Following an inspection, OSHA has proposed $115,000 in penalties against a contractor for two alleged willful and one alleged serious violations of OSHA standards. Three employees contracted from a temporary help company were injured after they were instructed to clean the inside of a tank that contained concrete slurry. Two of the workers were admitted to hospital with second-degree chemical burns. The company was cited for willful failure to identify and correct any possible hazards before instructing employees to enter a confined space; along with willful failure to instruct employees on the hazards associated with confined spaces and failure to train employees on the use of protective and emergency equipment. A serious citation was also issued, alleging that the company failed to require employees to wear protective equipment, including eye and face protection, while working with a hazardous material.

[John Moriarty & Associates of Florida Inc., Hollywood, FL. Release number 08-522-ATL (106), May 2, 2008].

OSHA has cited 11 repeat violations for alleged infractions including a lack of a safety program, a lack of PPE, electrical hazards, scaffold hazards and the employer’s failure to develop, implement or maintain a written hazard communications program for employees working with mortar or cement. Five serious citations were also issued for alleged machine guarding, electrical and fall hazards relating to scaffolding.

[T&C Construction, Hoover, AL, Oct. 20, 2009

The citations allege the company’s failure to train and protect workers against asbestos exposure at a Buffalo, NY, jobsite. OSHA says it found that several workers, including inexperienced college students who were cleaning up debris at a former department store warehouse, had not been trained in asbestos hazards and how to protect themselves. The workers allegedly also lacked proper respirators and protective clothing and had not been informed of the presence of asbestos on the site. Also, the employer allegedly failed to determine the asbestos exposure level and to establish a regulated work area for asbestos removal and handling and did not ensure that vacuums with HEPA filters were used to collect debris. Instead, OSHA claims methods were employed that could cause asbestos to be released into the air.

[Cambria Contracting Inc., Lockport, NY, Nov. 30, 2009]

An asbestos removal contractor was hired to remove wall panels full of asbestos from multiple levels of a ship in North Carolina. The panels were in such bad shape that they fell apart at the touch. Before work even began, the place was covered with asbestos dust. A field technician monitored the air quality and told the contractor to shut down the project. But the project’s supervisor said that the monitoring results were wrong and went ahead with the work anyway, without conducting additional monitoring. Worse, he covered the area with plastic sheets that were full of “tears, holes, and gaps.” One area wasn’t covered at all. After an anonymous complaint, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services told the contractor to shut the job down. OSHA fined the contractor $108,500 for multiple asbestos removal violations. The contractor appealed the fine, arguing that there was no proof that asbestos fibers migrated to other areas of the ship. But the federal appeals court disagreed, explaining that the contractor had a duty to cover all open areas, regardless of whether there was proof that asbestos migrated to other areas.

[Arcon, Inc. v. OSHRC, U.S. App. LEXIS 12249, 4th Cir.].

A foreman was installing roofing at a four-story building when he fell. Although he was wearing a safety harness, it wasn’t secured to the roof. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The contractor had provided three people working on the roof with safety harnesses and fall arrest equipment, but some of the equipment failed inspection. In addition, the contractor didn’t train workers on how to use or maintain the safety harnesses; the crew didn’t install the roof anchors properly; and they weren’t using jacks and planks that were required to do the work. The contractor pleaded guilty to an OHS violation and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which he’ll be allowed to serve on weekends. At sentencing, Judge Patrick Curran said workers die far too often as the result of falls. “The people who operate the businesses on work sites not only have to be aware of the potential risk of life from falls but surely are aware,” he said. “Incidents are frighteningly common.”

[David Busk, CBC, Nov. 14, 2016]

An operator on a landscape project experienced sneezing, shortness of breath and watery eyes immediately after burying a drum containing residue of a hazardous herbicide called 2,4-d. The court ruled that the county that ran the site had exposed the operator to hazardous chemicals but limited the fine to $5,000 given the county’s good safety record and its expression of remorse for the incident. [Govt. of Alberta News Release]

While watching a local news program, several OSHA employees noticed that none of the workers involved with the demolition of Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium were wearing respirators, despite the potential for lead exposure. After two OSHA inspectors showed up at the stadium, the demolition contractor finally implemented a lead protection program, which basically required workers to wear half respirators. OSHA then conducted a full inspection and issued three willful citations for 45 health and safety violations, including failure to protect workers from lead hazards. The contractor appealed the citations, arguing that it didn’t realize the potential for lead exposure and was entitled to use “historical data” from another project as its initial exposure assessment. The court disagreed. The contractor couldn’t rely on the “historical data method,” which allows employers to use monitoring results from a recent project that closely resembles the current project. The two projects were “so dissimilar that they couldn’t be considered to ‘closely resemble’ one another under any meaningful construction of that phrase,” the court said.

[Bianchi Trison Corp. v. Secretary of Labor,U.S. App. LEXIS 9976, 3rd Cir.,]

As a result of a complaint, OSHA initiated an inspection of a department store and issued three repeat citations for the alleged violations of failure to train employees on the use of fire extinguishers; failure to maintain free and unobstructed exit routes and improper materials storage, which inhibited employees from freely exiting the facility. A second company store location was issued a repeat violation for failure to maintain free and unobstructed exit routes.

[Kohl’s Department Stores, Yardley, PA and Whitehall, PA. Release number 09-365-PHI (OSHA 09-35), April 14, 2009]

A New York building developer was inspected in response to employee complaints. The citations address a variety of hazards involving the removal of insulation and floor tiles containing asbestos, chemical hazard communication, flammable chemicals, fire protection, electrical safety and a lack of PPE for employees.

[State Assets LLC, Brooklyn, NY. Release number 08-1756-BOS/BOS 2008-356, Dec. 1, 2008].

A willful citation was issued for alleged failure to fully implement an energy control program. Serious citations include alleged failure to provide PPE training, insufficient power truck operator training and failure to provide machine guards on equipment.

[J.D.R. Enterprises, Madison, GA. Release Number 07-1934-ATL (006), Jan. 7, 2008].

OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility in February and cited the company for repeat violations alleging failure to provide training for employees working around energized circuits and equipment, and failure to de-energize electrical live parts prior to employees working on them. A serious citation was issued for alleged failure to provide employees with insulated tools, and an other-than-serious citation was issued for alleged failure to provide adequate signage indicating high voltage hazards. The company is facing $47,600 in proposed penalties.

[Patterson-UTI Drilling Co., Cheyenne, OK. Release Number OSHA-07-925-DAL, July 9, 2007]

An important aspect of safety is good housekeeping. The importance of good housekeeping is often overlooked. Proper housekeeping prevents injuries, fires and other safety hazards. This program emphasizes everyone’s cooperation and effort in keeping their workplace clean, orderly, and safe.

This program explains how to prepare for earth quakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other emergencies at work. Designed to property damage and prevent injuries during emergencies.

Hearing loss is preventable if you follow procedures relating to hearing protection. This video heightens awareness of hearing conservation in the workplace. Explains the anatomy of the ear, how noise can cause hearing loss and how to prevent hearing loss.

Topics covered include: Taking immediate action at the scene of the incident, Gathering facts and information, How to take effective pictures and document an incident scene, Techniques for interviewing witnesses, Methods for analyzing the facts and information gathered, Developing corrective actions, Implementation and communication, and the importance of follow up.

This video focuses on the trend in deaths occurring in the workplace. More people are being killed by violence at work than actual on-the-job injuries. This video explains this problem and how to protect employees.

This titles addresses the most important part of Personal Protection Equipment: The responsibility of the individual to wear the equipment when it’s required. All the procedures and equipment in the world are useless is employees do not understand this one simple fact.

Many of us tend to think more about shoes in terms of styles, but safety shoes are more than a different style. They are protect your feet from hazards that you encounter in your workplace. This program stresses to viewers the importance of selecting and wearing proper footwear to prevent painful foot and toe injuries. Topics include Slip-Resistant Shoes, Puncture-Resistant Soles, Metatarsal Guards and Selecting The Proper Footwear.

Excellent training program for anyone working on or near scaffolding. Attention given to safety rules, operating procedures and safe use of scaffolding. Meets scaffold training requirements.

Different properties face varying degrees and different types of threats. In today’s environment, we need to understand that we all need to be ready…all of the time. Regardless of the threat, you need to respond effectively and appropriately with as little disruption to guests as possible. It’s not always easy but it’s a job that must be done and it must be done right. This video is a great way to train management on what threat levels are and what action must be taken to minimize risk regardless of the threat level.

This video is targeted towards anyone who uses knives but focuses on a food service environment. Describes proper personal protective equipment, “how to” and information on storing, cleaning, and handling knives. This information is vital to the prevention of cut, slice or puncture wounds.

Emphasizes that machine guarding is not foolproof and requires employee responsibility when working with machinery. The last segment of the program addresses safety concerns regarding employees who work with or near conveyor systems.

(Different properties face varying degrees and different types of threats. The size and location of property may play a major role in determining your individual risk. But in today’s environment we need to understand that we all need to be ready …all of the time. Regardless of the threat you need to respond effectively and appropriately with as little disruption to guests as possible. It’s not always easy but it’s a job that must be done and it must be done right. This video is a great way to train management on what threat levels are and what action must be taken to minimize risk regardless of the threat level.)

(This video addresses the most important part of Personal Protection Equipment: The responsibility of the individual to wear the equipment when it’s required. All the procedures and equipment in the world are useless is employees do not understand this one simple fact.)