Workers exposed to dangerous fumes

• OSHA found an oil and gas company employee suffered fatal exposure to hydrogen sulfide while working near a sump pit in September 2022.
• The agency issued citations to Production Waste Solutions LLC in Texas for six serious safety and health violations.
• OSHA penalized the company for exposing employees to inhalation hazards, not training employees on hazards associated with hydrogen sulfide exposure, and other infractions
• Production Waste Solutions was assessed $39,064 in proposed penalties, which are set by federal statute.
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More protection for American Indian and Alaska Native workers

• NIOSH has created a strategic plan for research and outreach for workplace hazards among American Indian and Alaska Native workers.
• The 10-year strategy details the program’s research, practice, policy and capacity-building objectives for preventing injuries and illnesses.
• It also outlines plans for progress evaluations – both at the midpoint of the research period and at the end. The research period is scheduled to conclude in 2032.
• About 2.7 million American Indian and Alaska Native people are currently employed in the United States, making up 1.8% of the U.S. workforce.
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Flint gets new fire trucks after violations

• Flint faced a $10,000 OSHA violation fine about 18 months ago after some of its firefighting vehicles had more than 175,000 miles on them,
• Now, the fire department is going to get new trucks as the City Council approved the purchase of three new fire trucks for the Flint Fire Department at the meeting Monday, March 13.
• Wiggins said there are currently 11 trucks throughout the five different stations in Flint. There are two fire trucks at each station and one spare.
• One of the trucks that are still used is from 1995, a pumper.
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More trouble for Dollar General

• Dollar General faces over $1 million in new OSHA fines for violations at four stores in Florida and Georgia.
• OSHA inspected stores in Ocala, Florida, and Columbus, Georgia, finding repeat violations, including blocked exits, locked exit doors, and improperly stacked boxes
• The agency opened inspections of stores in Ocala and Marion Oaks Manor, finding merchandise obstructing exit routes that exposed workers to fire and entrapment hazards.
• OSHA discovered merchandise blocking fire extinguishers and an automatic sliding door that was disabled and proposed $710,974 in penalties.
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