February 1, 2023

US Department of Labor finds Amazon exposed workers to unsafe conditions, ergonomic hazards at three more warehouses in Colorado, Idaho, New York OSHA cites global e-commerce company for similar safety failures at six locations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations at three more Amazon warehouses – in Aurora, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, New York – for failing to keep workers safe and delivered hazard alert letters for exposing workers to ergonomic hazards.

OSHA cited the multinational e-commerce company for not providing safe workplaces in violation of the OSH Act's general duty clause. The inspections follow referrals from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York that led the agency to open inspections and find similar violations at other Amazon warehouse facilities in Florida, Illinois and New York in July 2022. OSHA later opened inspections in Aurora, Nampa and Castleton on Aug. 1, 2022.

At all six locations, OSHA investigators found Amazon exposed warehouse workers to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders. The risks they faced are related to the following:

High frequency with which employees must lift packages and other items.
Heavy weight of the items handled by workers.
Employees awkwardly twisting, bending and extending themselves to lift items.
Long hours required to complete assigned tasks.
OSHA reviewed on-site injury logs required by federal law and discovered that, in fact, Amazon warehouse workers experienced high rates of musculoskeletal disorders.

OSHA proposed $46,875 in penalties for the violations at the Aurora, Nampa and Castleton facilities.

"Amazon's operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries," explained Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. "They need to take these injuries seriously and implement a company-wide strategy to protect their employees from these well-known and preventable hazards."

January 25, 2023

Department of Labor cites US Postal Service with 16 violations for endangering workers at 3 Tennessee facilities, proposes $350K in penalties Sanitation, electrical, improper use of forklifts among violations found

NASHVILLE, TN – The U.S. Department of Labor has found the U.S. Postal Service exposed workers to struck-by, electrical, crushing, fire and other health hazards at facilities in Columbia, Knoxville and Nashville.

As a result of three inspections, the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the mail carrier for five repeat, four serious and four other-than-serious violations with $350,136 in proposed penalties to address the safety and health hazards.

Specifically, OSHA found the following unsafe conditions:

A missing guard/cover on a mail processing machine exposed workers to an energized electric motor and other energized parts.
Flexible cords and power strips used in place of fixed electrical wiring, and overloaded circuits exposed workers to electrical hazards.
Employees without required training and evaluation needed to operate a powered industrial truck.
Employees not wearing seatbelts as they operated forklifts on the loading dock, which exposed them to crushed-by hazards if the forklift tipped over.
Forklifts lacked working strobe lights and back up alarms, while other forklifts needing repairs remained in service.
Backed up sewers left raw sewage on restroom floors and in work areas.  
OSHA also issued a written notice to the U.S. Postal Service for having a safety incentive program that awards workers who are accident-free, as these programs can discourage workers from reporting accidents and injuries.

"The U.S. Postal Service's high operational tempo is not a reason to bypass or ignore long-established safety standards. If anything, it's a reason to place greater emphasis on ensuring its workers are protected from recognized hazards and have every opportunity to avoid potential life-altering injuries," said OSHA Area Director William Cochran in Nashville, Tennessee. "These violations are preventable and continuing to operate in this manner, while ignoring safety requirements, is a recipe for disaster."

The three facilities investigated were the Knoxville Processing and Distribution Center, the Music City Annex in Nashville and the Columbia Post Office.

January 18, 2023

Federal safety inspections at three Amazon warehouse facilities find company exposed workers to ergonomic, struck-by hazards Multi-state investigation is largest enforcement effort on ergonomics

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Amazon for failing to keep workers safe, and has issued hazard alert letters after inspections at three warehouse facilities – in Deltona, Florida; Waukegan, Illinois; and New Windsor, New York – after finding workers exposed to ergonomic hazards.

Specifically, OSHA cited the company for violations of the general duty clause in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which requires employers to provide safe workplaces. The agency also cited the company for exposing workers at the Florida warehouse to struck-by hazards. Similar investigations at three Amazon locations in Aurora, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, New York, are ongoing.

The department's actions follow referrals from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, that led the agency to open inspections at Amazon warehouses in Deltona, Waukegan, and New Windsor on July 18, 2022; and in Aurora, Nampa and Castleton on Aug. 1, 2022.

OSHA investigators found Amazon warehouse workers at high risk for lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders related to the high frequency with which workers are required to lift packages and other items; the heavy weight of the items; awkward postures, such as twisting, bending and long reaches while lifting; and long hours required to complete assigned tasks. OSHA also reviewed on-site injury logs required by OSHA and discovered that Amazon warehouse workers experienced high rates of musculoskeletal disorders.

Amazon faces a total of $60,269 in proposed penalties for these violations.

"Each of these inspections found work processes that were designed for speed but not safety, and they resulted in serious worker injuries," said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. "While Amazon has developed impressive systems to make sure its customers' orders are shipped efficiently and quickly, the company has failed to show the same level of commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of its workers."

"Our hope is that the findings of our investigations inspire Amazon and other warehouses to make the safety and health of their workers a core value," Parker added.

In December 2022, OSHA cited Amazon for 14 recordkeeping violations as part of the same investigation.

December 16, 2022

Federal safety inspections at six Amazon warehouse facilities find company failed to record, report worker injuries, illnesses Investigation ongoing in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, New York

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Amazon during inspections at six warehouse facilities in five states for failing to properly record work-related injuries and illnesses. The findings are part of an ongoing investigation.

Following referrals from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, OSHA opened inspections on July 18, 2022, at Amazon locations in Deltona, Florida; Waukegan, Illinois; and New Windsor, New York; and on Aug. 1, 2022, at locations in Aurora, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, New York.

OSHA issued Amazon citations for 14 recordkeeping violations, including failing to record injuries and illnesses, misclassifying injuries and illnesses, not recording injuries and illnesses within the required time, and not providing OSHA with timely injury and illness records. Amazon faces $29,008 in proposed penalties.

"Solving health and safety problems in the workplace requires injury and illness records to be accurate and transparent," said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. "Our concern is that nothing will be done to keep an injury from recurring if it isn't even recorded in the logbook which – in a company the size of Amazon – could have significant consequences for a large number of workers."

OSHA's investigations at the six locations are ongoing. The agency issued the recordkeeping citations now to ensure they were issued within six months as federal law requires.

November 22, 2022

Inspection at Dollar General store in Columbus finds familiar hazards, dangers as company continues to expose workers, violate federal law OSHA issues $341K in penalties after latest inspections, more than $15M since 2017

COLUMBUS, OH – When federal workplace safety inspectors opened an investigation at a Dollar General store in Columbus, they discovered violations that were all-too-familiar and the kind that has led to more than $15 million in proposed penalties since 2017 for one of the nation’s largest discount retailers.

On May 24, 2022, inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found merchandise stacked unsafely, excessive clutter and unsanitary conditions, and unmarked emergency exits in the storeroom of a Dollar General store at 3636 Lockbourne Road. OSHA cited the store – operated by DolGen Midwest LLC – for four repeated safety violations and proposed penalties of $341,842. A 2021 inspection at a South Euclid, Ohio, store – also operated by DolGen Midwest LLC – found merchandise blocking storeroom exits.

Since 2017, OSHA has cited parent companies, Dollar General Corp. and Dolgencorp LLC for willful, repeat and serious workplace safety violations identified in more than 180 inspections nationwide. OSHA has included Dollar General Corp. in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

“Dollar General Corp.’s willingness to avoid its legal responsibility for the safety of its employees is difficult to understand,” said OSHA Area Director Larry Johnson in Columbus, Ohio. “Time and time again, we find the company overfilling its storerooms and allowing merchandise to block aisles and emergency exits, and be stacked high over the heads of many workers. These are conditions that endanger workers during the normal course of business and create the potential for disaster in an emergency.”

In its inspections of Dollar General stores, OSHA typically finds workers exposed to the risks of being struck by boxes of unsafely stacked or stored merchandise, unable to safely use storeroom aisles and emergency exits, and in danger of hazards caused by merchandise blocking electrical panels.

At the Columbus store, OSHA inspectors cited the company for violations related to the following hazards:

Not keeping the storeroom clean, orderly and in sanitary condition.
Not storing material safely.
Failing to use exit signs in storeroom to ensure the ability to exit safely in an emergency.
Failing to mount fire extinguishers.
Based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Dollar General Corp. and Dolgencorp LLC operate about 18,000 stores and 17 distribution centers in 47 states and employs more than 150,000 workers. Ranked #91 on the Fortune 100 list of companies in 2021, the publicly traded company reported $33.7 billion in sales in fiscal year 2020.

October 6, 2022

US Department of Labor finds Pennsylvania manufacturer prioritized safety, health at one facility, while hazards at New Jersey site led to 21 violations Regal Industrial Corp. faces $573K in penalties after Millville inspection

MILLVILLE, NJ – A Pennsylvania-based metal coatings company that enacted a comprehensive safety and health program to protect workers at its corporate headquarters failed to do the same for employees at a manufacturing facility it opened in the fall of 2021 in Millville, a federal workplace safety investigation has found.

Responding to a complaint, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation at Regal Industrial Corp. on April 18, 2022, and later identified 21 violations of federal workplace safety standards. Specifically, the company failed to:

Provide training on respirator use and medical evaluations to determine if employees were physically capable of wearing them.
Develop and implement a written hazard communication program.
Maintain safety data sheets onsite, and train employees on chemical hazards.
Provide fall protection and machine guarding.
Train forklift operators and certify them.
Ensure safe use of electricity in areas where flammable paints were sprayed, and to keep emergency exits unobstructed.
Establish and follow a routine schedule for floor cleaning and removal of combustible residue.
Ensure proper use of power tools.
As a result, OSHA cited Regal Industrial Corp. for five willful, 15 serious and one other-than-serious violations, and proposed $573,681 in penalties. The willful citations relate to the respirator, written hazard communication program, safety data sheet, fall protection and chemical hazard violations, and the serious and other-than-serious citations address the remaining safety violations.

September 27, 2022

Demolition company in fatal Government Center garage collapse in Boston faces nearly $1.2M in fines for willfully exposing workers to hazards JDC Demolition Co. Inc. failed to train workers adequately, ignored worker’s safety concerns

BOSTON – A heavy equipment operator doing demolition on the eighth  floor of the Government Center garage in downtown Boston died on March 26, 2022, when the partially demolished floor collapsed, and the 11,000-pound excavator and its operator fell 80 feet. It was the employee’s first day on the job.

An inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Brockton-based contractor JDC Demolition Company. Inc. failed to adequately train its workers on the demolition plan and safety management system to help them recognize and avoid unsafe conditions.

Specifically, on the morning of the collapse, another heavy equipment operator, who had started demolition on a concrete beam on an upper floor bay, told the foreman they had concerns about the floor’s safety. Despite the employee raising safety concerns to the foreman, a second employee was assigned to operate the excavator. That worker, the deceased, never received a safety briefing and was not trained to follow the engineer’s demolition plan.

OSHA also found that JDC Demolition deviated from the demolition plan by imposing unsafe loads, in the form of heavy equipment, on the partially demolished seventh, eighth and ninth floors. The demolition plan prohibited the placement of heavy equipment on partially demolished floor bays.

As a result, OSHA cited the company for eight egregious-willful violations, two serious violations and one other than serious violation of workplace safety standards and proposed a total of $1,191,292 in penalties. The willful citations address the training and loading violations; the serious and other than serious violations are regarding the inadequate accident prevention program, uncovered floor holes and insufficient recordkeeping.

August 8, 2022

Federal judge affirms US Department of Labor finding that Colorado acute psychiatric treatment facility exposed employees to workplace violence Centennial Peaks Hospital failed to protect nurses, technicians from physical abuse

LOUISVILLE, CO – An administrative law judge in Denver has affirmed the findings of a U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety investigation that determined a Louisville acute inpatient psychiatric treatment facility exposed direct care employees – such as nurses and mental health technicians – to aggressive patients who regularly assaulted and seriously injured them.

Following an inspection related to a December 2018 complaint of workplace violence, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited UHS of Centennial Peaks LLC – which operates as Centennial Peaks Hospital – for exposing employees to workplace violence hazards. The 104-bed behavioral health hospital, which provides acute inpatient hospitalization, medical detoxification and intensive outpatient programs for adolescents and adults, contested the May 2019 citations to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The action led to a two-week trial in September 2021.

On July 14, 2022, Administrative Law Judge Patrick Augustine affirmed OSHA’s citation and found that OSHA’s proposed abatement measures were feasible and would materially reduce the workplace violence hazard. The abatement measures included the following:

Implementing a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program.
Training employees on the workplace violence prevention plan.
Providing employees with reliable communication devices, such as radios and/or personal panic alarms.
Reconfiguring the nurses’ stations to prevent patients from entering easily and assaulting staff within.
Ensuring that units are staffed adequately to handle aggressive and escalating patients more safely.
Conducting post-incident debriefings and investigations to improve future responses to situations involving aggressive patients.
The judge also affirmed OSHA’s $10,229 penalty.

“Workers at behavioral health centers are entitled to work without fear of violence from patients,” said Regional Solicitor John Rainwater in Denver. “Unfortunately, UHS of Centennial Peaks failed to meet its obligations, resulting in its employees suffering assaults and serious injuries at the hands of aggressive patients.”

This is the second favorable decision upholding workplace violence citations at a UHS-owned facility in Colorado. One case is pending after a two-week trial in Colorado Springs.

July 22, 2022

US Department of Labor proposes more than $330K in penalties to Family Dollar Stores Inc. for workplace safety failures Attempt to stop shoplifter at Orlando location leads to employee's death

ORLANDO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed $330,446 in penalties to a Family Dollar store in Orlando after an investigation into a fatal shoplifting incident uncovered willful and repeat safety violations.

On Dec. 11, 2021, shortly after struggling with a shoplifter in a failed effort to prevent their escape with merchandise, a 41-year-old store employee experienced shortness of breath and nausea. An assistant manager called 911, but the employee later died at a local hospital.

Following its investigation of this incident, the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Family Dollar Stores Inc. for entrapment hazards and issued a hazard alert letter for exposing employees to hazardous conditions associated with workplace violence. OSHA urged the company to develop and train employees on proper procedures in case of a robbery or shoplifting incident, and to provide a means for workers to request immediate assistance from the local police department or alarm company.

OSHA cited the national discount retailer for a willful violation for keeping an emergency exit door locked with a single key held by management. The agency also issued citations for two repeat violations for failing to keep an unobstructed pathway for workers to walk through, and for allowing aisles to remain obstructed by carts and merchandise boxes.

"Family Dollar has shown time and again that their priority is profits, not their employees. Our inspection revealed multiple unsafe conditions that management should have addressed, including locked doors and blocked exits," said OSHA Area Office Director Sarah Carle in Orlando, Florida. "Tragically, someone lost their life as a result of an altercation. Incidents such as this can be averted when workers are trained on a violence prevention program that empowers them to recognize and avoid risks on the job."

Family Dollar Stores have a long history of OSHA investigations at locations nationwide. The retailer is owned by Dollar Tree Inc., headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, and has more than 193,000 employees.

June 30, 2022

US Department of Labor proposes $315K more in fines for Ohio vehicle parts
manufacturer that continues to expose workers to dangerous machine hazards
General Aluminum Mfg. Co.'s Conneaut plant inspected under Severe Violator Program

CONNEAUT, OH – An Ohio aluminum vehicle parts manufacturer cited for safety and health violations after a worker in Ravenna suffered fatal injuries in March 2021, continues to put workers at risk.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found General Aluminum Mfg. Co.'s facility in Conneaut exposing workers to similar machine hazards when the agency served warrants on Jan. 3, 2022, and opened an inspection under its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

Inspectors found tilt mold devices, sand core machines, and indexing tables at the plant lacked adequate machine guarding and workers performed service and maintenance tasks on industrial machinery without using energy control procedures – commonly known as lockout/tagout – exposing workers to amputation and caught-in hazards. OSHA cited the company for the same violations at the Ravenna facility.

OSHA cited General Aluminum Mfg. Co. for two repeat, four serious and two other than serious violations, and assessed $315,952 in proposed penalties following the Conneaut inspection.

"General Aluminum's continued failure to protect its workers is unacceptable, and its refusal to follow industry safety standards and the company's policies and procedures to prevent injuries or fatalities is incomprehensible," said OSHA Regional Administrator William Donovan in Chicago. "While the company pledges to improve its safety procedures and training, federal safety inspectors continue to find a lack of accountability by this employer."

In September 2021, OSHA cited the company for 38 violations with $1,671,738 in proposed penalties after an investigation into the March fatality. The company has contested those citations.

"OSHA will continue to take necessary steps to hold General Aluminum accountable for failing to comply with safety and health requirements until the company takes action and demonstrates it is serious about preventing debilitating injuries and saving lives," Donovan added.

In addition to the absence of guarding on the mold machinery, OSHA identified problems with machine guarding and a lack of protective procedures throughout the Conneaut facility. Inspectors also found General Aluminum provided workers with insufficient personal protective equipment, including face shields and aprons, and exposed workers to electrical hazards.

Company management signed formal settlement agreements to resolve OSHA citations for machine guarding and lockout/tagout violations found during inspections conducted between 2015 and 2017 and hired a third-party consultant to conduct comprehensive machine guarding and lockout/tagout audits between 2017 and 2019. The audits identified specific machine guarding and lockout/tagout program deficiencies and provided recommendations the company failed to fully implement.

Founded in 1943, General Aluminum Mfg. Co. produces engineered automotive castings. The company employs about 1,200 workers nationwide and 180 employees at the Conneaut location. Owned by Park Ohio Holdings Corp. in Cleveland, the company also has locations in Ravenna and Wapakoneta, and in Freemont and Huntington, Indiana.

November 8, 2021

Texas hotel operator agrees to pay back wages, damages to worker fired after reporting unsafe work conditions, seeking medical help. All Seasons Hospitality and Investments LLC, owner will pay $7,450 to whistleblower

HOUSTON – All Seasons Hospitality and Investments LLC and owner Tanvir Shahmohd, operator of a Houston-area hotel, has agreed to pay an employee back wages and damages following a U.S. Department of Labor whistleblower investigation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated a January 2019 incident in which the employee told the employer their concerns about carbon monoxide exposure in the workplace. The employee also told the employer they felt ill and requested medical attention, but the employer refused to call an ambulance. The employee was terminated after they went to the hospital.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas signed a consent judgment on Nov. 5 in which the company and owner will pay $3,750 in back wages and $3,700 in compensatory damages to the former employee of Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Waller.

“All Seasons Hospitality and Investments LLC and owner Tanvir Shahmohd ignored an employee’s concerns for their health and safety,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Eric S. Harbin in Dallas. “Employees have the right to report unsafe working conditions and seek medical care without the fear of losing their job and other retaliation. Our investigation, litigation and court’s decision upheld these protections.”

In addition to back wages and damages, the court prohibits the employer from violating provisions of Section 11(c) and requires the company to provide a neutral work reference. The company must also distribute the OSHA fact sheet, Filing Whistleblower Complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act of 1970, to all current and future employees hired through October 2023.

“When employers retaliate against their workers for seeking necessary medical treatment, the U.S. Department of Labor will work vigorously to secure the appropriate legal redress for workers,” said Dallas Regional Solicitor of Labor John Rainwater. “The department is dedicated to ensuring safe and healthful working conditions as the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires.”

October 20, 2021

US Department of Labor proposes $38,620 in fines for Illinois healthcare facility where workers were not fully protected from coronavirus hazards. Follow-up inspection determines respiratory protection improperly used

BYRON, IL – An inspection at a Byron rehabilitation and post-acute care facility found the healthcare facility did not comply with federal respiratory protection requirements in the facility’s quarantine area and failed to protect workers from coronavirus hazards.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Generations at Neighbors LLC failed to implement critical elements of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program for Coronavirus and the Emergency Temporary Standard for Health Care. The Aug. 10 inspection cited four serious health violations and led OSHA to propose $38,620 in penalties.

OSHA concluded that Generations at Neighbors – operator of six similar facilities in Illinois and Indiana – did not ensure its coronavirus prevention plan included policies and procedures to minimize the risk of transmission for each employee. The agency found the healthcare facility failed to ensure proper use of respiratory protection, conduct thorough hazard assessments, maintain social distancing and physical barriers, and determine employees’ vaccination status.

“Improper use of respirators in a healthcare facility where an outbreak of coronavirus could lead to a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and potential death could have serious consequences for the health of employees,” said OSHA Area Director Jacob Scott in Naperville, Illinois. “After more than a year of fighting this pandemic, employers need to ensure every precaution is taken to minimize workers’ risk of exposure.”

Owned by Lincolnwood-based Generations Healthcare Network, Generations at Neighbors operates rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities in Des Plaines, Elmwood Park, Matteson, Niles and Rock Island, Illinois, and in Auburn, Indiana.

September 14, 2021

US Department of Labor cites Foundation Food Group Inc. $154,674 in penalties for exposing workers to safety hazards. March 11 ammonia leak happened 42 days after January incident killed 6 workers

GAINESVILLE, GA – On Jan. 28, 2021, an uncontrolled release of liquid nitrogen at a Gainesville poultry processing facility claimed the lives of six workers. Less than two months later, workers were again subjected to a chemical release at the plant, after an ammonia leak on March 11.

A U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation identified 23 safety and health violations at the facility. OSHA cited Foundation Food Group Inc. for exposing workers to dermal and respiratory hazards associated with the potential unexpected release of anhydrous ammonia and for failing to install a system that protected employees.

In addition, OSHA found Foundation Food Group failed to:

    Guard horizontal shafts on conveyors, which exposed workers to caught-in hazards.
    Provide adequate training and ensure workers used locks to isolate hazardous energy while servicing conveyors.
    Label electrical breakers, cover unused openings in electrical boxes, and use electrical devices as designed, which exposed workers to electrical-shock hazards.
    Provide fall protection while working from equipment at heights over 4 feet.
    Require employees use eye protection while working with compressed air.
    Provide adequate hearing protection, testing, and training for employees exposed to high levels of noise.
    Maintain drainage in areas of wet processes, exposing employees to slip hazards.

The agency proposed $154,674 in penalties.

"There is no situation where employees should be expected to risk serious injury or death, especially on the heels of a tragic incident that took the lives of six co-workers," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. "Foundation Food Group has again flouted their responsibility to assess workplace hazards and ensure measures are taken to protect employees. This is unacceptable and OSHA will continue its mission to hold employers accountable."

August 26, 2021

Judge upholds US Department of Labor citations, $145K in penalties for Denver contractor that ignored safety requirements repeatedly Premier Roofing LLC exposed employees, subcontractors to fall hazards

DENVER – A federal administrative law judge has upheld citations and penalties against a Denver roofing contractor for ignoring federal requirements to protect workers and subcontractors repeatedly from the risk of workplace falls – the leading cause of injury and death in the construction industry.

An administrative law judge with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission granted the U.S. Department of Labor's request for summary judgment after an April 2019 federal safety and health inspection found Premier Roofing LLC failed to conduct site safety inspections and repeatedly exposed its employees and workers of M&M General Construction LLC, a subcontractor, to fall hazards at a large Aurora roofing project. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued repeat citations to both companies.

While M&M settled its penalties in 2019, Premier Roofing LLC later contested its citations to the commission. On Aug. 6, the judge affirmed Premier Roofing's serious citation for failing to conduct safety inspections and its repeat citation for lack of fall protection. The court also ordered the company to pay $145,858 in penalties that OSHA levied.

"Exposing workers to fall hazards is an all-too-common violation in the roofing industry," said OSHA Area Director Chad Vivian in Englewood, Colorado. "Premier Roofing has repeatedly put its workers at serious risk at its jobsites. Employers have a responsibility to inspect their worksites for hazards, train their employees to recognize and correct hazards, and enforce safety rules on the job."

"Although Premier had a safety program requiring employees to wear fall protection while working at heights, it still allowed its employees to work on roofs without wearing any such protection, while also ignoring numerous similar violations by its subcontractor. Contractors have an obligation to take steps to protect their workers, and those of their subcontractors. A safety program is useless if it sits on a shelf gathering dust," said U.S. Department of Labor Regional Solicitor John Rainwater in Denver.

July 20, 2021

Bergen County roofing contractor violates agreement to protect its workers, faces more than $600K in penalties. Janiec Roofing Inc. ignores 2020 OSHA settlement agreement

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ – A Bergen County contractor who agreed to make safety improvements after federal safety inspections in 2019 identified nine violations with proposed penalties of $121,687 has instead violated its settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor. Following inspections in 2020 and 2021, the company now faces $600,741 in penalties for 10 more violations.

On Nov. 13, 2020, Janiec Roofing Inc. of Lodi entered into a settlement agreement with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after two 2019 inspections identified significant infractions related to fall protection and other safety issues. The company agreed to establish a comprehensive written safety and health program, provide training to managers and workers and create daily safety checklists to identify and remove any hazards.

OSHA’s follow-up inspection in 2021 determined that Janiec Roofing failed to comply with the agreement and continued to expose workers to dangerous safety hazards. The agency proposed an additional $180,220 in penalties and cited the company with one failure-to-abate violation for not complying with the settlement agreement terms and not submitting documentation required to show compliance.

Prior to the follow-up inspection, OSHA conducted two other inspections of Janiec Roofing as part of the agency’s Regional Emphasis Program for fall hazards in construction. In December 2020, inspectors found employees working on a residential roof project in Paramus without proper fall protection. In January 2021, OSHA visited a Janiec work site in Saddle Brook where inspectors identified unsafe use of ladders and failures to ensure that workers used head, eye and fall protection. These two inspections resulted in two willful, four repeat and three serious citations and $420,521 in penalties.

“Janiec Roofing’s failure to honor its agreement with OSHA and knowingly put workers at risk of serious injuries or worse is inexcusable,” said OSHA Area Director Lisa Levy in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. “Intentional disregard of federal law will not be tolerated and OSHA will not hesitate to hold employers accountable when they ignore their legal responsibility and jeopardize the well-being of their hard-working employees.”

June 28, 2021

US Department of Labor sues Pennsylvania manufacturing company, owner for firing employee in retaliation for reporting safety concerns Midvale Paper Box Co., David Frank terminated worker who requested safety gloves

PLAINS TOWNSHIP, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a Luzerne County paper products manufacturing company and its owner after they fired a worker for raising safety concerns and asking several times for safety gloves to operate a shredder and baler. Prior to the employee suffering injury while operating the machine, their supervisor denied multiple requests for protective equipment.

The department filed a lawsuit against Midvale Paper Box Co. Inc. and owner David Frank in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Scranton.

On Oct. 5, 2017, a compliance officer with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted a safety inspection at Midvale in response to a complaint alleging – among other things – that the company failed to provide personal protective equipment and made employees unjam machines without implementing required lockout/tagout procedures. The worker, whose hand injury occurred after the company denied the first request for safety gloves, asked twice more after the inspection but the company denied the requests.

The department alleges Midvale Paper Box Co. Inc. later terminated the worker in retaliation for multiple requests for gloves, participating in OSHA’s safety investigation and their mistaken belief that the worker filed the safety complaint that initiated the investigation.

“Employers who retaliate against workers for raising valid safety concerns are breaking the law and creating an unsafe work environment for all of their workers,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Michael Rivera in Philadelphia. “Employees have a right to a safe and healthful workplace, and must never fear that reporting their concerns will cost them their jobs.”  

The company is currently contesting citations issued because of the October 2017 OSHA inspection. The agency assessed a proposed penalty of more than $200,000 for nine workplace safety violations, including one serious, two willful and six repeat violations.

The employee filed a complaint with OSHA after their firing. OSHA concurred, concluding Midvale Paper Box Co. and David Frank violated Section 11(c)(1) of the OSH Act when they terminated the employee for engaging in protected activities.

“Retaliation against employees for engaging in protected activities will not be tolerated. We have, therefore, filed the complaint to pursue any and all legal remedies available under the act,” said Regional Solicitor Oscar L. Hampton III in Philadelphia.

The department’s complaint seeks to:

    Prohibit defendants, their officers, agents, servants and employees from violating the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the act.
    Order defendants to reinstate and pay the complainant for all past and future lost wages that resulted from the termination.
    Order defendants to post for no less than 60 days a copy of the decree entered in this case and a notice that the defendants will not discriminate against any employee for engaging in activities protected by Section 11(c) of the act.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the OSH Act and 24 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, motor vehicle safety, healthcare reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws. Learn more about OSHA’s whistleblower protections program.

May 20, 2021

US Department of Labor announces OSHA rule proposal to clarify handrail, stair rail system requirements in general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standard

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing updates in the handrail and stair rail system requirements for its general industry, Walking-Working Surfaces standard.

OSHA published a final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment in November 2016 that updated requirements for slip, trip and fall hazards. The agency has received numerous questions asking when handrails are required, and about the height requirements for handrails on stairs and stair rail systems.

This proposed rule does not reopen for discussion any of the regulatory decisions made in the 2016 rulemaking. It focuses solely on clarifying some of the requirements for handrails and stair rail systems finalized in 2016, and on providing flexibility in the transition to OSHA’s newer requirements.

April 27, 2021

OSHA cites Midwest Warehouse and Distribution System Inc. $12,288 after one employee dies, 22 sickened by coronavirus. Naperville warehouse failed to quarantine employees, implement safety measures

NAPERVILLE, IL – A few days after employees at Midwest Warehouse and Distribution System Inc. gathered in its Naperville facility breakroom for a luncheon, some workers experienced symptoms consistent with coronavirus exposure. Employees began reporting to the company that they had tested positive for the coronavirus on Oct. 27, 2020. A U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation alleges the company failed to take immediate steps to identify, inform, isolate and quarantine all potentially exposed employees.

By Nov. 9, 2020, 23 employees tested positive for the coronavirus, including one worker who died from complications on Nov. 4, 2020.

OSHA’s inspection found the company failed to follow its own internally developed controls for potential coronavirus exposure or take immediate steps to contain the outbreak. On Nov. 4, 2020, following discussions with the DuPage County Health Department, the facility closed. The agency has proposed a penalty of $12,288 for one serious violation of OSHA’s general duty clause.

“This case is a tragic reminder of the importance of fully implementing coronavirus prevention measures that include wearing face coverings, physically distancing and quarantining workers who exhibit symptoms to protect other workers from coronavirus exposure,” said OSHA Area Director Jake Scott in Naperville, Illinois.

Read about feasible and acceptable means of abatement for this hazard and OSHA’s COVID-19 information and resources.

On March 12, 2021, OSHA launched a national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on companies that put the largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus. The program also prioritizes employers that retaliate against workers for complaints about unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or for exercising other rights protected by federal law.

Based in Woodridge, Midwest Warehouse and Distribution System is a full-service logistics company servicing grocery, liquor and beverage, electronics, automotive and other industries. The company operates 15 warehouses nationwide.

March 29, 2021

OSHA cites Ohio production facility Oxford’s Schneider Electric $119,757 for exposing employees to dangerous confined space, machine, other hazards. 

OXFORD, OH – Without proper safety measures taken, gases and or vapors in a confined space may overcome a worker or a lack of oxygen may suffocate them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that from 2011-2018, there were 1,030 confined space-related workers deaths.

In response to a January 2021 complaint, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated Schneider Electric’s Oxford production facility and found machine operators and maintenance employees entered powder-coating ovens routinely without testing atmospheric conditions or securing natural gas lines and operating machine parts. By doing so, the employer exposed these workers to dangerous asphyxiation hazards and the potential for serious injuries or worse.

The company, which manufactures large busways used for power distribution, faces proposed penalties of $119,757. OSHA determined Schneider Electric exposed workers to multiple safety and health hazards by failing to designate the ovens as permit-required confined spaces that require specific safety procedures before entry. The employer also failed to isolate natural gas lines and mechanical energy – a process known as lockout/tagout – to the ovens during maintenance procedures. OSHA cited the company for 11 serious violations of health and safety standards.

“Confined spaces often expose workers to atmospheric and mechanical hazards,” said OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery in Cincinnati. “OSHA has specific regulations for implementing required training and safety procedures to protect workers who must enter confined spaces, including atmospheric testing and ensuring equipment and energy sources are disabled before workers enter these spaces.”

OSHA also found the company:

    Did not have an adequate respiratory protection program – including fit training and medical surveillance – for employees required to wear respirators when working with the dust collectors.
    Failed to train employees on the hazards of the powder coat used on the products.
    Allowed epoxy powder coat to accumulate on surfaces exposing workers to methyl imidazole, a potential skin, eye and lung irritant.
    Exposed employees working on top of the ovens to fall hazards of up to 20 feet, by failing to provide fall protection.
    Lacked employee training on safety and health hazards in the facility and required safety procedures.

Based in Andover, Massachusetts, Schneider Electric United States employs more than 150,000 workers nationwide and 250 at the Oxford facility.

February 23, 2021

OSHA cites Missouri auto parts manufacturer $15,604 for failing to implement, enforce coronavirus protections as exposure leads to press operator’s death  
Federal guidance, county mandate not followed at Peterson Manufacturing’s Grandview site

GRANDVIEW, MO – Two machine operators at a Grandview auto parts manufacturer who jointly operated a press tested positive for the coronavirus just two days apart, in late August 2020. The two workers typically labored for hours at a time less than two feet apart; neither wore a protective facial mask consistently. Ten days later, two more workers operating similar presses together tested positive. On Sept. 19, 2020, one of the press operators fell victim to the virus and died.

In an investigation that followed, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Peterson Manufacturing – operating as Maxi-Seal Harness Systems Inc. – under OSHA’s general duty clause for failing to maintain safe working conditions. At least six employees of the Grandview plant have tested positive for the virus.

The company faces one serious and one other-than-serious violation, and proposed penalties totaling $15,604. As part of the investigation, OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing determined, with a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the deceased employee contracted the virus while on the job.

“Maxi-Seal Harness Systems failed to fully implement and enforce the use of feasible controls for employees to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” said OSHA Area Director Karena Lorek in Kansas City. “We found that the company failed to implement use of face masks and social distancing properly throughout the workplace until after the death of an employee.”

OSHA has established coronavirus guidelines and resources for keeping workers safe and healthy on the job.

December 23, 2020

OSHA Announces $3,697,121 in Coronavirus Violations

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic through Dec. 17, 2020, OSHA has issued citations arising from 278 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,697,121.

November 27, 2020

OSHA Announces $3,301,932 in Coronavirus Violations

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 244 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,301,932.

October 30, 2020

OSHA Announces $2,025,431 In Coronavirus Violations

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Oct. 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited 144 establishments for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $2,025,431.

OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to:

    Implement a written respiratory protection program;
    Provide a medical evaluation, respirator fit test, training on the proper use of a respirator and personal protective equipment;
    Report an injury, illness or fatality;
    Record an injury or illness on OSHA recordkeeping forms; and
    Comply with the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

OSHA has already announced citations relating to COVID-19 to 112 establishments.

September 16, 2020

July 9, 2020

June 15, 2020

“Employers are required to assess potential hazards, and make necessary corrections to ensure a safe workplace,” said OSHA Jacksonville Area Office Director Michelle Gonzalez. “The violations identified put workers at risk for serious or fatal injuries.” 

April 23, 2020

April 1, 2020

March 30, 2020

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February 28, 2020

February 20, 2020

January 17, 2020

"Implementing comprehensive safety and health programs that include steps for identifying and eliminating hazards protects workers, and can help prevent injuries and illnesses," saidOSHA Area Director William Fulcher, in Atlanta-East. 

December 6, 2019

DOL fines Dollar Tree Stores Inc. for Exposing Employees to Exit and Storage Hazards

 October 29, 2019

 October 11, 2019

 October 3, 2019

 September 30, 2019   

 September 25, 2019

September 13, 2019

August 20, 2019

In Lake Barrington, IL, cited Five Star Roofing Systems Incorporated which is based in Hartford City, Indiana, for exposing employees to fall hazards while performing roofing work at a commercial building site in Lake Barrington, Illinois.
OSHA inspectors cited the company for willful, repeated, and serious safety violations for failing to provide head, eye, face and fall protection and for failing to designate a safety monitor.

“This company has violated required safety standards repeatedly and placed employees at risk for serious injuries,” said OSHA’s Chicago North Area Director Angeline Loftus. “Employers must develop and implement safety procedures on every jobsite to ensure that employees are protected from falls and other workplace safety hazards.” 

August 15, 2019

In Buffalo, NY, Arbre Group Holding dba Holli-Pac Incorporated was cited for willful and serious violations of workplace health and safety standards at its facility.
OSHA inspectors found the company exposed employees to laceration and amputation hazards related to a package filler machine. OSHA also cited the company for failing to train employees on hazardous chemicals in the workplace and ensure employees wore appropriate eye and face protection.

“Employers that do not comply with the law will see full and fair enforcement,” said OSHA’s Buffalo Area Director Michael Scime. “Maintaining a safe workplace involves employers regularly conducting analyses to find and fix hazards, and training workers to recognize those hazards before they cause injury or illness.” 

August 8, 2019

In pleasantville, NJ, Paris Produce Incorporated faces fines for failing to correct workplace hazards identified during a previous investigation at the wholesale supplier’s facility.
OSHA initiated a follow-up inspection after Paris Produce Incorporated failed to respond to citations previously issued. During the follow-up visit, OSHA inspectors found two failure-to-abate violations for allowing employees to operate forklifts without proper training, and failing to develop and implement a hazard communication program for employees using chemicals for cleaning and sanitation.

“By failing to fix previously cited hazards, Paris Produce continues to expose employees to preventable workplace safety and health hazards, which is unacceptable,” said OSHA Area Director Paula Dixon-Roderick, in Marlton, New Jersey. 

July 22, 2019

In Norcross, GA, Transdev Services Incorporated faces penalties in the form of fines for exposing employees at a Norcross, Georgia worksite to safety and health hazards.
OSHA cited Transdev Services for obstructing access to emergency eyewash and shower stations designed to minimize the effects of employee exposure to corrosive chemicals. OSHA also cited the company for failing to ensure to label hazardous chemicals; provide training on hazardous chemicals and incipient stage firefighting and fire extinguisher use.

“Employers have a legal duty to continuously identify and eliminate safety and health hazards at their work sites,” said OSHA Atlanta-East Area Director William Fulcher. “OSHA’s safety and health standards are in place to ensure that employees can make it home to their families after work each day.” 

July 15, 2019

In Pryor, OK, HE&M Incorporated, a Pryor, Oklahoma-based metalworking band saw manufacturer, was fined by OSHA for exposing employees to fall, machine guarding, struck-by, and electrical hazards.
OSHA initiated a safety inspection of the facility after the company submitted OSHA 300A injury and illness information that showed a higher-than-average injury rate. The inspection identified 19 serious violations and one other-than-serious violation.

“Employers are legally obligated to address hazards immediately, as well as identify and correct injury hazards in their facility,” said OSHA Area Director Steven Kirby, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

June 24, 2019

In Lawrenceville, GA, Woodgrain Millwork Company has been fined $125,466 for exposing employees to chemical and struck-by hazards at the company’s distribution facility.
OSHA cited the wood molding, window, and door distributor for failing to provide employees with eye, face and hand protection to prevent exposure to chemical injuries, and provide a functioning eyewash station for employees handling corrosive chemicals.

“An employer’s obligation to provide a safe workplace includes supplying workers with personal protective equipment to protect them from identified hazards,” said OSHA Atlanta-East Area Director William Fulcher. “Employers are required to correct hazards before they cause injury or illness.” 

June 18, 2019

In Auburn Alabama, automobile parts manufacturer Donghee Alabama LLC and also 2 staffing agencies (J & C Enterprise LLC and Jian Enterprise LLC) collectively received fines of $145,438 for exposing employees to safety hazards.
Donghee Alabama LLC was cited for willfully exposing employees to caught-in and crushed-by hazards by requiring them to operate machines with non-functioning safety laser scanners. The scanners are designed to prevent employees from placing their bodies inside dangerous zones during the operating cycle.

"Hazards associated with the auto parts manufacturing industry are a source of serious injuries and fatalities to workers," said OSHA Acting Area Director Jose Gonzalez, in Mobile, Alabama. "Employers are required by law to comply with lockout/tagout and machine guarding standards to protect workers who operate equipment."

June 1, 2019

OSHA issued 22 citations to Kumho Tire Georgia, Inc., Sae Joong Mold, Inc., and J-Brothers, Inc. from a follow-up inspection that found health and safety hazards at the tire manufacturing facility in Macon, GA. Collectively, the three companies are facing $523,895 in fines.

J-Brothers Inc. was cited for exposing employees to smoke inhalation and burn hazards by failing to mount portable fire extinguishers and failing to perform annual maintenance on fire extinguishers.

“Potential workplace hazards must be assessed and eliminated to ensure a safe work environment,” said OSHA Atlanta-East Area Director William Fulcher. “This employer exposed workers to multiple safety and health deficiencies that put them at risk for serious or fatal injuries.”
 

May 24, 2019

OSHA cited Custom Rubber Products LLC, operating in Houston, Texas, for not properly guarding machinery and exposing employees to severe injury. The company is facing $530,392 in fines which is the maximum penalty allowed by law.

“Employers are required to assess potential hazards, and make necessary corrections to ensure a safe workplace,” said OSHA’s Acting Regional Administrator in Dallas Eric S. Harbin. “The inspection results demonstrate workplace deficiencies existed putting workers at serious risk of injury.”

May 6, 2019

OSHA cited 7 S Packing LLC, doing business as Texas Packing Company in San Angelo, Texas, for exposing workers to hazardous chemicals. The company is facing $615,640 in fines.

OSHA found the meat-packing facility did not implement the required Process Safety Management (PSM) program to operate an ammonia refrigeration unit containing over 10,000 lbs. of anhydrous ammonia. The employer also failed to:
-Provide fall protection, guard machines and equipment
-Control hazardous energy
-Implement a respiratory protection program.
 

April 30, 2019

The US DOL Investigation found that the Fort Worth, Texas Storage Tank Manufacturing facility exposed employees toserious workplace hazards and has fined Molding Acquisition Corporation, doing business as Rotoplas, $281,108. OSHA cited the Merced, CA based manufacturer of polyethylene storage tanks for 10 serious and two willful violations for exposing employees to fall hazards and also for not:
-Inspecting cranes
-Providing employees with forklift training
-Implement lockout/tagout procedures to prevent amputations.

In addition to OSHA Compliant training and certification with online record keeping, Bloodborne Pathogens Training, Inc. offers an Exposure Control Plan template that allows organizations to create a custom plan in minutes.

The 2019 Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan Topics Include:

• Program Responsibilities with workers identified as responsible for each step
• Universal Precautions, Exposure Determination & Communication of Hazards
• Work Practice Controls and Methods of Compliance
• Hepatitis B Vaccination
• Medical Follow Up

Bloodborne Pathogens Training offers supplies for your Bloodborne Pathogens program. Use the Contact us form to send us your list of required supplies and we will reply with a competitive quote. We also offer a free consultation and can recommend on-site supplies based on your industry.  

April 4, 2019

March 6, 2019

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November 27, 2018

October 25, 2018

 

August 3, 2018

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December 27, 2017

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November 23, 2015

"Tanks and pits can be dangerous or fatal for workers lacking proper training and protection," said Larry Johnson, director of OSHA's Lansing Area Office. "Like private employers, federal agencies must correct safety and health deficiencies immediately. Failing to do so is inexcusable." 

 

 

 

March 16, 2011

February 22, 2011

January 31, 2011

December 29, 2010

Hospitals seeing red, as in more bloodborne pathogens violations

 October 12th, 2011

                 OSHA has hit hospitals with more and higher fines for bloodborne pathogens violations compared to last year, according to October issue of Briefings on Infection Control. The report uses data from the OSHA Office of Management System, from July 2010 through June 2011. Here is an excerpt.

                 OSHA has been busier this year than last year in handing out bloodborne pathogens violations to hospitals. Not only have the number of violations increased, but the average fine amount has also jumped.

                Every year, HCPro’s OSHA Healthcare Advisor acquires a detailed report of citations by standard for various types of healthcare facilities from the OSHA Office of Management Systems. This year’s data covers all federal and state citations from July 2010 through June 2011.

                During that time, OSHA issued 575 violations referencing the Bloodborne Pathogens standard for general medical and surgical, psychiatric, and specialty hospitals, an increase of 30% from last year.

                 Average OSHA fines also increased. Hospitals averaged $630 per bloodborne pathogens violation compared to last year’s average fine of $477.

October 5, 2010

September 21, 2010

August 26, 2010

July 26, 2010

June 1, 2010

February 4, 2010

OSHA proposes $59,250 in penalties against C&W Industries for willful and serious safety and health violations.

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA is proposing $59,250 in penalties against C&W Industries in Union Springs, Alabama for health and safety violations.

OSHA started its inspection August of 2009 after receiving a complaint of a number of deficiencies at the plant including unguarded machinery that exposes workers to amputation hazards. Other complaints included insufficient training and certification for forklift operators, and deficiencies in the plants fire prevention system.

OSHA cited the company with one willful safety violation with a $38,500 penalty for failing to protect workers from caught-in and amputation hazards while cleaning, changing dies and performing maintenance on press machines. The inspection revealed the employer had failed to implement lockout tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up despite being aware of its obligation to institute such a program.

"Workers should not have to risk amputations in order to earn a paycheck," said Kurt Petermeyer, director of OSHA's Mobile Area Office. "Company management was aware of the requirements to establish a lockout program and did not take action."

January 27, 2010

US Labor Department's OSHA is proposing $133,875 in penalties against Atlanta stone countertop manufacturer for health hazards

Atlanta Intown Granite is being cited for failing to correct previous violations.

 

U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, otherwise known as OSHA, has cited Atlanta Intown Granite Company in Atlanta for continuing to expose its employees to health hazards for over a year after OSHA cited the company for similar violations.

OSHA proposes $133,875 in penalties against the company for exposing workers to excess amounts of silica by not fully implementing a respiratory protection program, failing to fully implement a hearing conservation program and failing to establish a written hazard communication program on exposure to hazardous substances.

Exposure to silica can lead to silicosis, a disabling, nonreversible and potentially fatal lung disease. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that each year more than 250 people die from and hundreds more are disabled by silicosis.

"Silica and noise exposure remain serious hazards to employees at work, but both hazards are 100 percent preventable if employers fully implement protection programs," said Andre Richards, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office.

 

December 10, 2009

The US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes more than $266,000 in penalties against Tucker, Georgia manufacturer following worker amputations

Crespac, Inc. is cited with willful, repeat and serious health and safety violations

Crespac Inc. has been cited with 34 health and safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA. Proposed penalties total $266,400.

"OSHA began its comprehensive safety and health inspection after learning of two separate incidents resulting in amputations within a 30-day period," said Gei-Thae Breezley, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "In both instances, management knew of deficiencies but acted with plain indifference by failing to correct the problems in a timely manner that could have prevented these amputations."

OSHA is citing Crespac, Inc. Four repeat, three willful, 19 serious and one other-than-serious safety violations, and also five serious and 2 other-than-serious health violations. OSHA is proposing an additional $17,200 for the health violations in addition to the $249,200 for the safety violations.

November 12, 2009

OSHA proposes fines of $509,000 against Cranesville Aggregate for significant hazards at its Scotia, New York bagging plant

Cranesville Aggregate Co. doing business as Scotia Bag Plant, Scotia in New York faces $509,000 in total of proposed fines by the DOL's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The plant which bags cement and asphalt has been cited for 33 alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of workplace Health and safety standards following thorough OSHA inspections over the past six months.

"The significant fines proposed here reflect the breadth and gravity of hazards found at this plant, their recurring nature and this employer's knowledge," said acting Assistant Secretary for OSHA Jordan Barab.

"Workers have been needlessly exposed to potentially disabling or fatal respiratory illness, falls, crushing injuries, burns, lacerations, amputation and electrocution," added Edward Jerome, OSHA's area director in Albany. "This employer needs to take effective and ongoing corrective action to protect the health and safety of these workers."

October 23, 2009

OSHA proposes $254,000 in fines for lead hazards at Franklin, New Hampshire foundry

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Franklin Non-Ferrous Foundry, Inc. for 17 alleged willful, serious violations of workplace health & safety standards.

The Franklin, N.H., foundry faces $254,000 in fines after comprehensive OSHA inspections began in April.

"Chief among the hazards identified in the foundry are inadequate or absent protections for workers whose duties expose them to airborne concentrations of lead," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's area director in New Hampshire. "Lead is a subtle and insidious hazard that can seriously damage the blood-forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive systems. This reality makes it imperative that employers monitor their workers' lead exposure levels, provide effective respiratory protection and promptly remove workers from exposure when necessary."

OSHA determined the foundry didn’t provide required biological monitoring for workers exposed to lead, and that they did not properly fit-test or make sure adequate respiratory protection was provided for those workers. Required benefits were also not provide for workers medically removed from work from lead overexposure.

September 9, 2009

OSHA proposes $91,275 in penalties against Griffin Industries rendering plant in Starke, Florida.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected a Griffin Industries site in Starke, Florida, citing it with one willful violation and a $55,000 proposed penalty for not providing workers with fall protection when working above an industrial blender. A willful violation is defined as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. A repeat violation is also issued with a $25,000 proposed penalty for the company's continuing failure to conduct an annual audit of its lockout tagout of energy source procedures for equipment. A repeat citation is issued when the employer has been previously cited for a substantially similar hazard in the past three years.

Other violations with proposed penalties totaling $11,275 are for not shutting down equipment during clearing operations, failing to anchor a machine, not providing a lock to lock-out equipment, and not covering a floor hole.

Serious violations are issued in situations when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard that the employer knew or should have known. Other-than-serious violations are defined as situations where exposure cannot reasonably be predicted to cause death or serious physical harm to employees but the violation would have a direct impact on the employee health or safety.

Griffin Industries c, based in Cold Spring, Kentucky, collects and recycles agricultural waste, meat and poultry by-products, grocery scraps, restaurant grease and waste from the bakery industry.

"Fall hazards continue to be a leading cause of employee deaths in the workplace and should never be overlooked in any industry," said OSHA's area director in Jacksonville, Florida, James Borders.

An estimated 385,000 sharps-related injuries occur annually among health care workers in hospitals alone, exposing them to bloodborne pathogens. A new initiative focuses on raising awareness of the risks and trying to persuade workers to make changes necessary to reduce sharps injuries.

Stop Sticks is a community-based program announced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are among the bloodborne pathogens that can result from needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries in the workplace.

While operating room and emergency department personnel are especially at risk, clinical and nonclinical health care workers and health care administrators in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, and home health care agencies also may be exposed. NIOSH says the first step to reducing the risk is making health care workers aware of the magnitude of the problem.

According to the Exposure Prevention Information Network, sharps-related injuries in nonsurgical hospital settings decreased more than 31 percent from 2001 to 2006 following the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000. But surgical settings saw an increase in injuries of more than 6 percent during the same time period, where adoption of safety devices was limited compared to the nonsurgical settings.

The network also says about half of sharps injuries go unreported. The idea of the campaign is to raise awareness of the problem and encourage changes in organizations' safety cultures and the use of safer sharps devices and practices.

"Safer sharps devices have engineering controls that are built into the product and prevent sharps injuries," according to NIOSH. "Safer sharps devices come in various types -- from devices that contain a protective shield over the needle to those that do not use a needle at all, and includes sharps containers. All traditional devices have safer alternatives that are highly effective in substantially reducing injuries."