Weekly news round-up
BP faces potentially billions in penalties for Deepwater Horizon explosion, PG&E faces actual billions in penalties for San Bruno pipeline explosion and firefighters helping with an “Ice Bucket Challenge” are serious burned by an arc flash incident. These were among the top EHS-related stories posted this week on ISHN.com.
In June, 2014, OSHA issued a memorandum to its ten regional administrators that established a temporary enforcement policy for: 29 CFR 1910.137(b) and 1910.269; and 29 CFR 1926.97(b) and Subpart V.
White House orders federal contractors to disclose OSHA violations
The vast majority of federal contractors play by the rules, but every year tens of thousands of American workers are denied overtime wages, not hired or paid fairly because of their gender or age, or have their health and safety put at risk by corporations contracting with the federal government that cut corners, according to a White House press statement.
CDC director: Ebola close to becoming a global threat for years to come
CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. reported on his visits last week to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and called for immediate steps across nations to accelerate response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, according to a press release issued September 2 by the CDC.
By Dave Johnson
OSHA boss Dr. David Michaels tried to ease the fears of Voluntary Protection Program supporters who complain his agency has forsaken VPP for other priorities in his speech at the annual meeting of the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association (VPPPA) held Aug25-28 in National Harbor, MD, near Washington DC.
Federal judge finds that Gulf oil spill was caused by BP’s gross negligence
Decision opens door to billions in fines for British oil giant
A judge in New Orleans federal court today released a ruling that British oil giant BP acted with gross negligence in relation to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, which killed 11 workers, injured 16 others caused a massive a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico -- the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
Pacific Gas & Electric penalized $1.4 billion for 3,798 violations
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) September 2 levied $1.4 billion in penalties against Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) for thousands of violations leading up to a September 9, 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif.that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes, according to a press release from the CPUC.
Tomorrow is N95 Respirator Day!
Join NIOSH Twitter chat for Q&A
The N95 respirator is important to the health and safety of workers in many different industries. This type of respirator forms a seal against the user’s face, preventing penetration around the edges, and the filter protects workers against at least 95 percent of airborne particles.
Are arc flash warning signs required by OSHA?
A letter to OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP) regarding the agency's requirements and the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 70E-2004, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, posed the following question:
OSHA, Global Cold Chain Alliance renew agreement to prevent hazmat exposure
OSHA has renewed its alliance with the Global Cold Chain Alliance to continue working together to protect workers from exposure to hazardous chemical releases from ammonia refrigeration systems. The alliance will also focus on improving the process safety management programs for these systems.
How safety & health innovators can protect their patents
A new patent guide from the Center for Research Construction and Training ( CPWR) offers valuable information to academic researchers and others who have developed better or safer approaches to work in the construction industry.
Firefighters helping with “Ice Bucket Challenge” injured by apparent arc flash
Four firefighters suffered serious burns and electrical shocks last month while participating in a charity fundraising event at a Campbellsville, Kentucky college campus.
Mine safety violations way down in June
MSHA announces results of the month’s impact inspections
As of June 2014, violations per inspection hour at U.S. mines were down 19 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), in its monthly impact inspections report.
"It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life"
Video puts a human face on arc flash danger
A moving video posted on YouTube by friends of Eddie Adams describes how the Elkin, North Carolina electrician lost his life in an arc flash incident – and how his loss impacted his family, friends and co-workers. Adams died from the explosion of a 2300 volt starter.
Hazards at Connecticut plastics facility run the gamut
Fall, mechanical, electrical & chemical dangers earn co. 24 violations
Employees at Superior Plastics Extrusion Co. Inc., doing business as Impact Plastics, were exposed to two dozen safety and health hazards, including falls and mechanical hazards, according to federal inspectors. OSHA has proposed penalties totaling $66,789 for violations at the company's Putnam, Connecticut, manufacturing plant.
VPP level of engagement in mid-2014
By Dave Johnson
OSHA reported at the annual meeting of the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association (VPPPA) held August 25-28 in National Harbor, MD, outside of Washington, DC that as of July 2014, there were 2,293 active Voluntary Protection Program participants, protecting more than 875,000 workers.
Temp workers are at high risk, asserts OSHA
OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels continued his agency’s campaign to raise awareness of the safety and health risks faced by temporary workers – an increasing employment tactic used by many businesses in the economy’s sluggish recovery – in his remarks to attendees at the annual meeting of the Voluntary Protection Program Participants’ Association held August 25-28 in National Harbor, MD, outside of Washington, DC.
Two workers injured at Burrows Paper Corp. in Ohio
OSHA cites plant for 2 repeat and 4 serious safety violations
Two employees of Burrows Paper Corp. in Franklin were injured in separate incidents after the food box manufacturer failed to provide adequate machine guarding and implement energy isolating procedures during servicing and maintenance.
We need to be better prepared…for anything
FEMA launches campaign to encourage families to create a plan
Fifty percent of Americans have not discussed or developed an emergency plan for family members about where to go and what to do in the event of a local disaster, according to a 2014 national survey conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
