October 13, 2011 by Jim Burger
OSHA says it’s trying to level the playing field with new rules for residential construction. But some builders say the new rules are having the opposite effect: They’re tilting the field in such a way that cheaters are prospering, and those who comply are in danger of falling over the edge.
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October 12, 2011 by Jim Burger
Like Sammy Hagar, you may not be able to drive 55. But no matter how quickly you’d like to get where you’re going, chances are you’ll stay well under 100 the next time you’re on the open road. The question is why.
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August 11, 2011 by Fred Hosier
Should the federal government use a plea agreement reached in connection with a Colorado worker’s death as a template for similar cases involving fatalities?
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Tags: asphyxiation, engulfed by grain, Safety training, Tempel Grain Elevator, victim's family
August 9, 2011 by Fred Hosier
The U.S. debt agreement will force lawmakers to make tough decisions on where to cut government spending. OSHA is one senator’s target.
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Tags: government spending, OSHA budget, OSHA penalties, OSHA target, Sen. Tom Coburn, Susan Harwood Grants, Voluntary Protection Program
July 12, 2011 by Fred Hosier
An eight-month investigation reveals 80 employee deaths at companies in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) between 2000 and 2008. What may be even more shocking: 65% of these companies have maintained their VPP status.
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Tags: Center for Public Integrity, David Michaels, Government Accountability Office, Voluntary Protection Program, VPP
June 20, 2011 by Fred Hosier
No secret: OSHA administrator David Michaels would rather focus more on enforcement than employer assistance. But surprisingly, recent stats show the agency is still managing to do both.
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Tags: American Society of Safety Engineers, OSHA assistance, OSHA enforcement, Voluntary Protection Program
April 21, 2011 by Fred Hosier
Imagine this scenario: Your facility is inspected by state or federal OSHA. The agency issues citations. Your company decides to appeal. Should you be required to correct the hazards while the case is under appeal?
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Tags: abate hazards, appeal citation, Labor & Industries, serious violation, Washington state
February 21, 2011 by Fred Hosier
A lot of debate will occur between this week’s announcement of President Obama’s proposed budget, including funding for OSHA, and the start of the new federal fiscal year on Oct. 1. Forget about that debate for now. Instead, take a look at what OSHA plans to do with its funding, especially if you own a small business.
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Tags: enforcement, inspections, OSHA budget, severe violators, small business
January 14, 2011 by Fred Hosier
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has issued an important decision that will help determine what is and what isn’t a repeat OSHA violation.
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Tags: Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, OSHA, repeat violation
January 4, 2011 by Fred Hosier
Authorities have arrested the former and current owner of a St. Louis, MO, business for failing to comply with court orders to pay more than a quarter of a million dollars in OSHA fines.
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Tags: failure to pay OSHA fines, fall protection, owners arrested, scaffolding
June 15, 2010 by Jim Burger
OSHA has an explicit new message for the millions of workers who participate in the agency’s outreach training program: We’re on your side.
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Tags: David Michaels, Injuries, OSHA
February 22, 2010 by Fred Hosier
In the first year of the Obama administration, OSHA was busy handing out fines the likes of which hadn’t been seen for eight years. Here’s our rundown of 10 significant fines from the last 12 months, and what they mean for businesses:
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Tags: BP, Obama administration, OSHA fines, prison time, top 10
February 10, 2010 by Fred Hosier
The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association has a message for its members and anyone else interested in OSHA compliance assistance: Don’t worry, it isn’t going anywhere.
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Tags: David Michaels, Hilda Solis, OSHA compliance assistance, VPP, VPPA
November 4, 2009 by Fred Hosier
As new labor and safety leaders in the Obama administration have shown they would like to require companies to address ergonomics for employees, support for government regulation comes from a safety and health organization.
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Tags: AIHA, ergonomics, Jordan Barab, musculoskeletal disorders
November 2, 2009 by Fred Hosier
OSHA has proposed $87.43 million in fines against BP for the company’s failure to correct hazards uncovered after the 2005 explosion at its Texas City, TX, plant that killed 15 people and injured 170 others.
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Tags: 2005 explosion, BP, largest OSHA fine, Texas City plant
October 30, 2009 by Fred Hosier
October 22, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Now that OSHA is keeping an eye out for incentive programs that discourage workers from reporting injuries, what can you do to encourage safe practices?
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Tags: encourage safe practices, incentive programs, report injuries
October 21, 2009 by Fred Hosier
The construction industry knows it’s a frequent OSHA target. Now we know that darkness won’t keep OSHA inspectors from their rounds.
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Tags: construction, night construction, silica
October 20, 2009 by Fred Hosier
A restaurant faces a $50,604 fine in the death of a 17-year-old employee who was parking cars. But this fine wasn’t from OSHA.
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Tags: child labor, death of 17-year-old, FLSA, parking valet death
October 13, 2009 by Fred Hosier
OSHA has fined a waste processing company $207,800 after an investigation prompted by a fatality at the facility.
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Tags: fatality investigation, OSHA citation, rescue team
October 7, 2009 by Fred Hosier
It’s long been a subject of debate among safety pros: Do safety incentive programs reduce injuries, or do they encourage workers not to report when they get hurt? It seems OSHA has weighed in on the issue, buried within a directive for its inspectors.
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Tags: national emphasis program, Recordkeeping, safety incentive programs
October 6, 2009 by Fred Hosier
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is questioning President Obama’s choice to head OSHA.
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Tags: David Michaels, OSHA nominee, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
October 5, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Several business groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, have filed a lawsuit challenging OSHA’s per-employee penalty policy for safety gear violations.
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Tags: lawsuit, National Association of Manufacturers, per-employee violation, PPE, safety gear
October 2, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Imagine this: Someone finds one of your employees on the ground, conscious but incoherent, in your company’s parking lot. He dies two days later in the hospital. Cause: blunt trauma to his head. Is this death reportable to OSHA?
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Tags: blunt force trauma, OSHA reportable, parking lot, work-related employee death
October 1, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Conveyor belts and tracks too often prove to be the source of serious employee injuries. Those injuries attract OSHA’s attention and wind up as fines.
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Tags: conveyor, foot injury, repeat violation
September 30, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and OSHA interim administrator Jordan Barab have said that a new combustible dust regulation is one of their rulemaking priorities at OSHA.
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Tags: combustible dust regulation, Hilda Solis, Imperial Sugar explosion, Jordan Barab
September 24, 2009 by Fred Hosier
A retailer faces a hefty OSHA fine for exit hazards. This citation also shows how the safety agency is currently using repeat violations against businesses with multiple locations.
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Tags: exit hazards, repeat violations, Toys R Us
September 23, 2009 by Fred Hosier
September 21, 2009 by Fred Hosier
An employee of a government contractor was laid off shortly after expressing safety concerns to upper management at his company. Now OSHA is getting involved.
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Tags: Bering Sea Eccotech, Camp Pendleton Marine base, whistleblower
September 17, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Conservative and business groups are expressing their disapproval with President Obama’s choice to head OSHA. David Michaels’ past writings may be used against him at his confirmation hearing.
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Tags: Doubt is Their Product, National Association of Manufacturers, OSHA nominee David Michaels
September 15, 2009 by Fred Hosier
September 9, 2009 by Fred Hosier
California has been cracking down on farms that don’t provide outdoor workers with enough water and shade on hot days. Indoor workers can suffer from heat stress, too, but you wouldn’t expect libraries to be on the list of places with problems due to hot conditions.
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Tags: CAL-OSHA, heat stress, Oakland Public Library
September 9, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Recently, a federal agency started to gather information on why Wyoming has the highest workplace fatality rate in the nation.
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Tags: fatality rate, NIOSH, seat belts, Wyoming
September 3, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Process safety management fines are commonly tied to chemical manufacturers or refineries. But this case shows any company with refrigeration units can be hit with process safety penalties.
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Tags: anhydrous ammonia, process safety management, refrigeration
September 2, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Two executives and two companies face prison time and huge financial penalties in connection with the deaths of five workers in a workplace fire.
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Tags: RPI Coating, worker deaths, workplace fire, Xcel Energy
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