OSHA watch

Reminder: June 1 was final deadline for HazCom and GHS compliance

To be fully compliant with GHS adoption, all employers should have completed any necessary updates to hazard communication programs, including workplace-labeling procedures, and trained all affected employees on any new hazards identified during the manufacturers', distributors', or importers' chemical reclassification process.

New bulletins clarify training, hazcom requirements for temp workers

One bulletin explains that the host employer and staffing agency share responsibility for training temp workers and outlines the requirements.

A second bulletin directs the host employer and staffing agency to complete hazard communication training before the temp worker starts work, and communicate when that training is finished. Training should be conducted each time a new chemical hazard is introduced. Staffing agencies must, at a minimum, provide generic hazard communication information and training, while the host employer has the primary responsibility for providing site-specific hazard communication information and training on chemical hazards in the workplace.

New fact sheets cover confined-space emergencies, scaffolds, longshoring

The confined space fact sheet includes information on how to select an off-site emergency responder, the types of hazards rescuers might encounter, and other information that emergency service providers should obtain from employers during pre-rescue planning.

The ladder jack scaffolds fact sheet includes information about how to handle the scaffolds safely before and during use.

The longshoring in marine terminals fact sheet has tips for employers on how to train workers to prevent lifting incidents and encourage clear communication at all times.

Preventing construction falls: infographics available

OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Center for Construction Research and Training have developed a new series of infographics that illustrates the importance of preventing falls in construction. Available in both English and Spanish, the infographics can be downloaded as PDFs or JPEGs for use in social media, presentations, and print materials from stopconstructionfalls.com.

Recent fines and awards

California

• An inspection of Kink.com facilities in San Francisco found the employer did not require performers to use condoms during production of at least five films, in violation of California's bloodborne pathogens standard. Proposed penalties are $146,600.
• Big & Deep Ag Development Company, also known as Jeff Alexander Farming, was cited for serious safety violations following an explosion in Bakersfield that killed a bulldozer operator and destroyed a nearby residence, resulting in injuries to the occupants including serious burns and smoke inhalation. Proposed penalties of $40,250.

Georgia

• Georgia Power Co. faces $112,000 in fines after an arc flash severely burned an electrician at the utility's Plant Bowen generating facility. Citations include two repeat citations related to powering down machinery.
• Tritter Feefer Home Collection LLC, a furniture manufacturing facility, faces $58,520 in proposed penalties after a worker lost part of a finger to a table saw. The investigation revealed the employer had removed the safety guards from the saw.
• At a Savannah motor vehicle shipping facility, Cars Loading LLC,a 17-year-old worker, who died when a car fell off a hydraulic lift and crushed him, was operating hazardous equipment in violation of federal law. Fined $13,860, the company also paid civil fines for violation of child labor laws.
• Plastics manufacturer, Thomson Plastics, faces $54,000 in fines for exposing employees to amputation and other hazards.

Kansas

• Viking Corporation, operating as Viking Blast & Wash Systems, was cited for 16 serious safety and health violations after a 24 year-old lathe operator was struck and killed by a metal bar. Proposed penalties are $59,000.
• The Scoular Company of Tribute, a bean merchant wholesaler, was cited for $47,300 for exposing workers to grain dust and fall hazards. The investigation was initiated under the Local Emphasis Program for Grain Handling hazard.

Massachusetts

• Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning was cited for one repeated and one serious violation, with proposed fines of $45,500 for failing to ensure the use of protective equipment when the workers were atop a roof and failing to guard two skylights. One worker fell and was seriously injured.
• MJR, a Boston staffing company that does business as Snelling Staffing Services, placed a temporary worker at a subsidiary of Tootsie Roll Industries Inc., Cambridge Brands Inc.'s production facility and a candy-wrapping machine surgically amputated part of his left index finger. The inspection found temporary workers did not receive the same level of training as permanent employees.Proposed penalties: Cambridge Brands - $46,000; MJR Management- $9,000.
• Reinhart Food Service LLC, a Taunton food products distribution center, faces $72,000 in penalties following an ammonia leak and alarm failure.

Michigan

• Michigan OSHA issued $91,650 in fines to Anderson-Cook, Inc.-LM Gear for safety violations at its Chesterfield facility, including inadequate machine guarding, inadequate barriers around robotic machinery, workers operating overhead cranes without hardhats; and an unguarded platform, exposing workers to falls.
• Sunset Tree Service & Landscaping of Bay City was issued a Cease Operation Order, one of the strongest enforcement actions MIOSHA can take against an employer, for continuing to operate without abating hazards.

Minnesota

• Minnetonka-based Polar Service Centers, violated the whistleblower provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by suspending and demoting a manager when he suspected a Polar customer was improperly certifying trailers to haul hazardous waste. The company was ordered to reinstate the manager, pay $88,847 in back wages, and pay $100,000 in punitive damages and $1,700 in compensatory damages.

Missouri

• Midwest Grain & Barge Co. of Scott City was cited for exposing workers to grain-handling hazards following a complaint. Proposed penalties are $42,000.

Nebraska

• Integrated Life Choices Inc., which cares for developmentally challenged persons, was cited with a general duty clause violation for exposing employees to workplace violence hazards at its facility in Lincoln and for not reporting the hospitalization with 24 hours. Proposed fines are $12,000.

New York

• Acme Parts Inc., a Brooklyn brass plumbing fittings manufacturer, faces $105,000 in fines after a machinist's elevated lead level leads to discovery of numerous violations. The inspection found employees lacked adequate protections against lead exposure, hearing loss and hazardous chemicals.
• CSX Transportation Inc. was found to have retaliated against an employee at its Selkirk facility for reporting safety concerns and ordered to pay the employee $27,735 in attorney's fees and $5,000 in punitive damages as well as conduct additional training on the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) and the rights it affords workers.

Pennsylvania

• Limerick-based Penn Stucco Systems Inc. and Upper Darby-based BC Stucco & Stone are facing a combined $236,390 in proposed fines for violations including failing to ensure workers were safely working on scaffolds. Conducted in response to a complaint, the inspection revealed the contractors bypassed safety in an effort to accelerate the project.
• Best Choice Plumbing, Inc., was cited for not creating a proper 'work zone' after a 27-year-old plumber working to repair an underground leak was struck and killed by a passing car and faces $42,960 in fines.
• Falls Creek Powdered Metals Inc., a Brockway metal manufacturer, was cited with 27 violations for exposing workers to unguarded or improperly guarded machines, and for the lack of a lockout/tagout program. Conducted in response to a complaint, the inspection resulted in proposed fines of $47,000.
• Higher Ground Tactical LLC of Emmaus, an indoor shooting range faces $135,000 in fines for exposing workers to willful lead and noise hazards. The company was placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
• Insulation manufacturer, US GreenFiber LLC, exposed workers to combustible dust and other safety hazards at its Wilkes-Barre plant and faces $66,000 in fines.

Texas

• Following the death of a worker who was overcome with carbon dioxide, Atlantic Coffee Industrial Solutions, LLC, faces $63,000 in proposed fines for failing to properly train and protect workers from potentially harmful chemicals.
• McAllen telecommunications company, Cinch Connectors Inc, was cited for safety failures that exposed workers to various dangers and fined $41,000 for 11 violations.
• A complaint of unsafe working conditions led inspectors to fine Structural & Steel Products Manufacturing Ltd. of Fort Worth $40,458 for 11 serious violations.
• Angel Brothers Enterprises Ltd. of LaPorte has been cited five times since 2009 for willfully doing unprotected work in underground trenches. Most recently, the utility paving contractor was fined $70,000 for violations at a Harris County project site.

Wisconsin

• Nature's Path Foods Inc.'s U.S. subsidiary in Sussex is facing $118,320 in proposed penalties after a 30-year-old employee's three fingertips were amputated. Safety violations included a failure to install adequate machine guarding, correct electrical safety violations and train workers about chemical hazards in the workplace.
• Arcadia-based cardboard manufacturer, Industrial Packaging Corp., was cited with willful, serious violations totaling $118,000 following the amputation of a 23-year-old worker's three fingertips.
• Pier 1 faces $101,420 in fines for failing to prevent boxes from blocking aisles and piling them to dangerous heights at its Glendale store. The inspection was initiated in response to a complaint.
• Ozburn-Hessey Logistics LLC, a refrigeration warehouse in Fond Du Lac, was fined $42,000 for lacking proper procedures for handling ammonia.

Detailed descriptions of the citations above and other OSHA citations can be found here.