June 10, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Workers exposed to physical injury, amputation risks at chemical manufacturing facility [06/10/2015]

Employer Name: Venture Chemicals Inc.

Location: Seagraves, Texas

Date Inspection Initiated and What Prompted the Inspection: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened the inspection in December 2014 after an employee was fatally caught in a mixer/auger bin.

June 8, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites Tip Top Roofing for 2nd time this year after workers observed roofing townhomes without the use of fall protection [06/08/2015]

Employer name: Tip Top Roofing & Construction/Tip Top Exteriors Inc. 2030 Coltonville Road, Sycamore, Illinois

Investigation site: 1990 Town Drive Naperville, Illinois

June 4, 2015

OSHA News Release: GBW Railcar Services faces OSHA violations and fines after blast injures 7 workers, 2 severely in Cummings, Kansas [06/04/2015]

Investigation finds electric heater and fumes caused gas explosion

CUMMINGS, Kan. — Two workers endured several weeks of skin graft surgery and physical therapy after suffering second-degree burns when gas vapors exploded in a railcar in December 2014 at GBW Railcar Services LLC. The car was being prepared for cleaning when an electric heater ignited the flammable gas. Seven other workers were treated for injuries and released from the hospital.

June 4, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Shoreline Foundation exposes workers to drowning and other hazards [06/04/2015]

Employer name: Shoreline Foundation Inc.

Inspection site: 2781 SW 56th Avenue, Pembroke Park, Florida 33023

Date inspection initiated: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the Dec. 18, 2014, inspection after receiving a complaint alleging workplace hazards.

June 3, 2015

OSHA News Release: Construction company willfully exposes workers to scaffolding, electrocution hazards at Philadelphia work sites [06/03/2015]

HAVERTOWN, Pa. — For six masonry workers installing brick facades on two new residential properties in Philadelphia, each day on-the-job could have been their last.

June 3, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Detyens Shipyards Inc. cited by OSHA for exposing employees to workplace safety hazards; more than $100K in penalties proposed [06/03/2015]

Employer name: Detyens Shipyards Inc.

Inspection site: 1670 Dry Dock Avenue, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405

Date inspection initiated: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration performed a comprehensive inspection on Dec. 2, 2014, as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Maritime Industries.

June 3, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Suburban General Construction Inc. exposes worker to trench cave-in hazards while repairing water lines in River Forest, Illinois [06/03/2015]

Employer name: Suburban General Construction Inc., 1019 E. 31st Street, La Grange Park, Illinois

Investigation site: 1515 Lathrop Ave., River Forest, Illinois

June 3, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA urges employers, workers, homeowners and others to protect themselves during flood cleanup [06/03/2015]

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges everyone engaged in cleanup after the recent floods in Texas — employers, workers and the public — to avoid potential hazards and take steps to protect themselves.

June 3, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA forms alliance with Lee Lewis Construction Co. in Lubbock, Texas, to prevent construction injuries and illnesses [06/03/2015]

Lee Lewis, chief executive officer with Lee Lewis Construction Co., signs OSHA alliance agreement with Elizabeth L. Routh, OSHA's area director in Lubbock, Texas.

Lee Lewis, chief executive officer with Lee Lewis Construction Co., signs OSHA alliance agreement with Elizabeth L.

June 2, 2015

OSHA News Release: Chicken processing facility repeatedly exposes workers to dangerous machinery hazards [06/02/2015]

WINESBURG, Ohio — Less than two years after agreeing to address safety violations in a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Case Farms Processing Inc. exposed workers to the same dangerous machinery hazards at its Winesburg facility.

June 2, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Temporary workers exposed to noise, safety hazards in Morris County [06/02/2015]

OSHA proposes nearly $172K in penalties for 3 New Jersey employers

Employers' Names and Locations: The production warehouse of soft drink manufacturer Whitlock Packaging Corp. is located at 92 N. Main St. in Wharton, New Jersey.

Customized Distribution Services Inc., a general warehousing and storage contractor hired by Whitlock to run the warehouse's day-to-day operations, is located at 20 Harry Shupe Blvd. in Wharton.

June 1, 2015

OSHA News Release: Boise contractor again puts workers at serious risk of injury, death in unprotected underground trench [06/01/2015]

BOISE, Idaho — Every month, somewhere in the U.S., two people die in trench cave-ins — buried or crushed by the tremendous weight of falling earth. In fact, one cubic yard of soil can be equal to the weight of a small automobile, about 3,000 pounds. These needless deaths can be prevented with proper cave-in protections.

Despite these realities, some contractors continue to ignore the serious dangers of unprotected trenches and allow employees to work below ground level at great risk.

May 28, 2015

OSHA News Release: Fatal Staten Island mezzanine collapse 'should never have happened' [05/28/2015]

AVENEL, N.J. — The life of a 46-year-old demolition worker, killed in a building collapse in November 2014 at a Staten Island auto dealership, could have been spared if his employer had not disregarded federal safety rules.

Delfino Jesus Velazquez Mendizabal died when the mezzanine of the former Dana Ford Lincoln dealership collapsed on him. A husband and father, Mendizabal was employed by Formica Construction Co. Inc., a Port Richmond, New York, contractor.

May 28, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA finds workers again exposed to safety and health hazards at Camden, New Jersey, warehouse [05/28/2015]

Magnetic Metals Corp. fined $53,900 for 15 federal violations

Employer Name and Location: Magnetic Metals Corp., located at 1900 Hayes Avenue in Camden, New Jersey, manufactures soft magnetic materials for products including motors and transformers.

May 27, 2015

OSHA News Release: Machine guards may have prevented arm amputation suffered by worker at Cordele, Georgia, sawmill [05/27/2015]

CORDELE, Ga. — A job should be a source of personal accomplishment and pride, not the cause of disability and unemployment. A 29-year-old temporary worker suffered the latter at a local sawmill operated by Griffin Lumber & Hardware. The man's left arm was amputated when his jacket was caught in the drive shaft of a conveyor belt in January.

May 26, 2015

OSHA News Release: Conway Stores again locks emergency exits at Bronx stores [05/26/2015]

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — A blocked or obstructed exit route can be the difference between life and death. Despite the clear risks, Conway Stores' Bronx location jeopardized workers and shoppers despite two warnings from federal safety inspectors in December 2014.

May 26, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Worker's finger amputated after being caught in machine at Superior Roll Forming Company in Valley City, Ohio [05/26/2015]

Employer name: Superior Roll Forming Company, Inc.

Investigation site: 5535 Wegman Drive, Valley City, Ohio 44280

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: On March 2, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cleveland office initiated an inspection at the metal stamping plant after a 55-year-old worker's left index finger was crushed between weld clamps.

May 26, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites Atlanta-area commercial lamination company for 18 serious safety and health violations; nearly $80K in penalties proposed [05/26/2015]

Employer name: Panolam Industries International Inc.

Inspection site: 6300 Atlantic Blvd., Norcross, Georgia 30071

Date inspection initiated: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the Nov. 20, 2014 inspection after receiving a complaint alleging workplace safety hazards.

May 26, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Newark gas manufacturer repeatedly exposed employees to workplace hazards [05/26/2015]

OSHA fines Welco Acetylene Corp. $57,400

Employer Name and Location: The acetylene repackaging facility of industrial gas manufacturer Welco Acetylene Corp. is located at 321 Roanoke Place in Newark, New Jersey.

May 22, 2015

OSHA News Release: Alfa Laval faces nearly $500K in fines for Oklahoma safety violations [05/22/2015]

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Alfa Laval Inc. faces $477,900 in proposed penalties after U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspections discovered dozens of serious workplace safety violations, five of which were identified in previous inspections.