May 12, 2011

US district court upholds OSHA subpoena in grain engulfment case

CHICAGO – A U.S. district court has upheld a subpoena issued by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration requesting documents from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co. concerning inspections and reports the company prepared for Haasbach LLC. Two teenage workers were killed in a grain engulfment at Haasbach's Mount Carroll, Ill., site in July 2010.

May 4, 2011

US Department of Labor's OSHA launches Picture It! Safe Workplaces for Everyone' photo contest

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a nationwide photography contest: Picture It! Safe Workplaces for Everyone. OSHA challenges anyone with a passion for photography to capture an image of workplace safety and health and share it with the agency. The goal of the contest is collaborate with the public – relying on the talent, imagination and creativity of participants – to kick off a national effort to raise awareness about workplace safety and health.

May 3, 2011

US Department of Labors OSHA cites Parker Hannifin facility in Mississippi with 33 safety and health violations, proposes more than $487,000 in fines

BATESVILLE, Miss. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 33 citations to the Parker Hannifin Corp. plant in Batesville, alleging numerous safety and health violations as the result of an inspection that began November 2010. Proposed penalties total $487,700. Cleveland, Ohio-based Parker Hannifin has 170 facilities throughout the U.S. and manufactures machinery for hydraulics, air conditioning, refrigeration and aerospace systems.

May 2, 2011

US Department of Labor issues final rule to protect shipyard workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor' Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule to protect the safety and health of shipyard workers, which is published in today' edition of the Federal Register. The rule updates existing requirements to reflect advances in industry practices and technology, and provides new protections from hazards that previously were not addressed, including the control of hazardous energy. It is expected to prevent about 350 serious injuries each year.

April 26, 2011

US Labor Department launches national outreach campaign to protect workers from heat-related illnesses

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today will announce, from Anaheim, Calif., a national outreach initiative by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to educate workers and their employers about the hazards of working outdoors in the heat and steps needed to prevent heat-related illnesses.

April 14, 2011

US Labor Department fall protection directive upheld in US Court of Appeals

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected a challenge by the National Roofing Contractors Association to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's December 2010 directive on the use of fall protection in residential construction. The directive withdrew an earlier one that allowed certain residential construction employers to bypass some fall protection requirements.

April 11, 2011

US Labor Departments OSHA issues hazard alert to hair salon owners, workers on smoothing and straightening products that could release formaldehyde

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is issuing a hazard alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with some hair smoothing and straightening products.

April 5, 2011

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announces appointment of 15 new members to Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health

First meeting to be held April 19-20, open to public

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of 15 new members to the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, which will hold an open meeting on April 19 and 20 at the U.S. Department of Labor's headquarters in Washington.

April 4, 2011

US Department of Labors OSHA fines North Central Farmers Elevator in Ipswich, SD, $378,000 for exposing workers to grain engulfment

BISMARCK, N.D. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited North Central Farmers Elevator in Ipswich, S.D., with six willful violations for exposing workers to being engulfed by grain. Proposed penalties total $378,000.

April 4, 2011

US Department of Labors OSHA recognizes Basic Industries in Ingleside, Texas, for excellence in safety and health

INGLESIDE, Texas The U.S. Department of Labor s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized the employees and management of Basic Industries Ltd. at Kiewit Offshore Services in Ingleside for achieving three years of excellence in the company s employee safety and health program. The Basic Industries facility has been designated as a star site in OSHA s Voluntary Protection Programs. Basic Industries is to be commended for demonstrating excellence in effective safety and health management, said William A.

March 25, 2011

US Department of Labors OSHA applauds decision upholding citation against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in crowd management fatality case

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today applauded a ruling by Chief Administrative Law Judge Covette Rooney of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission upholding the citation and full penalty issued to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for inadequate crowd management following a November 2008 trampling death of a worker at one of the company's retail locations in New York.

March 24, 2011

US Labor Departments OSHA and South Louisiana STEPS form new alliance to promote safety and health for workers in oil and gas industry

LAFAYETTE, La. – Furthering safety and health for oil and gas workers in Louisiana is the goal of an alliance signed today by the Baton Rouge Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the South Louisiana Service Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network.

March 16, 2011

US Labor Departments OSHA cites Gavilon Grain for willful, other safety violations following death of 20-year-old worker at Morral facility

Company receives 46 safety and health violations at 3 Ohio facilities

MORRAL, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Gavilon Grain LLC in Morral following the September 2010 death of a 20-year-old worker who was caught in a discharge auger while cleaning out a grain bin.

February 15, 2011

Statement from assistant secretary of labor for OSHA supporting promotion of job creation

Agency doing everything possible to support good, safe jobs

January 25, 2011

US Labor Departments OSHA temporarily withdraws proposed column for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, reaches out to small businesses

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it has temporarily withdrawn from review by the Office of Management and Budget its proposal to restore a column for work-related musculoskeletal disorders on employer injury and illness logs. The agency has taken this action to seek greater input from small businesses on the impact of the proposal and will do so through outreach in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.

January 24, 2011

US Labor Department cites 2 Illinois grain elevator operators for willful safety, child labor violations following deaths of 3 workers, including 2 teens

Employers fined nearly $1.4 million

MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. – The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Haasbach LLC in Mount Carroll and Hillsdale Elevator Co. in Geneseo and Annawan, Ill., following the deaths of three workers, including two teenagers. The workers were killed when they suffocated after being engulfed by grain.

January 20, 2011

US Labor Departments OSHA cites Miami business for deliberately failing to protect employees from lead exposure

Lead Enterprises Inc. issued 32 citations, more than $307,000 in penalties

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations to Lead Enterprises Inc. in Miami, Fla., alleging that the company knowingly neglected to protect employees from lead exposure. The company is being cited with 32 safety and health violations, and $307,200 in total proposed penalties.

January 19, 2011

US Department of Labors OSHA withdraws proposed interpretation on occupational noise

Agency examines other approaches to prevent work-related hearing loss