News
The American Foundry Society and the National Association of Manufacturers worry that OSHA’s new silica rule will be too costly and difficult to comply with for employers, prompting the organizations to petition a court for review.
A new Local Emphasis Program in Nebraska is targeting the meat processing industry for common hazards, including musculoskeletal and repetitive motion, lockout/tagout, and machine guarding.
A new OSHA document summarizes what compliance assistance materials the agency recently released.
Six membership positions on OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee are open, and the agency is seeking nominations.
Notable proposed fines
$387,836 to a New Jersey-based residential construction contractor for a variety of violations – including those related to ladders and falls – at four separate construction sites
$226,310 to a New Orleans tank cleaner for confined space violations related to the asphyxiation of a worker
$144,995 to a Georgia auto parts manufacturer for training and other violations following a combustible dust explosion that engulfed a worker in flames, severely injuring him
$140,000 to a Florida residential contractor for allegations of exposing workers to falls
$124,000 to a Louisiana food manufacturer for alleged chemical and electrical hazards, prompted by an evacuation that sent employees to the hospital
$121,800 to an Ohio contractor for alleged fall hazards at a West Virginia construction site
$110,110 to a metal stamping facility in Illinois for alleged amputation hazards
$106,800 to a Montana-based construction material manufacturer for allegedly exposing workers to arsenic
$59,290 to a construction company for trenching violations after an employee was injured in a trench collapse in Menands, NY
$54,000 to a Georgia contractor for an unguarded skylight in connection with the death of an HVAC installer who fell through the roof opening
$16,800 to an Ohio fertilizer company for violating respiratory protection and hazard communication rules following the death of a worker overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas from working with pig manure
Happening this week
April 12 – Deadline to submit comments or request to speak at an April 25-26 OSHA Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee meeting
April 15 – Deadline to submit comments or request to speak at an April 25-26 OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health meeting regarding drafting Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
Review Counter
Below is a count of how many days recent OSHA proposals have been under review, as of April 11:
| # of Days | OSHA Proposal |
| 189 | Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses (final rule) |
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – part of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget – reviews proposed regulations. The process is required for most rules before they can move forward, and typically takes 90 days.
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