Cranes without brakes and band saws without guards were among the violations found by OSHA at a Houston, Texas company -- after an employee gave the agency the heads up.

OSHA has cited specialty metal forgings producer A. Finkl & Sons Co. with 26 safety violations at the company's Chicago facility, including two willful violations that involve failing to provide fall protection around open pits and rectify multiple hazards found in crane inspections. Proposed penalties total $352,700.

I2P2, confined spaces and walking working surfaces are all items on the regulatory agenda issued by OSHA last month. The agenda identifies issues that are being considered for or are in the process of rulemaking – although the agency stresses that rules for some of the items on it might not be issued this year, and some might never be issued.

OSHA recently issued several new Fact Sheets and QuickCards that provide important safety and health information for workers and employers in the construction, nanotechnology and maritime industries.

Stakeholders who are interested in contributing their opinions to OSHA’s Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard are invited to a meeting on April 3, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. (Two meetings already scheduled for April 2 and 3 are full.)