Breakthrough in long-sought change follows joint industry-labor request

WASHINGTON – The federal government is proposing a new standard that would dramatically lower workplace exposure to beryllium, a widely used material that can cause devastating lung diseases. The proposal would apply to an estimated 35,000 workers covered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

WASHINGTON — The federal government is proposing a new standard that would dramatically lower workplace exposure to beryllium, a widely used material that can cause devastating lung diseases. The proposal would apply to an estimated 35,000 workers covered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

LORAIN, Ohio — While Republic Steel has made a significant investment in personnel, training and safety improvements, workers are still exposed to serious fall and chemical hazards at the company's century-old Lorain steel mill, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors have found.

In a 2014 corporate settlement with OSHA, the company pledged to address earlier health and safety violations.

OSHA fines G&F Recycling and Salvage Inc. more than $47K

Employer's name: The investigation was conducted at G&F Recycling and Salvage Inc., a recycling operation located at 142 Frelinghuysen Ave. in Newark, New Jersey.

Employer name: Twitchell Technical Products LLC

Inspection site: 4031 Ross Clark Cir, Dothan, Alabama 36303

Date citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on Aug. 5, 2015. The inspection was initiated in April 20, 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

Employer name: Grimco Inc., Fenton, MissouriInvestigation site: Grimco Inc. 861 East Tallmadge Road Akron, Ohio

Employer name: Superior Holding, Inc., operating as Superior Boiler Works Inc., Hutchinson, Kansas

Citations issued: Aug. 4, 2015.

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Wichita area office issued one repeat and 16 serious safety violations to the industrial boiler manufacturer. The violations include:

Employer name: Cox Enterprises Inc. doing business as The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Inspection site: 6455 Best Friend Road, Norcross, Georgia 30071

Date citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on July 30. The inspection was initiated on March 12, 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit for violating the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Name of Defendant: Continental Alloys and Services Inc. in Spring, Texas

OSCEOLA, Wis. — Just one year after a worker amputated part of her right index finger on a spot welding machine at an Osceola metal stamping plant, a 19-year-old female co-worker suffered a similar injury on the same machine. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found that her employer failed to implement safety procedures they agreed upon to protect workers from machine operating parts.

Employer name: Pallet Recycle of Alabama Inc.

Inspection site: 2424 Lasso Ave., Lakeland, Florida 30801

Date citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued 29 citations to the employer on Aug. 3. The safety inspection was initiated in March 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations. A health inspection related to excessive noise was initiated in April.

CINCINNATI — Employees at a Cincinnati nursing care facility will benefit from improvements the company is making to its policies and procedures for transferring residents at Twin Towers, a provider of skilled nursing care services.

Nursing facilities have among the highest rates of serious work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders, including those of the neck, upper extremities and lower back, which account for a significant portion of these injuries.

Employer name: Chaney Roofing Maintenance Inc. 7040 State Route 101 Clyde, Ohio

Investigation site: 10300 W. US-224 Findlay, Ohio

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office issued a safety citation to Chaney Roofing Maintenance Inc., July 22. OSHA opened an investigation of the contractor after observing workers exposed to fall hazards while roofing an Art-Van Furniture Store, June 16.

Employer name: Wilbert Inc., Belmont, North Carolina

Investigation site: Wilbert Inc., operating as Wilbert Plastic Services 635 Southwest Street Bellevue, Ohio

Employer name: BWay Corp.

Location: Bryan, Texas

Date citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the citations on July 30, 2015. The inspection was opened in February in response to a complaint of unsafe working conditions.

MILWAUKEE — Proper safety guards would have stopped a 1,500-pound steel roller before it crushed and killed a 59-year-old maintenance worker, but his employer did not use them, a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection has found.

Employer name: Southcross Energy Partners GP LLC

Site: Gregory, Texas, with headquarters in Dallas

Date cited: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the midstream cryogenic natural gas processing facility.

Employer name: Clemco Industries Inc.

Investigation site: One Cable Car Drive, Washington, Missouri

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's St. Louis Area Office issued 10 serious and one other-than-serious safety and health violations to the Clemco Industries on July 24. The company manufactures abrasive blasting equipment such as hoods, valves and hoppers and employs about 150 workers.

Employer name: Wayne Ansley, doing business as Ansley Metal Fabrication and Repair, Cairo, Georgia

Inspection site: 615 West 3rd Street, Donalsonville, Georgia 39845

Date citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on July 27, 2015. At the time of the inspection, workers were installing metal roofing panels on a new structure.

Contract Filling Inc. faces $50K in OSHA fines for 8 serious violations

Employer name: Contract Filling Inc., a contract manufacturer of fragrances and cosmetics.

Inspection site: 10 Cliffside Drive, Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009