September 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: Justin Construction Co. cited for willful and repeat safety violations following OSHA inspections; more than $188K in proposed fines [09/04/2014]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Justin Construction Co. LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration with six safety violations after OSHA inspectors observed employees at three area work sites performing residential construction without using a fall protection system. The inspections began in February 2014 as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction. Proposed penalties total $188,650.

September 3, 2014

OSHA News Release: B & T Underground fined $76,340 for exposing workers to trench cave-ins [09/03/2014]

CHICAGO — B & T Underground Inc., based in North Riverside, exposed workers to cave-in hazards and has been cited for one willful, two serious and four repeat safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA opened the inspection March 10, 2014, after observing employees working in an unprotected trench at a residential home under construction in Chicago. Proposed penalties total $76,340.

September 3, 2014

OSHA News Release: Georgia parts manufacturer fails to correct previously identified workplace hazards; more than $92K in penalties proposed [09/03/2014]

CONYERS, Ga. — Truss Components of Atlanta Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration with one failure-to-abate, five repeat and two serious safety and health violations, following an inspection in February at the company's facility on Old Covington Highway. OSHA initiated the inspection as a follow up to a previous inspection conducted in November 2013. Proposed penalties total $92,851.

September 3, 2014

OSHA News Release: Heartland Workers Center establishes alliance with OSHA to educate immigrant workers on workplace safety and health [09/03/2014]

OMAHA, Neb. — An alliance is being formed between the Heartland Workers Center of Omaha and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to provide HWC staff, immigrant workers and others with education, guidance and access to training resources on protecting the health and safety of workers.

September 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Worker fatally injured after fall at Farmers Cooperative [09/02/2014]

MCCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. — Following the death of a 73-year-old worker who sustained fatal injuries from falling while loading a tanker truck, Farmers Cooperative has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one repeat and two serious safety violations at its McCool Junction fertilizer plant. The incident occurred May 7, and the worker died from his injuries May 13. The full-time employee had worked for the company since February 2013.

September 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: BNSF Railway ordered to pay $12K to worker disciplined for taking doctor-ordered leave [09/02/2014]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — BNSF Railway Co. has been found in violation of the Federal Railroad Safety Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for disciplining an employee at its Murray Yard complex for following a physician's treatment plan. The company has been ordered to pay the conductor $12,000 in damages, remove disciplinary information from the employee's personnel record and provide whistleblower rights information to its employees.

August 28, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Douglass Colony Group Inc. for 11 violations; exposes workers to asbestos and fines total $81,000 [08/28/2014]

DENVER — Commercial roofer Douglass Colony Group Inc. was cited for four repeat and seven serious violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to protect workers from exposure to asbestos at a Denver work site. Proposed penalties total $81,000.

August 28, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers willfully exposed to amputation hazards at Paterson, New Jersey, manufacturing facility [08/28/2014]

PATERSON, N.J. — Workers at Film Pak Extrusion LLC were exposed to amputation and other safety and health hazards according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company's Paterson manufacturing facility has been cited for one willful and 12 serious workplace violations related to the dangerous conditions.

August 28, 2014

OSHA News Release: Connecticut plastics manufacturer exposed employees to falls, mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards [08/28/2014]

HARTFORD, Conn. — Employees at Superior Plastics Extrusion Co. Inc., doing business as Impact Plastics, were exposed to two dozen safety and health hazards, including falls and mechanical hazards, according to federal inspectors. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed penalties totaling $66,789 for violations at the company's Putnam, Connecticut, manufacturing plant.

August 28, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to fall hazards at Bloomfield, New Jersey, construction site [08/28/2014]

STIRLING, N.J. — Concrete and masonry company Concrete Systems Inc. has been cited for one repeat and seven serious safety hazards following a February investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA investigators opened the inspection after observing workers constructing formwork without fall protection at the construction site of three midrise buildings at 300 Glenwood Ave. in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

August 27, 2014

OSHA News Release: Champion Roofing fined $48K for 2 willful safety violations after workers exposed to dangerous fall hazards in Bradley, Illinois [08/27/2014]

BRADLEY, Ill. — Employees at a construction site in Bradley were expected to work on a low-sloped roof, 13 feet above the ground without the recommended means of fall protection. Champion Roofing Inc. has been cited for two willful safety violations for exposing workers to these fall hazards by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA has proposed $48,400 penalties for the violations. The Bensenville, Illinois-based company has been cited by OSHA five times in the past five years for exposing workers to fall hazards.

August 26, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites DiMeo Brothers for exposing workers to falls, trench cave-ins while installing storm sewers in Glenview, Illinois [08/26/2014]

GLENVIEW, Ill. — Two employees of DiMeo Brothers Inc. were observed on April 14 working in a 25 foot-deep trench without adequate cave-in protection while installing storm sewers for the Village of Glenview. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the sewer and water contractor for one willful and two serious safety violations carrying proposed penalties of $44,660.

August 25, 2014

OSHA News Release: Pritchard, Alabama, lumber producer cited for exposing workers to fall and amputation hazards [08/25/2014]

PRITCHARD, Ala. — An inspection initiated in June 2014 by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that workers at PJ Lumber Co. were exposed to falls, amputations and other hazards. The company, which manufactures finished lumber products for resale, has been cited for 13 serious safety and health violations found at the company's lumber mill on Stephens Road in Pritchard. Proposed penalties total $50,085.

August 21, 2014

OSHA News Release: Employees of The Preservation Society of Newport County exposed to lead and fall hazards at Bellevue Avenue mansion in Newport, Rhode Island [08/21/2014]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Employees of The Preservation Society of Newport County were exposed to lead and potentially fatal falls while scraping and abrasively removing lead-based paint from an outbuilding at the Newport mansion known as Chateau-sur-Mer, reports the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

August 21, 2014

OSHA News Release: 2 workers injured by machine hazards in separate incidents at Hicksville, Ohio, telecommunication tower manufacturing plant [08/21/2014]

HICKSVILLE, Ohio — FWT LLC has been cited for one repeat and one serious safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after two employees were injured in separate incidents at the company's Hicksville facility, which manufactures telecommunication towers. OSHA has proposed penalties of $45,500 for exposing the workers to amputation hazards.

August 21, 2014

OSHA News Release: 2 workers injured following explosion at Indianhead Biomass Services; willful and serious safety violations cited [08/21/2014]

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Two employees were injured following an explosion at Indianhead Explorations LLC, doing business as Indianhead Biomass Services, permanently disabling one employee and causing the other to suffer a leg injury. Following the March 2014 incident, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the employer with two willful and seven serious safety violations.

August 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA orders Hanford nuclear facility contractor to reinstate worker fired for raising environmental safety concerns [08/20/2014]

SEATTLE — A contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford nuclear facility in Washington state has been ordered to reinstate an environmental specialist and pay more than $220,000 in back wages and other expenses after it fired the employee for voicing nuclear and environmental safety concerns, a violation of federal whistleblower provisions.

August 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Gonzalez Stucco & Stone for serious safety hazards; more than $54,000 in fines proposed [08/20/2014]

AUBURN, Ala. — Based in Auburn, Gonzalez Stucco & Stone LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for four repeat and one serious safety violation following an inspection at a residential construction site at 283 Bentley Court. The agency initiated the June 2014 inspection as part of its National Emphasis Program on Falls. Proposed penalties total $54,120.

August 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Illinois vehicle manufacturer McLaughlin Body Co. for exposing workers to amputation hazards [08/19/2014]

MOLINE, Ill. — McLaughlin Body Co. has been cited for exposing workers to amputation hazards at the company's two plants in Rock Island and East Moline. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the inspections in March 2014 after receiving complaints alleging unsafe working conditions at both plants. The inspection found nine serious violations carrying proposed penalties of $43,000.

August 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA settles whistleblower complaint against Gaines Motor Lines Inc. [08/19/2014]

HICKORY, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a settlement agreement with Gaines Motor Lines Inc., as well as individuals Tim Gaines and Rick Tompkins, to resolve findings made by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging that four former truck drivers were terminated for participating in an inspection audit, in violation of the whistleblower protection provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act.