Fire raised safety concerns at NYC warehouse
- OSHA is investigating Amazon.com Inc. over allegedly retaliating against employees who raised safety concerns after a fire at the company’s unionized warehouse in New York City.
- Federal investigators are trying to determine whether Amazon retaliated against employees who complained to management “about the safety of the working environment following the fire,
- The investigation was opened after 21 complaints were filed with OSHA.
- Workers wanted to go home with pay following the fire because they felt unsafe.
OSHA investigating death in South Dakota
- OSHA is investigating a death that occurred at a Sioux Falls packaging facility on Tuesday.
- An agency spokesman said that investigators are currently speaking with employees and the owner of Bell Inc. to determine what happened.
- OSHA was unable to disclose the manner of death or the age and gender of the employee.
- Ben Arndt, Bell’s COO, said in a statement that the company was saddened by the loss of an employee at their facility.
Firm approved for OSHA training
- ICW Group Insurance Cos. was granted authorization to conduct virtual OSHA 10-hour training courses for its workers’ compensation policyholders.
- The first insurance carrier to be authorized to conduct virtual OSHA 10-hour training courses on an ongoing basis, ICW Group will conduct eight English and four Spanish sessions over the next year.
- The company will specifically teach the Construction Industry training course, which will be offered for free to policyholders.
- The OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry training program is required to satisfy OSHA training requirements for entry-level construction workers.
North Carolina town cited for violations
- The town of Waynesville in North Carolina was cited for a federal safety violation when a public works crews failed to properly secure a trench when repairing a sewer line.
- An anonymous tip led OSHA to make a visit to the worksite.
- Crews are replacing a section of the old sewer line and are digging up one section at a time, replacing the line, and refilling.
- The inspector found an open trench that wasn’t shored up with a trench box.