Regulatory & Standards


Worker Dies in Tank Trailer, Transportation Firm Fined $160,000

OSHA's Houston South Area Office initiated a safety and health inspection Feb. 9 at the company's facility after receiving a report that a worker had been found, unresponsive, inside a tank trailer that was being prepared to be washed.

Final Directives Issued for Wind Turbines in National Forests

They add a new "Wind Energy Uses" chapter to the Forest Service's Special Uses Handbook and a new "Monitoring at Wind Energy Sites" chapter to the Wildlife Monitoring Handbook.

OSHA Notifies U.S. Army of Multiple Hazards at Fort Bragg

A total of 37 violations are alleged, including two repeat violations involving machine guarding. OSHA said its Frankfort, Ky., office notified the Army earlier about those same violations at a Kentucky installation.

Contractor Zapped with Penalty Following Fatal Electrocution

The violations involve failing to instruct workers in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions, ensure the use of personal protective equipment, and protect workers from electrical shock.

Contractor Fined $162,000 after Worker Dies from Overexposure to Methylene Chloride

Stockbridge, Ga.-based Creative Multicare Inc. was issued five serious, two willful, and one other-than-serious violation following the death of a worker who was exposed to excessive amounts of methylene chloride while using the chemical to remove paint from a bathtub surface.

Mass. Muffler Firm Faces $184,000 in Fines Following Worker's Burning

OSHA's inspection found employees exposed to fire hazards from the open container of gasoline, combustibles allowed in the work area when the acetylene torch was being used, an unapproved light fixture in a hazardous location, and a lack of training in fire extinguisher use for employees.

OSHA: New Restructuring Plan Aims to Strengthen Whistleblower Protection Program

OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program will report directly to the assistant secretary instead of being housed in the Directorate of Enforcement. In addition, changes in field structure are currently being pilot tested.

OSHA Slams Tortilla Makers Following Worker's Death in Mixing Machine

Juan Batten, a 22-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, died when he became caught in the auger of a mixing machine. OSHA's inspection found that the mixer was not guarded to prevent employees from coming into contact with its points of operation.



Let Communities Volunteer to Host Waste Facilities: DOE Panel

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future also says currently available revenues are sufficient and a new, non-DOE nuclear waste management program should be established.

Bread Maker Slices Finger on Machine, Bakery Fined $51,800

"This injury could have been prevented had the company followed proper machine guarding safety procedures," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.

'Standards Boost Business' Campaign Launched

ANSI, NFPA, Underwriters Laboratories, the Safety Equipment Institute, and 22 other partners involved in standardization started the campaign as a call to action for corporate America.

The employer must ensure that, prior to operating any equipment covered by the standard, the person is qualified or certified to operate the equipment under the regulation. (Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau photo)

Key Elements of OSHA's Cranes & Derricks Standard

The employer must ensure that, prior to operating any equipment covered by the standard, the person is qualified or certified to operate the equipment.

OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels

Pushing the Envelope

OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels has been persistent in trying to tackle big issues. The proposed rule to strengthen the eight-hour reporting requirement after work-related fatalities or hospitalizations is a perfect example.

$378,620 in Fines Issued to Wisconsin Wood Firm for Willful Violations

Northeastern Wisconsin Wood Products was first inspected by OSHA in 2006 and issued eight citations. A follow-up inspection in 2007 found that most of the originally cited hazards remained unabated.

New Standard Helps Users Choose Clothing for Pesticide Work

The ISO 27065:2011 standard defines specific protection levels, allowing pesticide manufacturers to display the required level of protection needed on their products' labels.

Corrections Officer's Death at Washington Prison Leads to $26,000 Fine

Washington Department of Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl was killed on Jan. 29, 2011, allegedly by Byron Scherf, an inmate at a Monroe, Wash., prison.

Grinder Operator Fatally Struck by Abrasive Wheel, Firm Fined $159,600

OSHA cited the company for 15 safety violations following an inspection resulting from the January death of a pedestal grinder operator who was killed when the abrasive wheel on the grinder exploded and struck the operator on the head.

OSHA Strikes Bowling Center with $112,600 Fine After Worker Dies in Pinsetter Machine

OSHA's Dallas Area Office initiated an inspection Feb 21, after receiving a report that a worker was fatally injured from being caught in a pinsetter machine while clearing a jam.

Prepare for Severe Floods, Pipeline Operators Reminded

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's new advisory bulletin for owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines says the Yellowstone River spill that began July 1 shows the risks.

DOE Goes Nuclear over Plutonium-Punctured Worker's Contamination

DOE issued a $243,750 civil penalty to Savannah River Nuclear Solutions after a worker received a hand puncture from a sharp object contaminated with plutonium-238.

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