OSHA has cited Plastico Products LLC in New Jersey with 28 safety and health violations, including two willful. OSHA's inspection was prompted by an incident in which a worker's fingertips were amputated at its Irvington facility.

OSHA has cited Vivid Image Inc. with 12 safety violations–including two willful–after one worker died and another was hospitalized from exposure to the chemical toluene at the Theresa, Wis., manufacturing plant on Nov. 29.

A Brooklyn contractor was aware that the steel structure he was erecting was “unstable,” according to OSHA, which found numerous hazards contributing to the fatal collapse of that structure last fall in Brighton Beach, NY.

OSHA says it will establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on improving the agency’s whistleblower protections.

OSHA has cited North Royalton-based DiGioia-Suburban Excavating for two willful safety violations after discovering that workers were allowed to ride inside an excavator bucket to access a trench at a Bowling Green job site on Nov. 17, 2011. 

OSHA has cited Rite Aid of New York Inc. for alleged repeat and serious safety violations at the retailer's 7118 Third Ave. store in Brooklyn, N.Y.

OSHA has cited Home Depot Inc. for alleged repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards at its store located at 3043 state Route 50 in Saratoga Springs.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is commending Massachusetts toughening up regulation of hazardous materials storage and processing in the state, including monitoring of high risk facilities to ensure they are complying with key federal process safety and risk management programs.

The United Steelworkers union (USW) says a bill set to come before the U.S. House would gut health and safety standards at Department of Energy (DOE) weapons sites and put workers at DOE facilities, and residents of neighboring communities, at greater risk of exposure to hazardous materials and radiation.

In an indication that trenching hazards remain a widespread problem, OSHA recently cited a Wisconsin pump service, Rhode Island contractor and Ohio excavation company for exposing workers to trenching hazards.