ADM Faces OSHA Fines for September 2023 Explosion

• OSHA has imposed penalties totaling $50,704 for four serious violations after an explosion at Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s Decatur East Plant on Sept. 10, 2023, that injured eight workers.
• ADM has filed notice that it is contesting the OSHA citations — which add up to $12,676 per each of the four violations — and that case is scheduled for a hearing sometime in April or May.
• ADM is also facing other legal woes outside of the OSHA actions. News broke last week of a lawsuit in Macon County Circuit Court filed on behalf of a Decatur man who suffered third degree burns all over his body in a earlier explosion, on April 20, 2023, while he was working in the ADM West Plant on East Fairies Parkway.
• OSHA also investigated this incident and concluded ADM was guilty of “willful” health and safety violations, which the company disputes. OSHA has proposed penalties totaling more than $324,700 in that accident.
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Benchmark Gensuite Acquires the Anvl Frontline Worker Safety Solution

• Benchmark Gensuite, an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) and Sustainability platform provider, is acquiring Anvl, an AI-powered frontline worker safety solution.
• “This is a critical step in our commitment to providing the most innovative EHS solutions on the market,” said R. Mukund, Founder and CEO of Benchmark Gensuite. 
• “Anvl furthers our first-to-market AI advantage by extending our chain of practical AI solutions for breakthrough gains in engagement, productivity, and safety performance improvements in distributed workforces – transforming paper-based and aging everyday work processes that currently cost companies millions each year.”
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ASSP, Safety For NonProfits Group Set Program Collaboration

• The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and Safety For NonProfits (S4NP) have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance worker safety and health.
• The two organizations will cross-promote volunteering opportunities and build a larger and more engaged safety community and encourage the sharing of trusted guidance to drive positive workplace safety outcomes.
• The new one-year alliance is the latest ASSP now has in place to improve the well-being of workers in all industries.
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Nuclear Facilities Worker Health Board Sets Public Advisory Board Meeting  

• The Labor Department’s Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health for Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act will hold an public online meeting on Oct. 30, 2024.
• The act provides compensation and medical benefits to nuclear weapons workers diagnosed with medical conditions caused by their exposure to toxic substances at covered nuclear facilities.
• The 12-member board includes four members from the scientific, medical and claimant communities.
• To join in the meeting, see this link.
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