Facility Safety


Cheese Maker Hit with $111,000 Fine for Anhydrous Ammonia Hazards, More

OSHA cited the company for 12 serious and one repeat violation after an inspection identified two incidents of anhydrous ammonia release, an absence of fall protection, the employer's failure to implement an emergency response plan, and other workplace hazards.

NIOSH Releases Lockout/Tagout Tip Sheet

Workers are at risk of severe injury and death during machine maintenance and servicing if proper lockout/tagout procedures are not followed.

125 MIOSHA Staffers Making Site Visits June 8

The seventh annual Take a Stand Day asks companies to request a consultative visit now, promising there will be no citations or fine for participating workplaces.

DOE Issues Loan Guarantees for Ivanpah Solar Project

Up to $1.37 billion in federal loan guarantees have been promised to construct and start the 370 MW project on 3,471 acres of federal land in California.

OSHA Hammers Lowe's for Electrical, PPE Violations

OSHA proposed $82,700 in penalties for the violations following its inspection, which was conducted based on high injury and illness rates reported at the site.

Arkansas Aluminum Firm Fined $154,000 for Repeat, Health Violations

The safety inspection found 10 serious and five repeat safety violations. A health investigation yielding nine serious violations was opened Nov. 15, 2010, based on a referral from the safety inspection.

Bills Filed to Codify VPP

Companion bills in the U.S. Senate and House were welcomed by VPPPA Executive Director R. Davis Layne.

Explosion, Fire Hazards Carry $182,000 Fine for Rubber Manufacturer

The serious violations include failing to maintain the structural integrity of pipe hangers and pipe support rods and report a leak in a critical 4-inch valve at the ammonia storage tank.



Fridge Icemakers Devour Kilowatts: NIST

The amount of energy they use and what most of that energy is not used for are surprising. Refrigerators account for 8 percent of total energy use by 111 million U.S. households, according to DOE, which helped to fund this research.

Failure-to-Abate Notices Add Up to $112,530 in Fines for N.J. Firm

OSHA initiated an inspection on Oct. 21, 2011, in response to a complaint alleging that the employer had not abated safety and health violations cited on July 14, 2010.

Products Bearing BioPreferred Labels in Stores Soon

USDA identified the first 60 products independently certified to meet the program's standards for consisting wholly or significantly of agricultural ingredients -- renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. About 400 products have been submitted in the first three months.

South Dakota Grain Engulfment Brings $378,000 in Fines

At least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments last year, and the numbers of entrapments are increasing, according to researchers at Purdue University.

NFPA Establishes Sprinkler Antifreeze Requirements

An updated Safety Alert from the National Fire Protection Association addresses the use of antifreeze in new and existing occupancies. It replaces July and August 2010 Alerts that said antifreeze shouldn't be used in residential sprinklers.

Tyson Foods Cited for LOTO, Respiratory Protection Hazards

The company faces penalties totaling $45,000 as a result of an OSHA inspection conducted in October 2010.

Worker Amputations Lead to $107,200 Fine for Missouri Firm

OSHA initiated an inspection in October 2010 in response to a report of accidents at the facility, one in which an employee lost fingers in machinery and another in which an employee lost a foot in a forklift incident.

New York Volunteer Agency Cited Following Worker's Fall

OSHA found that maintenance employees whose duties involved opening and closing rooftop skylights were exposed to falls due to the lack of access stairs between flat and sloped roofs atop the building.

Repeat, Health Violations Add Up to $95,240 in Fines for Georgia Manufacturer

Three violations are health-related, including failing to provide a hearing conservation program, exposing workers to airborne styrene that exceeded the permissible exposure limit, and not providing suitable protective clothing and gloves for employees whose skin was exposed to styrene-containing resin.

Alabama Wood Company Cited for Electrical, LOTO Hazards

OSHA is citing the company with 16 serious violations, including failing to use lockout/tagout procedures for energy sources and provide railings for unguarded open-sided floors.

CSB Releases Safety Video Detailing Bayer CropScience Explosion

The video features a detailed computer animation showing how a series of errors and deficiencies during a lengthy startup process resulted in a runaway chemical reaction inside a residue treater pressure vessel.

Maine Paper Mill Fined $212,000 Following Worker's Burning

Regarding the injury, OSHA found that the company failed to block the steam line to prevent any potential release of steam or hot condensate.

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