‘Bigger fines won’t make us any safer’
The head of Oregon OSHA has suggested raising fines for serious workplace safety violations. But some large companies say higher fines won’t make them any safer.
Fines
‘Callous disregard’ for safety leads to $89K OSHA fine
An Illinois roofing contractor has been cited by OSHA 19 times for fall hazards since 2006. An OSHA official said the contractor has shown “utter indifference” to the law.
‘Death trap’ warehouse agrees to pay $197K in OSHA fines
The owner of a facility OSHA called “a potential death trap,” has agreed to pay fines and upgrade its facility, two years after the agency found nearly every emergency exit door in the warehouse wasn’t usable.
‘Garbage in, garbage out’ says court about OSHA injury logs
A federal court case regarding a $900 fine against a company for omitting an injury from its OSHA 300 log has resulted in sharp criticism of OSHA’s recordkeeping standard. See if you agree with the court:
‘Serial violator’ fined $385K for hazards at construction sites
A building contractor is out $385,000 for serious fall hazards at worksites in Pennsylvania and Delaware. An OSHA official called the company a “serial violator.”
‘Worksite of horrors’ exposed workers to asbestos, lead: $700K fine
Renovations at a former New York psychiatric center exposed workers to lead and asbestos hazards, leading to a huge OSHA settlement for this real estate development company.
$1.2 million OSHA fine for hiding injuries and illnesses
OSHA fines over one-million dollars have become more common. But here’s one with a twist: It’s not for workplace hazards — it’s for recordkeeping violations.
$1.2M OSHA fine: 2 workers killed at gun powder plant
An investigation into a deadly explosion has resulted in 54 OSHA citations and fines of more than $1.2 million.
$1.3M in fines for 3 grain elevator deaths, including 2 teens
Calling the fatalities “unconscionable,” Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis has announced more than $1.3 million in fines against two companies for three employee deaths in grain elevators.
$1.4 billion fine for fatal explosion
A California agency has issued its biggest safety fine ever in connection with an explosion that killed eight people and leveled a neighborhood.
$1.6 billion (yep, with a B) penalty for fatal explosion
A California utility will pay the largest penalty ever of its type in connection with an explosion in 2010 that killed eight people. Next, regulators intend to look at the company’s overall safety culture.
$10.5M fatality settlement: Worker fell through hole into icy river
Just weeks before a trial was to start in the case, the family of a deceased worker has reached a settlement with the general contractor on a rehabilitation project.
$16 million to families of 2 teens who died in grain bin
A jury has awarded $16 million to the families of two teens who died after being engulfed in a corn bin.
$2.38 million safety fine, and it didn’t come from the feds
In a recent report, some state safety agencies came under criticism for issuing lower fines than federal OSHA. However, that’s not the case everywhere, as a $2.38 million fine against a Washington company shows.
$2.3M fine for knowingly exposing workers to asbestos
Fines added up quickly for this real estate development and management company when OSHA decided to use per-instance citations for each employee exposed to asbestos and lead. Total fine: $2,359,000.
$378K fine: OSHA says company defied safety rules
A Midwest green energy company now knows that getting caught in OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program (SVEP) results in huge fines.
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