Government Safety Regulations - Articles - Page 81

Lawmakers demand fix for miners’ healthcare

September 18, 2019

“If we don’t take action now, these families in Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alabama, Colorado, North Dakota and New Mexico will begin receiving health care termination notices at the end of October. Without congressional action to keep this from happening, they will spend their holiday season worrying about whether or not they will have to choose between their life-saving medications and putting food on the table."

FAA: Company that sells airplane parts faked airworthiness documents

A "serious risk to the flying public”

September 17, 2019

It’s probably something you don’t want to think about when you board a plane: whether or not the aircraft you’re traveling in is mechanically sound. The Federal Aviation Administration has leveled a half million dollar fine against a company it said deliberately falsified documents attesting to the airworthiness of the ball bearings it was selling.

Construction employers run afoul of fall protection regs

September 16, 2019

A fatal fall was among the OSHA enforcement cases finalized over the past few days – violations that show a persistent failure among some construction industry employers to address fall hazards. Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in construction. In Dayton, Ohio, a company that has been cited for fall protection violations five times since 2014 was cited once again.

Weekly news round-up

September 14, 2019

OSHA reveals the most-cited safety and health violations of the year, research links flavored e-cigarettes to the youth vaping epidemic and the NSC announces plans to issue an opioid help kit for employers. These were among the top occupational safety and health stories featured this week on ISHN.com.

J.J. Keller’s free educational events help companies improve safety & compliance

September 13, 2019

As companies continue their ongoing efforts to improve employee safety and compliance with government regulations, many have turned to the free educational events hosted by J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. for assistance. “During the first three quarters of 2019, we’ve hosted nearly 80 events,” said Tom Reader, senior director of marketing at J.J. Keller. “And during the fourth quarter of this year we have another 23 events planned.”

Trump rolls back protections on waterways

September 13, 2019

The Trump administration yesterday repealed an Obama-era rule that requires landowners to obtain federal permits before developing or polluting navigable waterways. The 2015 rule clarified the Clean Water Act - also known as Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. It has been the target of lawsuits by farmers, the mining industry and business interests, who claim it restricts development and infringed on property rights. Environmental groups, however, say its expansive definition of navigable waterways is vital in ensuring the safety of wetlands, streams and ponds that feed into larger waterways.

Pipelines in U.S. just got safer

September 12, 2019

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) just got to check off three more items on its 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. The latest three, intended to improve pipeline safety, call for improved inspection programs, better records and documentation of natural gas systems, and procedures to mitigate risks identified during management of change operations.

Company cited for combustible dust blast that injured workers

September 12, 2019

Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. of Steeleville, Illinois has been cited by OSHA for six safety violations including three willful after two maintenance employees conducting welding operations sustained serious burns to their upper bodies as the result of an explosion within a dust collector at the company's pasta manufacturing plant on Oct. 6, 2011. The incident occurred as the two employees were repairing a hole in the side of a metal trough.

Guardrails, nets & fall arrests

Set up your fall protection system early in the work process

Mark H. Stromme

September 12, 2019

Preventing falls from heights when performing construction work is a top priority because falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, there were 366 fatal falls to a lower level out of 971 construction fatalities.

OSHA spells out FR protection specifics

Do your workers understand the hazards?

Maureen Paraventi

September 12, 2019

Although many employees typically provide some or all of their own work attire, it is the employer who will be issued a citation if a worker who is exposed to electric arc or flame hazards is not wearing flame-resistant (FR) clothing.