Grain bin dangers, the deadly state of North Dakota and obesity’s effect on productivity were among the top EHS-related stories as featured on ISHN.com this week:
OSHA can sell company owner’s car if he doesn’t pay judgement
July 21, 2014
OSHA has entered into an agreement with McKees Rocks Industrial Enterprises Inc. and James T. Lind, company president, resolving a lawsuit alleging a worker was wrongfully terminated for filing an OSHA complaint. OSHA inspected the Pennsylvania industrial park and terminal facility after the worker raised safety concerns.
New OSHA fact sheets are now available to help protect workers in marine terminals in work safety zones for on-dock container operations, while performing hot work in certain enclosed spaces, and while servicing rim wheels.
Technician fired after reporting breaches of lead abatement protocol
July 22, 2013
Coit Services of Ohio has been ordered to pay $161,228 in back wages, compensatory damages and interest, plus attorney's fees, to a technician following an investigation by OSHA found that the Bedford Heights company violated the whistle-blower provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.
A fundamental right afforded by the Occupational Safety and Health Act is the right to report safety concerns without fear of reprisal or retribution of any kind. OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program was established to investigate alleged violations of this right.
OSHA has found that the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp., known as Metra, violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act when a signalman's work hours were changed and his position was eliminated after he made a safety complaint. The company is ordered to pay more than $38,080 in overtime, along with interest, compensatory damages and attorney's fees.
A safety specialist who was penalized after helping a worker file a safety complaint with OSHA is the subject of legal action by one federal agency against another.