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 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 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.

September 23, 2014

OSHA News Release: Midville, Georgia, steel distributor cited for exposing workers to repeat and serious workplace safety hazards [09/23/2014]

MIDVILLE, Ga. — Cooksey Iron & Metal Co., doing business as Cooksey Steel Co., was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 20 safety and health violations following an April 2014 inspection at the company's steel storage and distribution facility on Railroad Street in Midville.

September 23, 2014

OSHA News Release: Roofers not provided fall protection at two work sites [09/23/2014]

TUSCOLA, Ill. — Roofing contractor Juan M. Garcia Martinez has been cited for four willful safety violations for exposing workers to fall hazards at two separate residential home sites in Tuscola. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed penalties of $48,400 for the recent citations. OSHA cited the company twice in March 2014 for similar violations.

September 23, 2014

OSHA News Brief: Cave-in protection failures cited after excavation collapse in Missoula [09/23/2014]

Employers' names: Glennco Excavating Inc. and Labor Ready Northwest Inc.

Citations issued: Sept. 17, 2015

September 23, 2014

OSHA News Release: Prattville, Alabama, Fras-le North America cited for repeat and serious safety and health violations following OSHA inspection [09/23/2014]

PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Fras-le North America Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 17 safety and health violations following a March 2014 inspection at the manufacturer's Prattville facility. The inspection was initiated as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program for Safety Hazards in the Auto Parts Industry. Proposed penalties total $67,500.

September 22, 2014

OSHA News Release: Employee injured while working at Oconee Fall Line Technical College; Georgia electrical contractor cited for safety violations [09/22/2014]

DUBLIN, Ga. — An employee of John McAfee, doing business as McAfee Electric, suffered serious burns and required resuscitation by emergency responders following an incident in Dublin at Oconee Fall Line Technical College, where McAfee Electric was contracted to install emergency light-emitting diode, or LED lighting. The worker was injured while attempting to connect new wiring with existing wiring that was still powered. Following a subsequent inspection, the U.S.

September 22, 2014

OSHA News Release: Worker reports respiratory inflammation after welding in rail car [09/22/2014]

OMAHA, Neb. — A worker at Watco Investments LLC reported suffering from respiratory inflammation after performing welding work inside a rail car in Omaha. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company, operating as Watco Companies Inc., for three repeat and three serious safety violations, many involving OSHA's confined space safety regulations. OSHA has proposed fines of $133,900 for the company, which specializes in rail car repairs.

September 22, 2014

OSHA News Release: Electrical and machine hazards among 10 serious safety violations found at General Glass International in Secaucus, New Jersey [09/22/2014]

SECAUCUS, N.J. — General Glass International has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 10 serious safety violations, including electrical and machine hazards found at the company's fabrication and design center at 101 Venture Way in Secaucus. Initiated after a complaint, the March 2014 inspection proposed $45,540 in penalties for these violations.

September 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: D & J Ironworks cited for inadequate workplace safeguards following fatal fire in Boston's Back Bay [09/19/2014]

BRAINTREE, Mass. — Guiseppe Falcone and Daniele Falcone, doing business as D & J Ironworks, failed to follow safety precautions, which fire officials indicated led to a fire that cost the lives of two Boston fire fighters, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined.

September 18, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to dangerous machine hazards at MCM Industries Co. [09/18/2014]

CLEVELAND — After an inspection found workers were exposed to amputation hazards from improperly guarded mechanical power presses, MCM Industries Co. has been cited for one willful and 17 serious safety and health violations. The U.S.

September 16, 2014

OSHA News Release: 51-year-old worker fatally engulfed in Lake Preston, South Dakota, grain elevator [09/16/2014]

LAKE PRESTON, S.D. — A 51-year-old worker was fatally injured when he became engulfed in flowing grain in a railcar load-out elevator at Prairie Ag Partners. On March 15, 2014, the incident occurred when the worker attempted to remove a jam from a chute while the auger operated. The U.S.

September 16, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites KVK Foundry for repeatedly violating safety standards [09/16/2014]

MILLINGTON, Ill. — KVK Foundry Inc. has been cited for two willful and two repeat violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A March 2014 follow-up inspection found the Millington-based company failed to maintain requirements of OSHA's respiratory protection and hearing conservation standards. The foundry, which specializes in aluminum sand casting, was previously cited for these violations in December 2012.

September 16, 2014

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department seeks damages for wrongly terminated Sandpoint, Idaho, employee [09/16/2014]

SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Sandpoint Gas ‘n' Go & Lube Center Inc., in Sandpoint, Idaho, and its owner Sydney M. Oskoui, individually, for violating the whistleblower protection provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The investigation determined that Sandpoint and its owner terminated a mechanic for raising safety and health concerns in the workplace.

September 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to combustible dust, amputation and other serious hazards at Ravenna, Ohio, rubber products plant [09/15/2014]

RAVENNA, Ohio — Portage Precision Polymers of Ravenna has been cited for 15 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $61,600, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a complaint prompted an inspection. Many of the citations issued to the rubber products manufacturing plant were for exposing workers to combustible dust and amputation hazards.