July 30, 2014

OSHA News Release: Cabinet manufacturer Oak Creations exposed Columbus, Montana, workers to fire, explosion, amputation and respiratory hazards [07/30/2014]

BILLINGS, Mont. — A 55-year-old finish sander at Oak Creations Inc. died after acute exposure to wood dust during his 15 years with the company.

July 29, 2014

OSHA News Release: Georgia roofing contractor cited for repeat and serious violations following US Department of Labor OSHA inspections [07/29/2014]

ATLANTA — Pablo Lopez of Norcross has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three repeat and one serious safety violation following inspections at two work sites in Milton and Smyrna where employees were performing roofing work without fall protection. The inspections began in February and April 2014 as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.

July 28, 2014

OSHA News Release: Employees of P. Gioioso & Sons Inc. faced electrocution hazards from power lines at Massachusetts work site [07/28/2014]

BOSTON — Employees of P. Gioioso & Sons Inc. were exposed to possible electrocution from working close to energized power lines at a Cambridge work site where required safeguards were not used. A May 9 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that employees used a trench rod and a fiberglass pole with a metal end to lift overhead power lines, so that workers could move excavating equipment under the lines and onto the work site. The Hyde Park contractor faces $70,290 in proposed fines

July 28, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Keymark Corp. for failing to protect workers against chemical, noise and fall hazards at Fonda, New York, plant [07/28/2014]

ALBANY, N.Y. — Workers at Keymark Corp.'s aluminum extruding plant on Route 334 in Fonda were exposed to the hazardous substance chromium, high noise levels and falls of up to 17 feet due to the employer's failure to provide and ensure proper safeguards.

July 22, 2014

OSHA News Release: Popular retail store Forever 21 fined $158,000 by US Department of Labor's OSHA for repeat workplace safety violations at New Jersey location [07/22/2014]

WAYNE, N.J. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited fashion retail chain Forever 21 for exposing employees to serious safety hazards at its store in Wayne. OSHA inspected the store in January 2014 after receiving a complaint alleging dangerous conditions. It proposed $158,000 in penalties for three repeat violations.

July 22, 2014

OSHA News Release: United Airlines cited at Newark, N.J., airport for repeat and serious safety hazards [07/22/2014]

NEWARK, N.J. — United Airlines Inc. has exposed ground operation workers at the Newark airport to hazardous conditions, prompting the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue 16 citations and propose penalties of $101,300.

July 22, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA extends enforcement effort in Billings, Montana, following hailstorm, asks employers to protect roofing and construction workers against falls [07/22/2014]

BILLINGS, Mont. — Following a major hailstorm on May 18 and a resulting increase in construction, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is extending enforcement activity and asks for Billings-area employers, workers and consumers to protect roofing and construction workers against fall hazards. The Weekend Work Initiative aims to increase workplace surveillance of construction fall hazards and other dangers to prevent employee injuries and fatalities.

July 21, 2014

OSHA News Release: January structural collapse leading to 2 worker fatalities, 9 injuries at International Nutrition in Omaha caused by overloaded storage bins [07/21/2014]

OMAHA, Neb. — The Jan. 20 structural collapse of International Nutrition Inc.'s Omaha-facility, was caused by overloading nine storage bins on the building's roof level, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found. The collapse at the livestock feed supplement manufacturer caused the death of two workers and injuries to nine others.

July 21, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department's OSHA cites Ohio Lowe's for repeat electrical hazards [07/21/2014]

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — Popular home improvement chain Lowe's Cos. Inc. has been cited for five repeat and one serious safety violation for exposing workers to electrical hazards and failing to provide information on respiratory protection to employees at its Zanesville store. OSHA initiated the inspection in March 2014 after the store reported a higher than average injury rate. Proposed penalties total $53,240.

July 17, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Piqua Champion Foundry for repeat, serious violations [07/17/2014]

PIQUA, Ohio — Nine employees of Piqua Champion Foundry Inc. were exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust, respiratory hazards and unsafe work conditions while grinding castings and relining a furnace. Silica exposure can cause silicosis, an irreversible lung disease, and other serious health hazards. Following its January 2014 inspection, the U.S.

July 17, 2014

OSHA News Release: Connecticut contractor cited by US Labor Department's OSHA for 17 serious workplace health violations at Easthampton, Massachusetts, renovation site [07/17/2014]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Workers performing abrasive blasting during the renovation of an Easthampton mill were overexposed to lead and silica and faced other health hazards due to their employer's failure to supply basic, legally required safeguards. As a result, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Maher Industries, doing business as A Fast Blast, for 17 serious violations of workplace health standards.

July 16, 2014

OSHA News Release: Midwest Farmers Cooperative cited by OSHA for serious violations after truck driver dies from exposure to ammonia vapor cloud [07/16/2014]

TECUMSEH, Neb. — Following the death of a truck driver at Midwest Farmers Cooperative's grain handling facility in Tecumseh, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 12 serious safety violations. The driver, who was not provided a respirator or personal protective clothing, was overcome by anhydrous ammonia vapors while transferring the liquid from a semitruck to bulk storage tanks.

July 16, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA cites repeat violations at Miami Valley Polishing for exposing workers to excessive noise, respiratory hazards [07/16/2014]

PIQUA, Ohio — Miami Valley Polishing has been cited for continuing to expose workers to excessive noise levels at its Piqua metal polishing plant following a January 2014 inspection. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration previously cited the company in 2013 for the same violation. OSHA has proposed fines of $50,820 for the two repeat and three serious violations cited.

July 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor OSHA violations issued for repeatedly exposing workers to amputation hazards at Illinois storage system manufacturer [07/15/2014]

PONTIAC, Ill. — For the second time this year, Interlake Mecalux Inc. has been cited for exposing workers to amputation hazards by failing to have adequate guards on dangerous machinery. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found two repeat and two serious violations following a March 2014 inspection at the company's Pontiac plant.

July 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA launches focused enforcement program to prevent injuries and fatalities in North Dakota's high-hazard industries [07/15/2014]

BISMARCK, N.D. — Since January 2012, 34 North Dakota workers in the oil and gas and construction industries have died because of work-related injuries. During that period, their deaths accounted for 87 percent of all North Dakota fatalities investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

July 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: False charges, reprisals against post office worker prompts anti-retaliation lawsuit by US Department of Labor [07/14/2014]

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service on behalf of a maintenance employee at the St. Louis Network Distribution Center in Hazelwood, Mo., who reported unsafe working conditions and suffered reprisals, including false charges of making a terrorist threat.

July 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA cites willful safety violation after workers expected to 'free climb' 195-foot tower without adequate fall protection [07/14/2014]

COOLVILLE, Ohio — Two workers were free climbing, or climbing without safety lines, a 195-foot communication tower under construction without adequate fall protection in Coolville. As a result, Morlan Enterprises has been cited for one willful and eight serious safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA has proposed penalties of $52,500.

July 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA cites 8 employers for safety violations following death of worker who fell 29 feet at Texas construction site [07/14/2014]

AUSTIN, Texas — The Underwood Group Inc., along with seven subcontractors, was cited for safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to provide workers with required fall protection equipment. As a result, a worker fell 29 feet to his death at a condominium construction site in Canyon Lake. The proposed penalties total $53,480.

July 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department's OSHA cites Texas barge builder for 16 serious, repeat, failure-to-abate safety violations for exposing workers to hazards [07/14/2014]

HOUSTON — Sterling Shipyard LP was cited for 16 serious, repeat and failure-to-abate violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for continuing to expose workers to safety hazards, including dangerous machinery, high noise levels without appropriate hearing protection and falls from heights above 6 feet. Proposed penalties total $305,100.