A Texas newspaper takes a look at how the $118,300 OSHA fine for the West Fertilizer explosion stacks up against those for other catastrophic workplace incidents. Its conclusion: OSHA fines aren’t proportional to loss of life. The Dallas Morning News analyzed OSHA’s 56,800 inspections since 2001. The paper noted the West, Texas, explosion that killed …
Tag: OSHA updates
Top 5 Compliance Issues OSHA Will Focus In For Remainder Of 2013
An industry contact recently asked me what five issues I expected OSHA would be focusing its enforcement efforts on for the balance of this year. Here was my response: 1. Emergency Exits & Exit Routes – A couple of months ago, OSHA issued an enforcement memorandum directing inspectors to scrutinize whether employers were providing and …
Alberta to fine workers for Safety Violations: Should the U.S do that?
Is this a good idea? A Canadian province is about to enact a new workplace safety law that would allow inspectors to issue fines to workers for violations. Penalties could be substantial for repeat offenders. Starting Jan. 1, 2014, the province of Alberta will allow its Occupational Health and Safety Officers (inspectors) to ticket workers …
Promoting safety vs. punishing violators: A tale of 2 federal agencies
For the second time this year, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) finds itself in a spat with another government agency about the ability to perform its mission. This time, it’s up against the EPA. The massive fire at the Chevron refinery 10 miles northeast of San Francisco, CA, on Aug. 6, 2012, is at …
OSHA Fines AT&T After Technician Was Robbed and Killed
Federal officials have cited AT&T in the death of a worker last year in Gladstone and proposed a $7,000 penalty against the company. The citation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleges AT&T failed to ensure that Kevin Mashburn had a way to readily summon assistance after he was assaulted during a robbery while …
OSHA proposes nearly $43,000 in fines against North Haven, Conn., firearms manufacturer
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Widespread machine guarding and lockout/tagout hazards at a North Haven, Conn., manufacturer of small firearms has resulted in $42,850 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Marlin Firearms Co. has been cited for a total of 24 alleged serious and other-than-serious violations of …
OSHA proposes nearly $380,000 in penalties against Gainesville, Ga., poultry processor for willful and serious violations
ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing $379,800 in penalties against Mar-Jac Poultry Inc. for safety and health violations at its Gainesville, Ga., facility. The company is being cited with four willful violations with a proposed penalty of $252,000 for failing to update its hazard analysis in …
OSHA cites Union Drilling for workplace safety and health hazards
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Union Drilling Inc. for alleged workplace safety and health violations found at a New Salem, Pa., worksite. Penalties proposed total $54,600. OSHA initiated its investigation on May 18 as part of its local emphasis program on oil and gas …
OSHA fines Tamaqua, Pa., company for workplace safety and health violations
TAMAQUA, Pa. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Trans Western Polymers Inc. for workplace safety and health violations with proposed fines totaling $49,500. As a result of an investigation, the company was cited a willful citation with a penalty of $49,500 for points of operation not being …