February 22, 2016

OSHA: Fatal Taunton aerial lift tip over was ‘preventable’

BRAINTREE, Mass. – Kevin Miranda’s death could have been prevented if his employer, Skyline Contracting and Roofing Corp. of Taunton, had followed industry and federal safety standards, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

February 22, 2016

Workers of four Florida contractors face dangerous fall hazards at Jacksonville job site, OSHA proposes nearly $145K in fines

Employer’s names: John Whigham Sheeting Inc.
Ezzo Construction LLC
S.A. Robinson Construction
KB Home Florida LLC

Inspection site: Abby Glen subdivision, Jacksonville, Florida 32257

Citations issued: Citations were issued to the employers on Feb. 17.

February 22, 2016

US Labor Department sues Niagara Falls employer for firing employee who raised safety concerns at Buffalo demolition site

BUFFALO, N.Y. – He took the right step, and was fired for it.

He was a demolition and asbestos abatement laborer employed by Regional Environmental Demolition Inc. at an asbestos abatement project in Buffalo from April to June 2014. At the job site at 527 West Utica St., the man observed weakened or deteriorated sections of flooring called “soft spots.” At one spot, his foot broke through the floor.

February 22, 2016

OSHA administrative law judge rules that Connecticut contractor misclassified employees as independent contractors

Date of action: Feb. 1, 2016

Type of action: Decision and Order

Names of defendant: David Dzenutis dba Royal Construction Company, a roofing contractor in Canton, Connecticut.

February 22, 2016

US Labor Department sues US Steel Corp., for retaliating against workers reporting workplace injuries

PITTSBURGH – In 2014, two U.S. Steel Corp., employees reported injuries that may have resulted from worksite incidents occurring a few days earlier. At the time of the incidents, the employees were unaware they had suffered injuries, as symptoms did not develop until later. When the workers realized and reported their injuries, U.S. Steel suspended both workers without pay for violating the company’s immediate reporting policy.

February 22, 2016

OSHA cites Colorado homebuilder, roofing company for not providing workers with proper fall protection equipment

Employer(s) name(s): Richmond American Homes of Colorado Inc.
d-7 Roofing LLC

Worksites: Residential housing projects in Littleton and Aurora, Colorado

Citations issued: Feb. 22, 2016

February 18, 2016

OSHA finds Arkansas door manufacturer exposed workers to dangers from moving machine parts, risk of electrocution

Employer name: Primecraft Doors Inc.

Location: Malvern, Arkansas

Citations issued: Feb. 16, 2016

February 18, 2016

OSHA: Circus tent in fatal New Hampshire collapse not erected correctly

CONCORD, N.H. – The circus tent that collapsed in Lancaster during a sudden downdraft of air called a “micro-burst” on Aug. 3, 2015, was not properly erected and the circus operator, Walker International Events, did not follow repeated National Weather Service storm warnings, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

The collapse killed two audience members and injured dozens of others, including two circus employees,

February 18, 2016

Ephrata, Pennsylvania construction company exposed workers to falls from nearly two stories up, other hazards at Leola worksite

Employer name: Leon Ray Burkholder, doing business as Burkholder Builders, at 580 Indiantown Rd., Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Inspection site: Multi-family residential construction project at 443-447 Marlene Way in Leola.

February 17, 2016

OSHA cites Martell, Nebraska, feed mill for grain handling hazards

Employer name: Midwest Farmers Cooperative

Inspection site: 17700 South 1st St., Martell, Nebraska

Citations issued: Feb. 11, 2016

February 17, 2016

OSHA: Bryant University structural steel collapse ‘needless and preventable’

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The structural steel collapse at Bryant University in Smithfield that injured six workers on Sept. 1, 2015, could have been prevented, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined.

February 17, 2016

US Labor Department urges storm recovery workers and public to be vigilant and aware of hazards during storm cleanup

ATLANTA – As they recover from the impacts of severe storms and tornadoes, Mississippi’s emergency workers, employers, and the public at-large should be aware of the hazards they may encounter and take necessary steps to stay safe, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges.

February 17, 2016

OSHA cites Oak Creek industrial laundry facility in worker’s death

Employer name: Crothall Laundry Services Inc.

Inspection site: 9905 S. 13th St., Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Citations issued: Feb. 9, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Milwaukee area office cited Crothall Laundry Services for six serious safety violations.

February 16, 2016

National Safety Stand-Down highlights importance of preventing falls, leading cause of worker death, serious injury in the construction industry

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other federal safety agencies announced today that they have designated May 2-6, 2016, for the third annual National Safety Stand-Down. The event is a nationwide effort to remind and educate employers and workers in the construction industry of the serious dangers of falls – the cause of the highest number of industry deaths in the construction industry.

February 16, 2016

OSHA cites Republic Wire after worker loses finger in unguarded machine

Employer name: Republic Wire Inc.

Inspection site: 5525 Union Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio

Citations issued: Feb. 10, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cincinnati Area Office cited Republic Wire for one willful, four serious and one other-than-serious violation.

February 16, 2016

Lack of training by company led to logging worker’s tragic death

WOODLAWN, Ill. – The death of a 20-year-old worker killed when a tree fell on him during logging operations could have been prevented if his employer had removed damaged trees prior to conducting logging operations on a 40-acre site in Woodlawn, federal inspectors determined.

February 11, 2016

OSHA cites Case Farms for failing to report employee illness

Employer name: Case Farms Processing Inc.

Inspection site: 1818 County Road 160, Winesburg, Ohio

Citations issued: Feb. 9, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Columbus area office cited Case Farms Processing for two repeat and one other-than-serious safety violations.

February 11, 2016

Three workers suffer amputation, serious injuries at Schwan food processing facility

SALINA, Kan. – A leading supplier of frozen specialty foods is facing more than $172,000 in fines after two workers at its Salina facility suffered amputations in separate incidents and a third suffered lacerations and burns.