Risk Management


Moscow, Pa.-based Roofer Cited for Willful Fall Hazards

"It is the employer's responsibility to prevent fall hazards at construction sites by providing workers with appropriate safety equipment," said Mark Stelmack, director of OSHA's area office in Wilkes Barre, Pa., which issued the citations. Don't miss Wednesday's OH&S fall protection webinar.

Through July 31, 2010, 48 firefighters had died in the line of duty, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Mining, Firefighter Deaths at High Levels

Total mining deaths through July 30 stood at 53, the highest number since 2007, and 48 U.S. firefighters had died in the line of duty as of July 31.

Construction Worker’s Death in Manhole Leads to $136K Penalty

The company received repeat citations for failing to make a reasonable estimate of employee exposure to hazardous chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide; it received willful citations for failing to implement confined space entry procedures.

Le Plessis-Bourre, a 15th Century castle, is one of many castles in the Angers region.

Loire Valley Conferences Luring Ergonomists to France

Eight keynotes are part of the PREMUS 2010 program, which begins with pre-conference workshops Aug. 29 and is being held in conjunction with WDPI 2010.

Since the fire season began, about 1.7 million acres have burned.

Russia May Revise Current Fire Safety Program

EMERCOM, the agency that includes the Russian State Fire Service, reported 129,161 people and 19,343 pieces of apparatus were fighting the 589 fires active on Aug. 5 in the country.

Poisoning Death Rate Rising as Other Leading Causes Fall

The age-adjusted rate for poisonings more than doubled from 1979 to 2007, CDC reports.

Pennsylvania Oil Supplier Fined $40,000 for Spill Prevention Violations

The company was cited for allegedly failing to conduct drills or exercises to help prepare for a potential spill from its oil storage facility in Woxall, Pa. Under the Clean Water Act, owners of oil storage facilities must have a plan to minimize the risk of spills, including periodic exercises.

Fatal Unloading Incident Brings Heavy Fine

A distribution company will pay $318,000 plus $27,000 in costs after pleading guilty in a British courtroom. Regular inspections of the truck involved in the case might have prevented the death, HSE's inspector said.



Super Soda Center Store Owners Settle Storage Tank Case for $2 Million

According to the Department of Justice, the amount of the civil penalty is “precedent-setting” yet “appropriate in light of the unacceptable risk” created by the underground storage tanks at the defendants’ 17 gas stations in Maryland and Delaware.

Tire Industry Urges Drivers to ‘Air’ on Side of Safety

Rather than be deflated by the news that drivers in Dallas, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Antonio, and Birmingham are the worst in the country at keeping their tires properly inflated, hundreds in those areas can get free RMA tire gauges today, if their vehicles can get them there.

NY Concrete Firm Fails to Abate, Receives $210K Fine

The company's "refusal to honor the requirements of this agreement reflects an irresponsible approach to worker safety and health, leaving workers vulnerable to injuries and possible fatalities," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York. "This situation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

This RITA graphic depicts IntelliDrive, which envisions an active safety system providing early warning to drivers.

IntelliDrive's Next Stop: Vancouver

An Aug. 10-11 meeting of the DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program office with the Institute of Transportation Engineers' IntelliDrive Task Force is taking place during ITE's annual meeting there.

Australia Considers Control Banding for Nanomaterials

A report released Aug. 2 by Safe Work Australia evaluates two possible approaches for using control banding to ensure safety when working with nanomaterials but admits workplaces there have little knowledge of it.

FMCSA Offers Free Cargo Tank Driver Training Video

“Tank truck rollovers are considerably more dangerous when they involve hazardous materials,” said PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. “Improved cargo tank truck driver safety will also benefit the general public that shares the highways.”

AANS Offers Back-to-School Injury Prevention Tips

With kids going back to school soon and football practice already underway in many communities, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is issuing an injury prevention message about football and cheerleading.

Pipeline Owners Warned of Electronic Distractions

Owners and operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities should have policies governing the use of personal electronic devices by certain employees, the DOT agency said Tuesday.

The National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures aims to create an agenda for implementing stronger protections.

National Conversation Has Busy Fall Agenda

More than 50 public meetings are in the books for this project of CDC and ATSDR about chemical exposures and public health. An action agenda is scheduled for release in December.

EPA Proposes Year's Grace on Spill Prevention Rule--But Not for Offshore Drillers

The purpose of the SPCC rule, which was finalized in 1973, is to establish requirements for facilities to prevent a discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.

Drive Safely Work Week 2010 is focused on the dangers of distracted driving, particularly the use of cell phones and texting.

Free Materials to Combat Distracted Driving

Organizations can download the Drive Safely Work Week 2010 Tool Kit free of charge through Sept. 20 when they complete a simple online survey. The week is a partnership of NETS and DOT, which will present a Distracted Driving Summit on Sept. 21.

U.S. Seeks Permanent Injunction against N.Y. Cream Cheese, Salad Maker

Recent FDA testing has found Listeria contamination throughout the defendants' facility and in a sample of its finished product. Although the company promised to address and correct deficiencies following inspections in 2006, 2007, and 2009, a 2010 inspection confirmed that the company continued to operate without adequate controls, the agency said.

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