Category: Workplace Illness

“DOL Increases Maximum Penalty Amounts for OSHA Violations” #OSHA #Safety

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On Jan. 2, 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Federal Register notice announcing an increase in the maximum penalty amounts for violations of federal Occupational Safety and Health standards and regulations. Under the new penalty structure, the maximum penalty allowed for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations is $12,934. In addition, the maximum penalty allowed for “failure-to-abate” violations is … Continue reading “DOL Increases Maximum Penalty Amounts for OSHA Violations” #OSHA #Safety

“CSB Preliminary Events Leading To 2017 Fire at Arkema Chemical Plant In Crosby, Texas” #Arkema #Fire

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZmUVQMh9qM Statement from Chairperson Sutherland 11.15.2017 News Conference on Ongoing Arkema Investigation BEGIN STATEMENT This morning, I would like to provide an update on the CSB investigation of the fires which occurred at the Arkema plant, in Crosby, Texas, as a result of Hurricane Harvey in August. Our investigation is ongoing, but I would like … Continue reading “CSB Preliminary Events Leading To 2017 Fire at Arkema Chemical Plant In Crosby, Texas” #Arkema #Fire

“Temp & Contract Worker Safety – Who Is Responsible For Their Safety?” #WorkplaceSafety

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Video -Ninety minutes into his first day on the first job of his life, Day Davis was called over to help at Palletizer No. 4 at the Bacardi bottling plant in Jacksonville, Fla. What happened next is an all-too-common story for temp workers working in blue-collar industries. Read the investigation: http://www.propublica.org/article/tem... The rise in the … Continue reading “Temp & Contract Worker Safety – Who Is Responsible For Their Safety?” #WorkplaceSafety

“The State of Safety: A State-by-State Report”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roqkZPoY-Fc National Safety Council is on a mission to eliminate preventable deaths in our lifetime, but safety can be difficult to quantify. That's why NSC took on a year-long project to grade states on actions and policies they have taken – or not taken – to reduce risk for all residents. The State of Safety: A State-by-State Report provides insight into promising … Continue reading “The State of Safety: A State-by-State Report”

“OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica”

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OSHA will delay enforcement of the respirable crystalline silica standard for construction until September 23, 2017, to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. See the memorandum. Rule requires engineering controls to keep workers from breathing silica dust The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to curb … Continue reading “OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica”

“New OSHA Regulations On Concrete Silica Dust Exposure Rule” #Silica #Construction

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On September 23, the U.S. Department of Labor will begin to enforce its reduction in the amount of silica that construction workers can be exposed to over an eight-hour day. The U.S Department of Labor will start enforcing its new concrete silica dust ruling for construction on September 23, 2017 (moved from June 23, 2017). … Continue reading “New OSHA Regulations On Concrete Silica Dust Exposure Rule” #Silica #Construction

“Coal Mine Fatality – Blue Sky Quarries, Inc. – Blue Sky Quarry #2 in Georgia” #MSHA

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PDF Version METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – On July 20, 2017, a miner was driving wedges into a block of granite in an attempt to break it loose.  A piece of granite weighing 9 tons fell and crushed the victim against the quarry floor. Best Practices Always conduct examinations of the workplace to identify loose ground or … Continue reading “Coal Mine Fatality – Blue Sky Quarries, Inc. – Blue Sky Quarry #2 in Georgia” #MSHA

“Opioid Addiction At Work Is A Major Challenge for Employers” #Opiod #Addiction #Safety

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"Our citizens are dying. We must act boldly to stop it," the commission, headed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, said in an interim report Monday. "The first and most urgent recommendation of this Commission is direct and completely within your control. Declare a national emergency." By Genevieve Douglas The U.S. opioid addiction crisis is hitting the workplace … Continue reading “Opioid Addiction At Work Is A Major Challenge for Employers” #Opiod #Addiction #Safety

“Rules to Come? Future Regulatory Agenda for OSHA” #WorkplaceSafety

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Today, the semiannual regulatory agenda was published. This Regulatory Agenda provides a complete list of all regulatory actions that are under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review and covers regulatory actions for over 60 federal departments, agencies, and commissions. The regulatory agenda for the Department of Labor includes a total of thirteen regulatory entries … Continue reading “Rules to Come? Future Regulatory Agenda for OSHA” #WorkplaceSafety

“The Government Is Paying Billions To Shipbuilders With Histories Of Continual Safety Violations”

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The U.S. shipbuilding industry continues to win billions of dollars in contracts to build Navy and Coast Guard vessels, despite serious safety lapses that have endangered and killed workers. From Reveal at the Center for Investigative Reporting, special correspondent Aubrey Aden-Buie reports. By Jennifer Gollan  A Mississippi shipbuilder continues to reap lucrative federal contracts despite objections … Continue reading “The Government Is Paying Billions To Shipbuilders With Histories Of Continual Safety Violations”

“Stop, Think, Prevent” – “A New Workplace Safety Campaign Is Emerging” @StopThinkPrevnt

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By: Marko Karr, CHST - "Stop, Think, Prevent" Program Author & Owner One is Too Many! I found myself thinking this today... In May of 2016, I proudly posted on LinkedIn how my company honored the National OSHA Stand Down Week for Fall Prevention. We are committed to reducing falls and improving the industry. The … Continue reading “Stop, Think, Prevent” – “A New Workplace Safety Campaign Is Emerging” @StopThinkPrevnt

“OSHA Launches Application To Electronically Submit Injury and Illness Data on August 1, 2017” #OSHA

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U.S. Department of LaborOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationOffice of CommunicationsWashington, D.C.www.osha.gov For Immediate ReleaseJuly 14, 2017Contact: Office of CommunicationsPhone: 202-693-1999 OSHA launches application to electronically submit injury and illness data on August 1 WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will launch on Aug. 1, 2017, the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). The Web-based form allows … Continue reading “OSHA Launches Application To Electronically Submit Injury and Illness Data on August 1, 2017” #OSHA

“Time To Act: Save 2018 FY Worker Training Grants, Health & Safety Research” #WorkplaceSafety

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By Jordan Barab If you haven’t yet done so, it’s time to do so. And if you have done so, do it again: Contact your legislators about passing a budget that will protect workers.  The House Appropriations Sub-Committee that deals with OSHA, MSHA and NIOSH is scheduled to mark up the FY 2018 Appropriations Bill on Thursday, July … Continue reading “Time To Act: Save 2018 FY Worker Training Grants, Health & Safety Research” #WorkplaceSafety

“Elk Grove Village, Illinois Food Plant Worker Injured In Explosion” #PSM #AmmoniaSafety

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This incident is just another reason why Ammonia Safety, both PSM & Evacuation Safety Drills are so important and have to be taken seriously every day. If you work in this type of industry, make sure you know your company's Safety Rules for Ammonia Exposure & Evacuation Procedures and you practice them. Be an involved … Continue reading “Elk Grove Village, Illinois Food Plant Worker Injured In Explosion” #PSM #AmmoniaSafety

“OSHA Recordable Injuries- To Record Or Not To Record – Here Are Some Answers”

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Safety Records: Recording Work-Related Illness and Injury Each employer is required by OSHA to keep records of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. Specifically, they must record each fatality, injury and illness that is work-related is a new case, and meets one or more of the general recording criteria noted in Section 1904.7 (or the application to … Continue reading “OSHA Recordable Injuries- To Record Or Not To Record – Here Are Some Answers”

“OSHA and Ergonomics: The Past, Present, And Future”

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Ergonomics is the study of work. From an OSHA perspective, it is the process of designing the job to fit the employee, rather than forcing the employee’s body to fit the job. This process may include modifying tasks, the work environment, and equipment to meet the specific needs of an employee to alleviate physical stress … Continue reading “OSHA and Ergonomics: The Past, Present, And Future”