This means that all 10-hour courses must be taught over a minimum of two days and 30-hour courses over a minimum of four days. Reducing the length of classroom instruction helps ensure that workers retain important information that may prevent injuries, illnesses. and death.
Advertising Opportunities Available
Environmental Resource Center is making a limited number of advertising positions available in the Safety Tip of the Week™, the Environmental Tip of the Week™, and the Reg of the Day™.
OSHA Battles “Catch Me if You Can” Mentality
In a September 14 speech to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission’s Annual Judicial Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels said, “In many instances, when questioned by our inspectors, employers admit that they know what they need to do to protect their workers, but they decided to ignore the rules—exhibiting a callous ‘catch me if you can’ mentality that puts profit before prevention and gambles with peoples’ lives.”
Michaels told the meeting participants that OSHA is moving ahead to stop the deadly toll of workers being maimed and killed on the job every day across the United States.
He said that OSHA is thinking in broader terms. Increasingly, OSHA’s investigations are looking not only at specific actions or use of equipment that caused a worker injury, but also at the overall culture of the company. OSHA inspectors are examining whether employers are merely focusing on compliance, or taking steps to improve overall performance, reduce risk, and make prevention part of daily operations.
OSHA is also new ways to streamline the process of creating and updating standards for thousands of hazardous chemicals in workplaces, and that the piecemeal approach of taking years to develop individual standards for every single chemical is outdated.
Secretary Michaels concluded by stating his desire that more companies take the following steps:
- Act responsibly and follow the law;
- Give their workers training and protective equipment;
- Provide OSHA with accurate reports when workers are injured or taken ill, and
- Pursue a culture of safety and health on the job every day of the year.
OSHA Seeks Members to Serve on Committee Protecting Construction Workers
The committee advises the Secretary of Labor on developing standards and policies that affect the safety and health of construction workers.
Established as a continuing advisory committee under the Construction Safety Act of 1969, ACCSH and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA have consulted for nearly 40 years on construction safety issues such as women in construction, recordkeeping, crane safety, and safety and health resources for Latino construction workers.
OSHA seeks nominees with experience and expertise in construction-related safety and health issues. In support of the Department of Labor’s commitment to equal opportunity in the workplace, the agency is also interested in women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds to serve on the committee. Selected nominees will fill eight vacancies in employee, employer, public, and state safety and health agency representative groups. All 15 ACCSH members serve two year terms, except the representative designated by the Department of Health and Human Services and appointed by the Secretary of Labor, who serves indefinitely. ACCSH meets two to four times a year.
If submitting nominations by mail, send them to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2010-0028, U.S. Department of Labor, N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Nominations not exceeding 10 pages may be faxed to 202-693-1648. The deadline for submissions is November 12, 2010.
General inquiries should be directed to Mr. Francis Dougherty, OSHA Office of Construction Services, at 202-693-2020. Press inquiries should be directed to MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA Office of Communications, at 202-693-1999.
Toshiba Recalls T Series Notebook Computers Due to Burn Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Toshiba America Information Systems, announced a voluntary recall of 4,100 Satellite T135, Satellite T135D, and Satellite ProT130 Notebook Computers.
The notebook computers can overheat at the notebook’s plug-in to the AC adapter, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Toshiba has received 129 reports of the notebook computers overheating and deforming the plastic casing area around the AC adapter plug, including two reports of minor burn injuries that did not require medical attention and two reports of minor property damage.
“Toshiba” is printed on the top of the notebook computer. The model name and number are printed on a label on the bottom of the notebook computers.
These laptops, which were manufactured in China, were sold at electronics stores and other retailers nationwide and online, including at Toshibadirect.com and other websites, from August 2009 through August 2010 for between $600 and $800.
This computer program will detect whether the notebook computer is overheating, and if so, disable the notebook computer’s external power and display a message directing the consumer to contact Toshiba for a free repair. Consumers who do not have Internet access should contact Toshiba to arrange for installation of the updated BIOS.
OSHA Fines Picture Frame Manufacturer $228,000
OSHA is proposing $228,320 in penalties for 34 safety and health violations found at Art Horizons Inc., in Batesville, Mississippi.
In March, OSHA initiated a follow-up to a 2008 inspection at Framed Picture Enterprise Inc. At that time, the agency was informed Framed Picture Enterprise Inc., is now operated as Art Horizons Inc.
As a result of the latest inspection, OSHA has issued the company one willful safety and one health citation with a penalty of $126,000. The safety violation relates to the company failing to maintain a workplace free from the accumulation of combustible dust around equipment and overhead conduits. The health violation is associated with failing to annually administer hearing tests and not requiring hearing protection for workers exposed to noise over the baseline level. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
In addition, OSHA is proposing $12,400 in penalties for two repeat and two serious health violations; and $89,920 for 16 serious safety, 11 repeat safety, and one other-than-serious health violation. The health violations relate to noise hazards, flammable liquids, and failing to develop, implement, or maintain a written hazard communication program. The safety violations are associated with dust collection systems, fall hazards, blocked exit routes, lack of an eyewash station, lack of machine guarding, inadequate emergency lighting, and failing to conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedures. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
“These sizable fines stem from this company’s failure to correct specific hazards, as well as allowing other hazards to occur repeatedly,” said Clyde Payne, OSHA’s area director in Jackson, Mississippi. “The agency will neither accept nor tolerate employers’ repeated failures to correct hazardous conditions.”
OSHA Cites Cathcart Contracting Co. for Cave-in Hazards
OSHA has cited Cathcart Contracting Co. for exposing its workers to cave-in hazards while installing a storm water junction box at its Lake Mary worksite. Penalties total $112,000.
The company is being cited with one willful violation for failing to keep excavated and other material at least 2 feet from the edge of a trench. A second willful citation has been issued to the company for failing to provide a system, such as a trench box, to prevent cave-ins.
“This employer had been renting a trench box designed to protect workers from cave-ins but returned it to cut down on costs,” said Les Grove, OSHA’s area director in Tampa, Florida. “Risking the safety of your workers is not an acceptable business decision.”
The trench was up to seven feet deep in places.
OSHA standards require that all trenches and excavations five feet or deeper be safeguarded to prevent collapse.
OSHA Cites Porta-King Building Systems $124,000 for Serious and Willful Violations
An OSHA inspection, initiated in response to a complaint, revealed two alleged willful and six alleged serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The willful violations address hazards associated with spray painting outside of a predetermined, designated spray booth, and the use of powered industrial truck fork extensions without manufacturer notification, approval, and determination of lifting capacity.
The serious violations address hazards associated with storage of flammable liquids, improper training for and use of powered industrial trucks, the lack of an appropriate respiratory protection program, and the lack of a chemical material safety data sheet.
“Our inspection revealed safety hazards associated with the improper use of powered industrial trucks and exposing workers to potential health hazards by failing to provide an appropriate respiratory protection program,” said Charles Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, Missouri. “It is imperative that employers take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards and provide a safe working environment.”
OSHA Cites Lexington Homes for 40 Safety and Health Violations
OSHA opened a health inspection in April under its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Recordkeeping, but after observing numerous safety violations it was expanded to a complete inspection of the facility.
The company is being cited for 32 serious safety violations with $54,826 in proposed penalties. The violations are associated with failing to install guardrails along open platforms; failing to train workers on lockout/tagout procedures regarding energy sources; failing to conduct periodic inspections of crane, crane hook, and hoist chains; permitting oxygen and fuel gas cylinders to be stored together; and electrical deficiencies.
A separate health inspection revealed four serious violations with $5,250 in proposed penalties. They include hazards related to an unused opening in an electrical box that was not closed, failing to establish an effective hearing program and failing to implement a written hazard communication program to address labeling and hazard training.
The company is also being cited with one safety and three health other-than-serious violations with no proposed penalties. These violations include failing to post a copy of the Appendix D standards for respirators, allowing an employee to use an unapproved respirator, and failing to post the floor load rating over the maintenance shop.
“There is no excuse for a company to disregard the safety and welfare of its workers by not following OSHA safety and health standards,” said Clyde Payne, OSHA’s area director in Jackson, Mississippi.
OSHA Cites S.J. Louis Construction $51,000 for Excavation and Fall Hazards
OSHA has cited S.J. Louis Construction of Texas Ltd., based in Austin, with 10 alleged serious and two other-than-serious violations for exposing workers to multiple safety hazards, including a possible trench cave-in and exposure to electrical hazards at the company’s Leander, Texas, worksite. Proposed penalties total $51,000.
“OSHA has specific standards to prevent trenching hazards that employers are required to follow. A trenching cave-in can quickly lead to a worker dying,” said Casey Perkins, area director of OSHA’s Austin Area Office. “It’s the employers’ responsibility to protect workers and when employers fail to do so, OSHA will cite them.”
OSHA’s Austin Area Office began its investigation on March 23 at the company’s worksite on Trails End Road in Leander, where employees were working in a 17-foot deep excavation site that was not properly shielded or sloped to protect workers from a possible cave-in. The inspection was conducted under the agency’s NEP on Trenching and Excavation.
Serious violations include failing to provide the required excavation sloping to prevent a possible cave-in, perform effective excavation inspections, provide rescue equipment for workers who were welding in confined spaces, provide the safe placement of a ladder for egress during excavation activities, provide the proper machine guarding for a rotating shaft on a piece of equipment, and ensure workers were adequately protected from overhead electrical lines.
The two other-than-serious violations involve failing to properly certify injury and illness records in the OSHA 300 Log.
OSHA Fines Contractor $225,200 for Scaffold and Fall Hazards at 2 Jobsites
A Ronkonkoma, New York, painting and stucco contractor faces a total of $225,200 in proposed OSHA fines for failing to properly erect scaffolds and provide fall protection for its workers at two Kings Point, New York, jobsites.
Painting and Decorating Inc., was cited for a total of 15 alleged willful, repeat, and serious violations of workplace safety standards following OSHA inspections of jobsites located at 20 Lighthouse Road and 9 Briar Lane. Both inspections were opened when OSHA inspectors observed clearly recognized fall hazards while driving by the jobsites.
“These sizable fines reflect both the gravity of the cited hazards and this employer’s prior history of similar violations,” said Anthony Ciuffo, OSHA’s Long Island area director in Westbury. “Scaffolds must be properly erected and fall protection provided to employees when they work on scaffolds at heights of 10 feet or more, yet this employer has repeatedly neglected to implement these basic, commonsense and legally required safeguards.”
Painting and Decorating Inc., was issued eight willful citations with $200,000 in fines for not fully planking scaffolds, providing an access ladder, ensuring scaffolds rested on base plates and providing fall protection at both jobsites. Six serious citations with $5,200 in fines were issued for missing railings, toeboards, and bracing at both jobsites. The contractor was issued one repeat citation with a $20,000 fine for not training workers at the Briar Lane jobsite on scaffolding assembly and work.
The repeat citations stem from OSHA having cited the employer in 2007 and 2008 for similar hazards at jobsites in Kings Point and Great Neck, New York.
“One means of preventing recurring hazards is for employers to establish an effective, comprehensive injury and illness prevention program in which their workers take a continuous and active role in evaluating, identifying and eliminating hazards,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in New York.
OSHA Opens Office in Honolulu
OSHA announced the opening of a new area office at 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 5-146, in Honolulu. The opening of this office will support OSHA’s increased activity, strengthened enforcement, and enhanced state plan oversight.
“With the new area office in Honolulu, we will improve service to workers and employers in Hawaii and enhance our coordination and oversight with the state plan,” said Ken Nishiyama Atha, OSHA’s regional administrator in San Francisco, California. “This presence ultimately will ensure that workers are better protected.”
The new area director of OSHA’s Honolulu office is Galen Lemke, who has been with OSHA for more than 15 years. Lemke, an industrial hygienist, has served on several national work groups for OSHA and as assistant area director for the Madison, Wisconsin, office. Prior to his selection, Lemke was the audit and analysis team leader in the Chicago Regional Office.
Employers and workers with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call the OSHA’s Honolulu Area Office at 808-541-2680 or OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities, or situations posing imminent danger to workers.