Hazard Communication


OSHA Tries to Cement Fall Hazard Charges Against Tuckpointing Firm

An inspection earlier this year resulted in the St. Louis company receiving five repeat citations, mainly for problems involving its use of scaffolds, plus two other serious allegations.

Jet Fuselage Manufacturer Pays $132K to Settle Hazwaste Issues in Kansas

According to EPA, the Wichita, Kan.-based plant generates significant quantities of hazardous waste, including industrial wastewater treatment filter sludge, primer residue waste containing chromium and cadmium, tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene waste from degreasers, and hazardous waste oil.

Woman Loses Arm in Machinery; Company Fined $130,500

The investigation that followed the incident resulted in one willful, one repeat, and six serious citations. The willful charge, which alone has a proposed penalty of $70,000, is for failing to provide proper guarding on the mechanical power presses to prevent an amputation.

Arizona Builder Fined More than $100K for Violating Dust Control Measures

“Air pollution from particulate matter directly impacts the health of the community. It’s an especially serious issue in Maricopa County, where air quality does not meet the federal standard,” said EPA’s Jared Blumenfeld.

USACR has launched an interactive Firearms Safety Techniques site.

Army Safety Center Creates Interactive Firearms Site

In one challenge, players participate in a series of tasks that center on increasing awareness of the dangers associated with environmental and physical impairments, such as foul weather, lack of sleep, and the effects of medication. During this virtual simulator experience at the nFocus Laboratory, the player attempts to shoot targets to score points as the impairment progressively becomes more and more severe.

OSHA Offers Electrical Equipment Safety Tips

If electrical equipment is used in ways for which it is not designed, you can no longer depend on safety features built in by the manufacturer. This may damage your equipment and cause employee injuries. Here are some common examples of misused equipment.

Second NIOSH Report on Oil Cleanup Pushes PPE

Twenty-six health hazard evaluation investigators have visit the gulf region. This second interim report evaluated cases treated at a Venice, La., infirmary; June 8-10 offshore oil burns; and a barge oil vacuuming operation involving 18 barges moored together off Grand Isle, La.

OSHA Hooks Seafood Company for PSM Hazards

The agency has proposed $279,000 in fines after finding that the company failed to conduct an incident investigation of a January 2001 anhydrous ammonia leak, certify or evaluate its process safety management program every three years as required, establish and implement procedures to maintain changes in the process, and provide and document employee training, among other citations.



OSHA Slams Patio Door Maker

The agency issued a willful violation for the Dallas company's failure to institute an effective hearing conservation program, plus 10 serious violations for failing to protect workers from being struck by flying objects, the unexpected release of energy while servicing and maintaining equipment, and exposure to blood and hazardous chemicals, among other charges.

Ohio Steel Facility Cited for Electrical, Machine Hazards

An inspection found that the company failed to provide adequate guarding on lathes, grinding, and other dangerous machines, and that it did not sufficiently develop and implement training on locking a machine's energy source and alerting others about the state of that power source.

Cast Iron Manufacturer Pays $4 Million to Resolve 400+ Violations in 14 States

According to DOJ and EPA, the company, which makes pipes, valves, fittings, fire hydrants, propane and compressed air tanks, and other similar products, emits pollutants such as particulate matter, VOCs, and mercury as a result of its manufacturing processes at various facilities.

Appendix A lists 136 chemicals, including formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, and methyl isocyanate.

OSHA Extends PSM National Emphasis Program

Effective July 8, a new directive extends to Sept. 30 a yearlong NEP. It specifies programmed inspections in three regions and unprogrammed ones in the other seven OSHA regions.

Xpect Discounts Inspections Lead to 'Sizable Fines'

All told, the inspections at four of the discount retailer's Connecticut locations resulted in seven repeat citations with $95,200 in proposed fines, 13 serious citations with $38,500 in fines, and 10 other-than-serious citations with $7,000 in fines, for a proposed total of $140,700.

A new safety rule for large-scale egg producers went into effect July 9.

New Egg Safety Rule Goes Into Effect

Implementing the preventive measures will reduce the number of Salmonella Enteritidis infections from eggs by nearly 60 percent, FDA says.

Monsanto to Pay $2.5M for Distributing Misbranded Genetically Engineered Pesticide

The fine, levied after the company sold misbranded cotton seed to restricted counties in Texas, is the largest civil administrative penalty settlement ever received under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Fire Prevention Week 2010 will focus on smoke alarms.

NFPA Sounds Alarm for Fire Prevention Week 2010

This year's campaign theme, "Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with," emphasizes the importance of smoke alarms in preventing fire deaths, injuries, and property loss.

Four NY Contractors Fined $90K Following Brooklyn Balcony Collapse

An employee of one of the firms fell 20 feet when the second floor balcony he was standing on collapsed as he was attempting to jack up the third floor balcony. An inspection by OSHA's Manhattan area office found that the second floor balcony was overloaded, improperly constructed, and incapable of supporting its weight load.

OSHA Files Complaint against 350 Postal Facilities

The move marks the first time the department has sought enterprise-wide relief as a remedy.

DHS announced a new national information-sharing partnership with Amtrak as part of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.

DHS Launches 'See Something, Say Something' Campaign

"Implementing a national suspicious activity reporting partnership with Amtrak and expanding the 'See Something, Say Something' campaign strengthens our ability to guard against terrorism and crime," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

OSHA chief David Michaels

OSHA Chief Concerned Oil Spill Workers Being Short Shrifted on Training

For the HAZWOPER work at hand, the agency requires 40 hours of "rigorous" training, Michaels said, adding that reportedly "some are offering this training in significantly less than 40 hours, showing video presentations and offering only limited instruction."

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