October 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA partners with general contractor to protect workers during Little Rock, Arkansas, outlet mall construction project [10/15/2014]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The goal of a new strategic partnership formed today between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and general contractor CDI Contractors LLC is to ensure the health and safety of workers during the construction of the Little Rock Outlets Mall in Little Rock.

October 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC ordered to pay more than $225K to worker terminated after reporting injury at Kansas City, Kansas, rail yard [10/15/2014]

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC wrongfully terminated an employee in Kansas City after he reported an injury to his left shoulder, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

October 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department and Federal Communications Commission announce working group to prevent fatalities in telecommunications industry [10/14/2014]

WASHINGTON — Kathy Pierce expected her son, Chad Weller, to come home on March 19, 2014, at the end of his shift as a cell tower climber. But Weller, always ready with a smile for his mother, never came back. He was sent up alone to fix a communication signal on top of a water tower in the rain while wearing a harness two sizes too big — and he lost his life in a fatal fall. Chad Weller is one of 11 workers who have lost their lives in 2014 while constructing or repairing cell towers.

October 9, 2014

OSHA News Release: Industrial Power Systems cited for exposing workers to trench cave-ins [10/09/2014]

TOLEDO, Ohio — Two employees of Industrial Power Systems were exposed to cave-in hazards while installing steam and chill water piping for the construction of a recreation center on the University of Toledo campus. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for one willful and one serious safety violation, carrying proposed fines of $75,000.

October 9, 2014

OSHA News Release: Worker injured after being caught in machinery at Kloeckner Metals Corp. [10/09/2014]

CINCINNATI — An employee was severely injured when he became caught in unguarded arbor rollers at Kloeckner Metals Corp. on April 22, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Cincinnati manufacturing plant with one repeat and three serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $56,000.

October 9, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Haverhill Chemicals after fatal injury of an employee clearing reactor drain [10/09/2014]

HAVERHILL, Ohio — Following the death of an employee at Haverhill Chemicals LLC, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the manufacturer for 21 serious and two other-than-serious safety violations. Many of the violations involve OSHA's Process Safety Management Standards, which contain specific requirements for managing highly hazardous chemicals used in work. The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

October 9, 2014

OSHA News Release: FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. cited for machine guarding hazard at Wilmington, Massachusetts, distribution center [10/09/2014]

ANDOVER, Mass. — FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. failed to guard a conveyor belt properly at its Wilmington shipping distribution center and exposed its employees to potential injuries, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

October 9, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA launches national dialogue on hazardous chemical exposures and permissible exposure limits in the workplace [10/09/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced it is launching a national dialogue with stakeholders on ways to prevent work-related illness caused by exposure to hazardous substances. The first stage of this dialogue is a request for information on the management of hazardous chemical exposures in the workplace and strategies for updating permissible exposure limits.

October 8, 2014

OSHA News Release: Manchester, Connecticut, contractor cited for 25 serious violations at Hockanum Mill renovation site in Rockville [10/08/2014]

HARTFORD, Conn. — Manchester-based Rockville Construction LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 25 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards. The contractor, responsible for the Hockanum Mill renovations in Rockville, faces $107,100 in fines for inadequate safeguards against lead exposure, respirator deficiencies, falls and electrical hazards.

October 7, 2014

OSHA News Release: Newington, Connecticut, stair and cabinet manufacturer cited by OSHA for mechanical, chemical and fire hazards after employee amputation [10/07/2014]

HARTFORD, Conn. — West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 16 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards at its 17 Main St. manufacturing plant in Newington. This follows inspections conducted by OSHA's Hartford Area Office in response to an April 14, 2014, incident in which an employee lost parts of two fingers in an inadequately guarded machine. The manufacturer of stairs and cabinets faces $60,200 in fines.

October 7, 2014

OSHA News Release: Judge affirms citations issued for chemical and mechanical hazards at South Fallsburg, New York, chicken processing plant [10/07/2014]

NEW YORK — Citations issued to MB Consultants Ltd., doing business as Murray's Chickens, for health and safety violations were affirmed by an administrative law judge from the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, upholding an earlier decision by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The violations occurred at the company's South Fallsburg chicken processing plant.

October 7, 2014

OSHA News Release: Florida-based GP Roofing & Construction and Archer Exteriors cited for exposing workers to falls and other hazards [10/07/2014]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — GP Roofing & Construction LLC and Archer Exteriors Inc. were cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 12 safety violations for exposing workers to falls and other hazards at two residential work sites in the Whisper Dunes subdivision of Panama City Beach and at one work site in The Davenport subdivision of Panama City.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Certified Heat Treating Inc. after supervisor fatally injured at Miamisburg, Ohio, plant [10/02/2014]

MIAMISBURG, Ohio — A 48-year-old supervisor was fatally injured when he was struck by a metal door while performing maintenance at Certified Heat Treating Inc. in Miamisburg. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 10 serious violations, many involving OSHA's confined space and lockout/tagout standards for the control of machinery and moving parts.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Somerville, New Jersey, company fined $136,290 for willfully exposing workers to safety and health hazards [10/02/2014]

SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Custom-order cabinetry company Choice Cabinetry LLC exposed employees to safety and health hazards, many involving methylene chloride, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Initiated as part of its Site-Specific Targeting Program for industries with high injury and illness rates, OSHA's March 2014 inspection cited the Somerville company for 15 violations, including three willful. Proposed penalties total $136,290.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Wolcott, Connecticut, roofing contractor cited for fall hazards after fatal worker fall in Watertown, Connecticut [10/02/2014]

HARTFORD, Conn. — The death of a 28-year-old worker who fell 18 feet from a roof could have been prevented if proper fall protection safeguards had been used by M&M Roofing, of Wolcott, an inspection by the Hartford Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Struck-by vehicle incidents cause 15 percent of workplace fatalities in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska [10/02/2014]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the past five years, 15 percent of all workplace fatalities investigated by the Kansas City Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration have involved vehicle accidents that struck employees in the workplace.

October 1, 2014

OSHA News Release: New Hampshire contractor with history of safety violations exposed employees to 25-foot falls [10/01/2014]

CONCORD, N.H. — Employees of Ken Stanley, doing business as A+ Roofing, were exposed to potentially fatal falls of up to 25 feet at a Somersworth job site due to their employer's failure to ensure the use of required fall protection. The Milton-based roofing contractor, who has been cited five times previously for the same hazard, faces $61,600 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

October 1, 2014

OSHA News Release: Worker critically injured when pinned by machine at Columbus Castings [10/01/2014]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus Castings worker suffered a broken back, a collapsed lung and partial paralysis of his left leg after becoming pinned in a machine at the steel foundry on April 22, 2014. An investigation into the incident has resulted in the issuance of two repeat and two serious safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

October 1, 2014

OSHA News Release: Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC ordered to pay $30,000 for retaliating against worker [10/01/2014]

DENVER — Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC retaliated against a Mandan, North Dakota, worker in December 2013 after he reported a work-related injury and submitted a physician's treatment plan, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA has ordered Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF to pay more than $30,000 in back wages and damages and to take other corrective action.

September 30, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to asbestos while restoring landmark Chicago fire station [09/30/2014]

CHICAGO — Workers renovating a historical 1887 firehouse in Chicago were exposed to asbestos and electrical hazards, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The inspection found Structure Development Midwest LLC failed to collect and dispose of asbestos-containing material in sealed, labeled and waterproof bags.