Eugene Scalia confirmed to head Labor Department

The Senate last week confirmed attorney Eugene Scalia, son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, to be labor secretary, replacing Alex Acosta who resigned earlier this year. As a lawyer, Scalia led legal challenges to Labor Department rules on ergonomics, retirement security, and injury reporting. Washington Examiner

 

Pennsylvania worker killed while removing debris at former steel plant

A worker was killed Thursday while removing a debris pile at the former Bethlehem Steel headquarters, a 21-story tower that was imploded earlier this year in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The man reportedly was was pinned by hydraulic equipment. Fed-OSHA is investigating. 3 CBS Philly

 

Chain restaurant sued by MNOSHA for failure to pay fines

Last November, the Minnesota Department of Labor cited the Chipotle restaurant in Shakopee with a serious violation for failure to inform and train employees on hazardous chemicals in their work areas. In August, the agency sued the location for $2,200, which included accrued penalty fees, when the fine had not been paid nearly 10 months after it was issued. SW News Media (Savage, Minn.)

 

Fed-OSHA fines auto parts distributor $108K

A Norcross, Georgia auto parts distributor is facing Fed-OSHA fines of more than $108,000 for allegedly exposing employees to eye and skin burns while working with corrosive chemicals and cleaning up acid spills from damaged batteries, and failure to provide facilities where employees could wash off chemicals that spilled on their bodies. Gwinnett Daily Post (Lawrenceville, Ga.)

 

Essay: Preventing violence against health care workers

A 2016 General Accounting Office study reported that rates of violence against health care workers are 12-times higher than rates for the overall workforce, but new federal legislation would require Fed-OSHA to issue a Workplace Violence Prevention Standard. Daily Messenger

 

Employee dies at Chicago-area steel supply company

A 26-year-old employee of a Schaumburg, Illinois metal supply company died Thursday morning while working on machinery. Fed-OSHA and local law enforcement are investigating. Chicago Tribune

 

Six hospitalized for possible CO poisoning at Ohio meatpacking facility

A meatpacking facility in Mason, Ohio was evacuated and temporarily shut down Thursday due to concerns of possible carbon monoxide, which led to six people being hospitalized. Fed-OSHA is investigating. WCPO (Cincinnati)