December 31, 2015

MSHA commemorates 10-year anniversary of Sago Mine disaster

ARLINGTON, Va. — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement on the 10-year anniversary of the Sago Mine disaster:

"On Jan. 2, 2006, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, West Virginia, exploded with 29 miners underground. Although 16 successfully escaped, 12 miners lost their lives and one was seriously injured.

December 30, 2015

US Labor Department obtains consent judgment restoring more than $50K to money purchase plan of Swedesboro, New Jersey, contractor

Date of Action: Dec. 30, 2015

Type of Action: Consent judgment

Names of Defendants: Arthur Azzari, Alex Azzari, John Azzari, Alessio Azzari Inc., and the Alessio Azzari Inc. Prevailing Wage Plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint on Dec. 28, 2015, alleging the following:

December 29, 2015

MSHA announces results of November impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 189 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 17 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in November. Most of the coal mine inspections focused on compliance with respirable dust standards.

December 29, 2015

MSHA announces results of November impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 189 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 17 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in November. Most of the coal mine inspections focused on compliance with respirable dust standards.

December 29, 2015

OSHA cites roofing contractor for exposing workers to fall hazards

Employer name: Dealer Installations Services Inc.

Citations issued: Dec. 21, 2015

December 28, 2015

OSHA cites business for exposing immigrant workers with limited English skills to many hazards; company faces more than $366K in proposed penalties

ST. LOUIS — Two years after a worker died by electrocution at a steel plant owned by St. Louis Cold Drawn, inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the company continues to expose its workforce, predominantly consisting of Asian immigrants with limited English speaking skills, to amputation, electrical and other hazards daily.

December 28, 2015

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

ATLANTA — Georgia residents — emergency workers, employers and the public — recovering from the impact of severe weather 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.

December 28, 2015

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

DALLAS — Texas residents — emergency workers, employers and the public — recovering from the impact of the tornado in North Texas 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.

December 23, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Administrative court sets precedent, allowing request for enterprise-wide hazard abatement by employer to proceed to trial

Date of action: Dec. 7, 2015

Type of action: Order denying respondent's motion

Names of defendant: Central Transport LLC

December 23, 2015

Tarentum, Pennsylvania, manufacturer again cited for exposing employees to electrical, other safety hazards

Employer name:  RESCO Products Inc., doing business as Worldwide Refractories, is located at 6th & Center Streets in Tarentum, Pennsylvania.  The company is a manufacturer of dolomitic brick and specialty refractory products, which are used to line ladles in the steel industry.

The corporate headquarters is located at 2 Penn Center West, Suite 430 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

December 23, 2015

Administrative court sets precedent, allowing request for enterprise-wide hazard abatement by employer to proceed to trial

Date of action: Dec. 7, 2015

Type of action: Order denying respondent's motion

Names of defendant: Central Transport LLC

December 23, 2015

Fort Worth, Texas, air conditioning ductwork manufacturer cited by OSHA for repeatedly failing to protect workers from amputation hazards

Employer name: M & M Manufacturing in Fort Worth, Texas

Citations issued: Dec. 18, 2015

December 22, 2015

Springfield, Missouri, warehouse fails to report hospitalization of 3 workers injured when pallets of glass bottles collapse at packaging facility

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Three workers were hospitalized when more than 30 pallets of glass bottles filled with coffee drinks collapsed at a Springfield warehouse and repacking facility operated by Buske Logistics. One worker had to be rescued from under the rubble. Two of the injured were temporary workers assigned to the facility. Buske Logistics, which had supervisory responsibility for all three employees, failed to report the injuries to the U.S.

December 22, 2015

Havertown construction company with 'severe violator' owner fined $70K by OSHA for willfully exposing workers to falls up to 25 feet

Employer name: DMAC Construction LLC, 1230 Steel Road in Havertown, Pennsylvania

The inspection site was located at 2234 Bainbridge Street in Philadelphia, where the company installed a stucco exterior on an addition to a residence.

Citation issued: On Dec. 15, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a citation for one willful safety violation.

December 22, 2015

Springfield, Missouri, warehouse fails to report hospitalization of 3 workers injured when pallets of glass bottles collapse at packaging facility

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Three workers were hospitalized when more than 30 pallets of glass bottles filled with coffee drinks collapsed at a Springfield warehouse and repacking facility operated by Buske Logistics. One worker had to be rescued from under the rubble. Two of the injured were temporary workers assigned to the facility. Buske Logistics, which had supervisory responsibility for all three employees, failed to report the injuries to the U.S.

December 22, 2015

Havertown construction company with ‘severe violator’ owner fined $70K by OSHA for willfully exposing workers to falls up to 25 feet

Employer name: DMAC Construction LLC, 1230 Steel Road in Havertown, Pennsylvania

The inspection site was located at 2234 Bainbridge Street in Philadelphia, where the company installed a stucco exterior on an addition to a residence.

Citation issued: On Dec. 15, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a citation for one willful safety violation.

December 21, 2015

OSHA cites roofing contractor for exposing workers to fall hazards

Employer name: Julio Galindo

Citations issued: Dec. 21, 2015

Investigation findings The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office cited Columbus-based roofing contractor Julio Galindo for one willful and seven repeated safety violations. The company has also been placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

December 21, 2015

OSHA cites roofing contractor for exposing workers to fall hazards

Employer name: Julio Galindo

Citations issued: Dec. 21, 2015

Investigation findings The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office cited Columbus-based roofing contractor Julio Galindo for one willful and seven repeated safety violations. The company has also been placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.