May 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: Nicholson Terminal & Dock Co. cited by US Department of Labor's OSHA after worker fatally struck by forklift at Detroit marine terminal [05/20/2014]

DETROIT — Following the death of a worker who was hit by a forklift , the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Nicholson Terminal & Dock Co. with nine — including two willful and seven serious — safety violations. The incident occurred Nov. 19, 2013, at the Detroit marine terminal when the worker was struck by a 62,000-pound-capacity forklift carrying a 40,000-pound steel coil.

May 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $51,800 in fines for Power Coatings for failing to protect workers from toxic chemical hazards [05/20/2014]

JANESEVILLE, Wis. — Power Coatings LLC, a company that specializes in powder coating metal parts, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 serious safety violations, including failing to protect workers from toxic substances, which can cause cancer, lung impairment and other diseases. OSHA has proposed penalties of $51,800 following a December 2013 complaint inspection of Power Coatings' Janesville facility.

May 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: After explosion, US Department of Labor's OSHA cites 3-D printing firm for exposing workers to combustible metal powder, electrical hazards [05/20/2014]

ANDOVER, Mass. — Powderpart Inc., a Woburn 3-D printing company, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and nine serious violations of workplace safety standards. The inspection followed an explosion and fire on Nov. 5, 2013, which inflicted third-degree burns on a company employee.

May 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Tortillas Ricas LP for serious health and safety violations with $48,300 in fines [05/20/2014]

LUBBOCK, Texas — Tortillas Ricas LP, doing business as Casa Rica Tortillas, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 serious safety and health violations with proposed fines of $48,300. OSHA cited the corn tortilla manufacturer for exposing workers to unguarded machines and electrical hazards and for failing to implement lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers who service or maintain machines.

May 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to dangerous silica dust at Omaha stone-cutting facility [05/19/2014]

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Baltazar's Stone Inc. $40,921 for exposing workers to dangerous silica dust levels and other hazards at the Omaha stone-cutting facility. Silica exposure can cause silicosis, an irreversible lung disease, and other health hazards. OSHA began the inspection Nov. 27, 2013, after receiving a complaint. The inspection resulted in 15 violations.

May 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway ordered by US Department of Labor's OSHA to pay more than $526,000 to terminated workers [05/19/2014]

DENVER — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has been ordered to pay more than $526,000 in back wages and other damages to two workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

May 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA proposes $139,000 in penalties for repeatedly exposing workers to amputation, other serious hazards at Kobelco Stewart Bolling in Hudson, Ohio [05/15/2014]

HUDSON, Ohio — Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc., which manufactures industrial machinery, has been cited for 13 safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Proposed penalties at the company's Hudson facility total $139,000. OSHA's investigation was initiated following a worker complaint, and the investigation found repeat violations of machine guarding standards, which protect workers from lacerations, caught-in and amputation hazards.

May 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $159,390 fine for Fortune Painting Co. for repeatedly exposing workers to dangerous lead levels, serious fall hazards [05/15/2014]

WILMETTE, Ill. — Fortune Painting Co. Inc. has been cited for 25 violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including willful and repeat violations for exposing workers to dangerous levels of lead from lead-based paint. OSHA cited the company for failing to protect workers from serious fall hazards while restoring a home in Wilmette.

May 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: Discipline of Southwestern Bell workers prompts lawsuit by US Department of Labor for illegal retaliation against workers [05/15/2014]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. on behalf of four employees who received disciplinary action and unsatisfactory performance appraisals for reporting workplace injuries that occurred in Missouri and Kansas in 2011 and 2012.

May 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: $7M for Susan Harwood safety and health training grants now available from US Labor Department's OSHA [05/14/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program through two separate and distinct announcements. A total of $7 million is available for nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, and colleges and universities.

May 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA fines All-Feed Processing and Packaging $254,000 for exposing workers to combustible dust, respiratory hazards [05/14/2014]

GALVA, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again cited All-Feed Processing and Packaging Inc. for willful and repeat violations for exposing workers to combustible and respiratory dust hazards. In addition to creating an explosion hazard, the plant's high concentration of airborne dust could cause workplace-induced asthma and other illnesses.

May 13, 2014

OSHA News Release: Star Snacks Co. LLC fined $180,000 by US Department of Labor's OSHA for willfully exposing employees to carbon monoxide and dangerous noise levels [05/13/2014]

BAYONNE, N.J. — Roasted nut manufacturer Star Snacks Co. LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two willful and six serious safety violations, resulting in a $180,000 proposed penalty. The violations include overexposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and noise hazards found at the company's Bayonne manufacturing facility.

May 13, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor sues West Springfield, Mass., employer for allegedly firing an employee who filed an OSHA complaint [05/13/2014]

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Donald Pottern, doing business as Crown Furniture, of West Springfield, for allegedly firing a worker who filed a safety complaint with the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

May 12, 2014

OSHA News Release: Truck parts manufacturer cited for serious safety violations following inspection by US Department of Labor's OSHA; $64,400 in fines proposed [05/12/2014]

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — Blue Ridge Manufacturing LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 20 serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to safety hazards following an inspection at the company's truck body manufacturing facility in Blue Ridge. The agency initiated the March 2014 inspection because of a complaint. Penalties total $64,400.

May 12, 2014

OSHA News Release: Lee, Mass., contractor cited by US Labor Department's OSHA for "needless and avoidable" fatal fall at Stockbridge work site [05/12/2014]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A 51-year-old roofer fell 17 feet to his death on Nov. 14, 2013, while performing roofing work on condominium at 57 Main St. in Stockbridge, Mass. An investigation by the Springfield Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Lee-based Fairview Contractors Inc., failed to provide fall protection and guardrails that would have prevented the fall from occurring.

May 12, 2014

OSHA News Release: Grand Trunk Western Railroad Co. ordered by US Department of Labor's OSHA to reinstate employee, pay more than $244,000 in back wages, damages [05/12/2014]

CHICAGO — Grand Trunk Western Railroad Co. has been ordered to reinstate a conductor and pay him more than $244,000 in back wages and damages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA found that the company was in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act for terminating an employee in Flint, Mich., for failing to perform an inspection of a passing train under hazardous safety conditions.

May 12, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $63,000 in penalties for exposing worker to struck-by hazards, other violations at Big 3 Precision Products [05/12/2014]

CENTRALIA, Ill. — Big 3 Precision Products Inc., which manufactures industrial machine products, has been cited for five safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The complaint investigation found a willful violation of forklift standards for allowing employees to stand or pass under the elevated portion of forklifts at the Centralia facility. Proposed penalties total $63,000.

May 12, 2014

OSHA News Release: Safety hazards at Salisbury, Mass., manufacturer lead to $93,200 in US Department of Labor OSHA fines [05/12/2014]

ANDOVER, Mass. — Workers at a Salisbury manufacturing plant were at risk of being caught in machinery or crushed, based on findings in an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Andover Healthcare Inc., a maker of coated fabrics and adhesives for the health care industry, faces $93,200 in proposed fines for two repeat and seven serious violations.

May 8, 2014

OSHA News Release: Bennett Building Systems cited by US Department of Labor's OSHA for not protecting workers from dangerous falls [05/08/2014]

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bennett Building Systems LLC, which builds metal and wooden structures, such as barns, carports and garages, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for eight violations, including one willful violation, six serious violations and one other-than-serious violation. The agency initiated the November 2103 inspection at the company's facility on Dixon Airline Road in Augusta because of a complaint. The proposed citations total $89,000.

May 7, 2014

OSHA News Release: Watertown, NY, general construction company cited by US Labor Department's OSHA for 'entirely preventable' fatal fall at Pulaski work site [05/07/2014]

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Following the death of 23-year-old construction worker Kyle Brown, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Watertown-based general construction contractor MTL Design Inc., failed to provide and ensure the use of fall protection safeguards that would have prevented his death. OSHA cited the company for a willful and a serious violation.