October 7, 2014

OSHA News Release: Judge affirms citations issued for chemical and mechanical hazards at South Fallsburg, New York, chicken processing plant [10/07/2014]

NEW YORK — Citations issued to MB Consultants Ltd., doing business as Murray's Chickens, for health and safety violations were affirmed by an administrative law judge from the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, upholding an earlier decision by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The violations occurred at the company's South Fallsburg chicken processing plant.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Wolcott, Connecticut, roofing contractor cited for fall hazards after fatal worker fall in Watertown, Connecticut [10/02/2014]

HARTFORD, Conn. — The death of a 28-year-old worker who fell 18 feet from a roof could have been prevented if proper fall protection safeguards had been used by M&M Roofing, of Wolcott, an inspection by the Hartford Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Struck-by vehicle incidents cause 15 percent of workplace fatalities in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska [10/02/2014]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the past five years, 15 percent of all workplace fatalities investigated by the Kansas City Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration have involved vehicle accidents that struck employees in the workplace.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Certified Heat Treating Inc. after supervisor fatally injured at Miamisburg, Ohio, plant [10/02/2014]

MIAMISBURG, Ohio — A 48-year-old supervisor was fatally injured when he was struck by a metal door while performing maintenance at Certified Heat Treating Inc. in Miamisburg. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 10 serious violations, many involving OSHA's confined space and lockout/tagout standards for the control of machinery and moving parts.

October 2, 2014

OSHA News Release: Somerville, New Jersey, company fined $136,290 for willfully exposing workers to safety and health hazards [10/02/2014]

SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Custom-order cabinetry company Choice Cabinetry LLC exposed employees to safety and health hazards, many involving methylene chloride, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Initiated as part of its Site-Specific Targeting Program for industries with high injury and illness rates, OSHA's March 2014 inspection cited the Somerville company for 15 violations, including three willful. Proposed penalties total $136,290.

October 1, 2014

OSHA News Release: Worker critically injured when pinned by machine at Columbus Castings [10/01/2014]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus Castings worker suffered a broken back, a collapsed lung and partial paralysis of his left leg after becoming pinned in a machine at the steel foundry on April 22, 2014. An investigation into the incident has resulted in the issuance of two repeat and two serious safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

October 1, 2014

OSHA News Release: Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC ordered to pay $30,000 for retaliating against worker [10/01/2014]

DENVER — Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC retaliated against a Mandan, North Dakota, worker in December 2013 after he reported a work-related injury and submitted a physician's treatment plan, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA has ordered Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF to pay more than $30,000 in back wages and damages and to take other corrective action.

October 1, 2014

OSHA News Release: New Hampshire contractor with history of safety violations exposed employees to 25-foot falls [10/01/2014]

CONCORD, N.H. — Employees of Ken Stanley, doing business as A+ Roofing, were exposed to potentially fatal falls of up to 25 feet at a Somersworth job site due to their employer's failure to ensure the use of required fall protection. The Milton-based roofing contractor, who has been cited five times previously for the same hazard, faces $61,600 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

September 30, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to asbestos while restoring landmark Chicago fire station [09/30/2014]

CHICAGO — Workers renovating a historical 1887 firehouse in Chicago were exposed to asbestos and electrical hazards, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The inspection found Structure Development Midwest LLC failed to collect and dispose of asbestos-containing material in sealed, labeled and waterproof bags.

September 29, 2014

OSHA News Release: Plaid Enterprises in Decatur, Georgia, cited for exposing permanent and temporary workers to amputation, electrical and other safety hazards [09/29/2014]

DECATUR, Ga. — Plaid Enterprises Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for six safety violations that involved amputation, electrical and other safety hazards following an April 2014 inspection at the company's craft paint production facility located on Mellon Court in Decatur. OSHA initiated the inspection in response to a complaint. Proposed penalties total $84,500.

September 29, 2014

OSHA News Release: Mechanics repeatedly exposed to chemical hazards at Illinois garage [09/29/2014]

HILLSIDE, Ill. — A complaint investigation found that Transport Tech LLC failed to provide employees with an effective training program, including information on appropriate handling and safe use of hazardous chemicals at its Hillside repair facility. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for five repeat safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $66,400.

September 29, 2014

OSHA News Release: Fulton, Mississippi, lumber mill cited for willful and serious safety violations following worker fatality [09/29/2014]

FULTON, Miss. — A Graham Lumber Co. employee was killed after he became entangled in a conveyor belt at the company's lumber mill in Fulton. The worker, employed at the company for less than two weeks, was cleaning up sawdust and bark around an unguarded conveyor when the entanglement occurred. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Graham Lumber for one willful and one serious safety violation following the April 2014 fatality.

September 29, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA finds workers repeatedly exposed to fall hazards at residential construction site in Robbinsville, New Jersey [09/29/2014]

KEARNY, N.J. — While applying brick to the exterior of a new residential construction site located at 33 Emerald Road in Robbinsville, workers employed by Y.V. General Construction Corp. based in Kearny were exposed to scaffold and fall hazards. After the U.S.

September 25, 2014

OSHA News Release: Wireless Horizon tower collapse results in deaths of 2 cell tower workers [09/25/2014]

BLAINE, Kan. — Following the death of two workers from the collapse of a cell tower they were dismantling March 25, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Wireless Horizon Inc. for two willful and four serious safety violations. OSHA placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program following the incident. So far in 2014, 11 workers have lost their lives nationwide in the communication tower industry; and 13 deaths occurred in 2013.

September 25, 2014

OSHA News Release: Worker loses life after being struck-by an excavator bucket at construction site [09/25/2014]

HOLDREGE, Neb. — Two workers were injured, one fatally, after being struck-by an excavator bucket while installing stormwater drainage in a trench at the intersection of 18th and Grant Streets in Holdrege on July 17, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Van Kirk Sand and Gravel, which operates as Van Kirk Brothers Contracting, for two serious safety violations related to the incident.

September 25, 2014

OSHA News Release: Stericycle Inc. ordered to reinstate Wichita, Kansas, supervisor terminated for reporting safety concerns [09/25/2014]

WICHITA, Kan. — Stericycle Inc. has been found in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An investigation found the company wrongfully terminated a transportation supervisor at its Wichita terminal because the worker raised safety concerns after a driver was instructed to pull a trailer without a valid license plate.

September 25, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA and agriculture community come together to promote safety education during National Farm Safety and Health Week Sept. 21-27 [09/25/2014]

CHICAGO — The agriculture sector accounted for 479 deaths in 2013. With a fatality rate of 22.2 for every 100,000 full-time workers, agriculture recorded the highest fatality rate of any industry sector. Additionally, more than 49,000 injuries were recorded in 2012, the last year for which statistics were available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Agriculture employs more than 2 million people in the United States.

September 24, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department files complaint against North Jackson Specialty Steel for dismissing employee who reported safety concerns [09/24/2014]

NORTH JACKSON, Ohio — A lawsuit alleging that North Jackson Specialty Steel terminated a furnace operator for reporting unsafe working conditions at its North Jackson steel mill has been filed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The suit alleges the company violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and seeks restoration of lost pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, and compensation for attorney and other fees.

September 24, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA proposes $130,200 in fines for Canton, Ohio, aluminum plant for willfully exposing workers to serious hazards [09/24/2014]

CANTON, Ohio — Employees at Matalco US Inc. in Canton were exposed to amputation, fall hazards and unsafe crane operations, according to a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection. OSHA has issued two willful, one repeat and two serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $130,200.

September 24, 2014

OSHA News Release: Massachusetts Bay Electrical Corp. cited for safety violations in connection with 2 worker fatalities on Cape Cod, Massachusetts [09/24/2014]

BRAINTREE, Mass. — The deaths of two workers in a crane tip-over April 12, 2014, in Bourne could have been prevented if their employer, Massachusetts Bay Electrical Corp., had set up and operated the crane according to the manufacturer's instructions and trained employees in its proper operation, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found.