displayed warning for products that contain nicotine.

Australian Builder Fined $880,000 in Fatal Collapse

"Floor collapses can be caused by overloading areas with construction materials, the new floor not being structurally completed, or the structural support elements being inadequate or altered. That is why it is critical that builders ensure the load-bearing capacity of floors under construction are known by everyone at the site," WorkSafe Victoria Head of Hazardous Industries and Industry Practice Michael Coffey said.

Car Rental Companies Paying $2 Million in SeaTac Back Pay Agreement

The workers involved in the case clean, maintain, and prepare rental cars for customers and also drive shuttles to locations around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.



Bakery Fined $1.3 Million After Fatal Fall

"Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in Great Britain. The risks associated with working at height are well known," said HSE inspector Denise Fotheringham.

New Chair Nominated for Hawaii Labor Relations Board

If confirmed, State Rep. Marcus Oshiro will complete the six-year term left vacant by the resignation of Kerry Komatsubara, which ends June 30, 2018. He is also being appointed for a six-year term to end June 30, 2024.

Home Depot to Pay $5.7 Million Penalty for Selling Recalled Products

CPSC said the Atlanta-based company's agreement settles charges that it knowingly sold and distributed approximately 2,816 recalled products from 33 separate voluntary corrective actions from August 2012 through November 2016.

OSHA Cites SD Company in Trench Collapse

As of June 1, 2017, 15 workers in the United States have died this year in trench collapses. The total during 2016 was 23 deaths in trenching and excavation operations, OSHA reported.

Washington Company Cited for Shorting Construction Workers on Project

"Integrity vastly underpaid its employees for the work they did," said Elizabeth Smith, assistant director for L&I's Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards division. "It's important that agencies and non-profits understand that using public money on a project means it's covered under prevailing wage."

Construction Company Fined in Asbestos Case

"Asbestos exposure can cause cancer, lung disease, and other serious respiratory diseases," said Tyler Amon, special agent-in-charge for EPA's Criminal Investigation Division in New York. "In this case, AIREKO Construction avoided hiring trained and certified asbestos abatement professionals. AIREKO did the work 'on the cheap,' willfully putting workers and others at risk."

New York Paperboard Mill Issued 61 Citations

Carthage Specialty Paperboard faces $357,445 in penalties for more than 60 safety and health violations.

Steelmaker Fined $1.2 Million for Toxic Release

"It was extremely fortunate no one was seriously affected by this incident. Had the flammable vapor cloud ignited, this could have resulted in multiple fatalities," HSE inspector Stephen Hargreaves said. "This incident highlights the need for all duty holders to implement and address all concerns and potential risks which have been identified. Tata's failure to do so in this case put a number of workers at risk of serious harm."

KDOL Amusement Ride Rules Hearing Scheduled

The proposed permanent regulations mirror the temporary regulations that went into effect July 1, 2017.

Gains Made in Fingerprint Analysis: NIST

An algorithm developed by NIST and Michigan State University researchers may help to reduce the chance of human error in the first step of fingerprint analysis.

NY 2017 Speed Week Tickets Topped 21,000

As part of the enforcement campaign, troopers targeted speeding and aggressive drivers statewide, watching for impaired and distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who were not properly buckled up, and drivers who violated the "Move Over Law" that requires them to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles stopped in or on the side of the road.

California Refinery Regs Require Safety Culture Assessments

The regulations include requirements to adopt inherently safer designs and systems to the greatest extent feasible and also require periodic workplace safety culture assessments to evaluate whether management is appropriately emphasizing safety over production pressures.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars