October 15, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites Aspen Foods after machine takes part of worker's finger [10/15/2015]

Employer name: Koch Foods Inc., doing business at Aspen Foods Inc.

Citations received: Oct. 13, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Calumet City Area Office cited the Chicago poultry processing facility for one repeated and four serious safety violations.

October 15, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Agricultural manufacturer exposes workers to amputation, other safety hazards [10/15/2015]

Employer name: The Bellevue Manufacturing Company, Bellevue, Ohio

Citations issued: Oct. 14, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office cited the Bellevue manufacturer of agricultural oil filters for 19 serious and one other-than-serious safety and health violations including exposing workers to amputation and machine hazards.

October 14, 2015

OSHA News Release: Worker suffers 3rd-degree burns in glass factory fire [10/14/2015]

OSHA determines Piramal Glass USA did not provide fire-retardant clothing

PARK HILLS, Mo. — A 34-year-old machine operator suffered third-degree burns on his legs and hands when molten glass bottles fell on the production floor and ignited oil residue that had leaked from the machines. The man had not been provided fire-retardant protective clothing, and the fire spread to his pant leg. He has been unable to return to work since the injury.

October 14, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Alabama lumber mill continues to expose workers to amputations, falls and other deadly workplace safety hazards [10/14/2015]

Employer name: Linden Lumber LLC

Inspection site: 23741 U.S. Highway 43, Linden, Alabama 36748

Citations issued: Citations were issued on Oct. 13, 2015.

October 14, 2015

OSHA News Release: Railcar was unsafe for entry before deadly blast killed two workers, injured a third at Omaha cleaning facility [10/14/2015]

OMAHA, Neb. — Moments before a blast ripped through a railcar on April 14, 2015, a check of the air quality inside indicated a serious risk of an explosion. Despite the warning, Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services sent two employees, aged 41 and 45, into the railcar to work without monitoring the air continuously for explosive hazards as required, nor providing the employees with emergency retrieval equipment or properly fitted respirators.

October 14, 2015

Railcar was unsafe for entry before deadly blast killed two workers, injured a third at Omaha cleaning facility

Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services cited for more than 30 violations after tragedy

OMAHA, Neb. – Moments before a blast ripped through a railcar on April 14, 2015, a check of the air quality inside indicated a serious risk of an explosion. Despite the warning, Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services sent two employees, aged 41 and 45, into the railcar to work without monitoring the air continuously for explosive hazards as required, nor providing the employees with emergency retrieval equipment or properly fitted respirators.

October 8, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites the US Forest Service for serious, repeated violations at two Malheur National Forest ranger districts [10/08/2015]

PORTLAND, OREGON — After spending days fighting fires, clearing brush and performing arduous physical tasks, U.S. Forest Service employees should return to a safe home base after work. Yet repeated inspections of national forests throughout Oregon during the last 10 years have found the opposite, with the Forest Service cited by federal inspectors for widespread safety violations nine out of every 10 visits.

October 8, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA: Meatpacking District fatality 'completely avoidable' [10/08/2015]

NEW YORK — Carlos Moncayo, a 22-year-old laborer from Queens, was trying to make a living as he worked on the construction of a Restoration Hardware store at 19 Ninth Ave. in Manhattan on April 6, 2015. Instead, his life ended that day when the 14-foot-deep trench in which he was working collapsed and buried him beneath tons of soil and debris.

October 8, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Bag manufacturer exposes workers to amputation hazards [10/08/2015]

Employer name: Bancroft Bags Inc. in West Monroe, Louisiana

Citations issued: Oct. 7, 2015

October 7, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Construction contractors from Lebanon and Lancaster counties cited by OSHA for exposing workers to fall hazards [10/07/2015]

Employer names: Arthur Funk & Sons Inc., a commercial and institutional building construction contractor located at 1405 Birch Road, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and Weaver Construction and Roofing Inc., a roofing contractor located at 4873 Division Highway, East Earl, Pennsylvania.

The inspected worksite was located at 844 Tuck Street, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where construction of a new cancer center for Good Samaritan Hospital is underway. Funk was the general contractor and Weaver was a subcontractor to Funk.

October 7, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Safety mechanisms would have prevented worker's death [10/07/2015]

Employer name: Endicott Clay Products, Endicott, Nebraska

Citations received: Oct. 6, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Omaha Area Office cited the Endicott brick manufacturing plant for three serious safety violations, after a 41-year-old worker was fatally crushed in a machine on June 16, 2015.

October 7, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA finds excavating company exposed employees to trenching hazards at Evans City, Pennsylvania, worksite [10/07/2015]

Employer name: Mark Mashuda Excavating Inc., 113 Lakeland Drive, Mars, Pennsylvania. The inspection site was the Peachmont Farms Development, Evans City, Pennyslvania, where workers were installing a sewer line.

Citations issued: On September 29, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued two willful one serious safety citations.

October 6, 2015

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department urges storm recovery workers and public to be vigilant and aware of hazards during storm cleanup
[10/06/2015]

ATLANTA — North Carolina residents - emergency workers, employers and the public - recovering from the impact of Hurricane Joaquin should be aware of the hazards they may encounter and take necessary steps to stay safe, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges.

October 6, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Falling boxes of patio furniture at Massachusetts Big Lots store strike employee, causing hospitalization [10/06/2015]

Discount retailer faces $66K in OSHA fines for recurring hazards

Employer name: Big Lots Stores Inc.

Inspection site: 10 Newbury St., Danvers, Mass. 01923

What prompted inspection: An assistant manager was hospitalized after boxes of patio furniture and other stock, weighing up to 53 pounds each, fell and struck him in the store's rear stockroom.

October 6, 2015

US Labor Department urges storm recovery workers and public to be vigilant and aware of hazards during storm cleanup

ATLANTA – North Carolina residents - emergency workers, employers and the public - recovering from the impact of Hurricane Joaquin should be aware of the hazards they may encounter and take necessary steps to stay safe, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges.

October 6, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Falling boxes of patio furniture at Massachusetts Big Lots store strike employee, causing hospitalization

Employer name: Big Lots Stores Inc.

Inspection site: 10 Newbury St., Danvers, Mass. 01923

What prompted inspection: An assistant manager was hospitalized after boxes of patio furniture and other stock, weighing up to 53 pounds each, fell and struck him in the store's rear stockroom.

October 5, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA finds improperly equipped furnace led to deadly explosion at TIMET’s Morgantown, Pennsylvania, manufacturing plant [10/05/2015]

MORGANTOWN, Pa. — A 27-year-old furnace worker was killed in an explosion when a boiler lid 20 feet in diameter flew off inside the TIMET titanium manufacturing plant on 900 Hemlock Road in Morgantown. The lid struck Jacob Lopez and injured three other employees in the March 27, 2015, incident.

October 5, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA finds fragrance manufacturer exposes employees to safety and health hazards in Piscataway, New Jersey [10/05/2015]

Ambrosia Fragrance LLC fined more than $67K for federal workplace violations

Employer name: Ambrosia Fragrance LLC, 7 Turner Place, Piscataway, New Jersey.

Citations issued: On Sept. 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for 19 serious violations.

October 5, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Judge affirms OSHA citations against Alabama auto parts supplier following the amputation of a temporary worker's hand and fingers [10/05/2015]

Date of Action: Sept. 29, 2015

Type of Action: Decision and Order

Name of Defendant: Matsu Alabama Inc., doing business as a division of Matcor Automotive Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of automotive parts to various companies, including General Motors, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota and Nissan.

October 5, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Charleston roofing contractor cited after worker hospitalized for heat-related illness while working at State Capitol Complex [10/05/2015]

Employer name: Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., PO Box 1231, Charleston, West Virginia. The inspection site was the State Capitol Complex, Building 3, in Charleston.

Citations issued: On September 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the company one general duty clause citation for exposing employees to heat stress conditions, and one serious citation.