News Digest 10-13-2021

 

New Mexico Environment Department to hire OSHA workers

The New Mexico Environment Department is hosting rapid-hire events in Las Cruces, Santa Fe and Albuquerque to hire more than 30 people to staff its OSHA program. New positions include worksite inspectors, compliance assistance specialists, operations staff, and COVID-19 response staff. Las Cruces Sun

 

Employer gets probation after fatal 2016 fall at New Jersey site

A Newark, New Jersey contracting company was sentenced to five years probation for violating Fed-OSHA standards, which resulted in the death of an employee who fell off a roof in in 2016, according to federal prosecutors. The owner of the company previously pleaded guilty in federal court to willfully violating Fed-OSHA standards by failing to provide fall protection to employees building a residential home. Patch

 

Paint manufacturer fined nearly $710K after deadly explosion

An explosion and fire that killed a press operator lead and hospitalized eight other employees of Yenkin-Majestic Paint could have been prevented had the employer not altered a kettle reactor vessel improperly and then returned the vessel to service after it failed following the alterations, a Fed-OSHA investigation has found. Manufacturing Business Technology

 

Federal vaccine mandate for companies with 100+ employees: who will enforce it?

The job of enforcement of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employers of more than 100 people, which will come into effect in the next few weeks, technically falls to Fed-OSHA. Fed-OSHA can fine companies for not having vaccinated employees, but many employers are unclear on how the mandate can be enforced. Fox43

 

Fed-OSHA increases tree work, landscaping industry enforcement

Fed-OSHA has increased outreach and enforcement efforts for the tree trimming and landscaping industries, including a regional emphasis program announced by the agency’s Boston office in August. Fed-OSHA investigators also compiled evidence showing that poor practices have led to accidents, including employees falling from trees and lifts, being struck by trees, lacerated by saws, and electrocuted by live wires. CBIA