South Carolina Trying to Overturn OSHA Fine Levels

March 24, 2023

State takes another shot at reversing OSHA fines

  • South Carolina is once again challenging OSHA’s insistence that state workplace safety agencies must have maximum fine levels that match federal penalties.
  • The decision could lead to reduced fine levels in states with their own worker safety programs if a court rules in South Carolina’s favor.
  • In August, Gov, Henry McMaster filed a lawsuit against OSHA on behalf of South Carolina in regards to the federal agency changing penalty requirements for states.
  • McMaster cites federal action by OSHA that revoked Arizona’s state plan for failing to change and worries that the same actions could be taken against South Carolina.
    Read more

OSHA begins investigation into Bruning elevator

  • OSHA is investigating the grain elevator at Bruning Grain and Feed Co. where a man’s body was found last month in Hastings, Nebraska.
  • The body of 43-year-old Jamie Balluch was in one of the grain bins on site.
  • Balluch was an employee of the company and had been reported as a missing person Feb. 2. Authorities had initially said his disappearance was suspicious.
  • An OSHA spokesperson said no further information would be available until the investigation was completed, which by law can take up to six months.
    Read more

Amazon loses worker safety lawsuit

  • A lawsuit by Amazon that tried to undermine Washington state’s effort to improve warehouse worker safety has been dismissed by a federal judge.
  • In March 2022, Washington state’s Department of Labor & Industries hit Amazon with a $60,000 fine for a “willful serious violation” of safety rules at the company’s warehouse in Kent.
  • The state also required Amazon to submit a written plan to abate future violations.
  • Amazon has been fined a total of $81,000 by the agency from violations in warehouses in Kent, DuPont, and Sumner, according to L&I records.
    Read more

Worker struck and killed by front-end loader

  • An employee of a Kansas City waste disposal site was killed after being hit by a Volvo heavy front-end loader.
  • Initial reports were that a pedestrian was fatally struck by the vehicle, but it was later determined the victim was working at the site.
  • Authorities declared her dead shortly after the crash. The driver was not injured.
  • It’s the 13th vehicle-related fatality reported in Kansas City for 2023 and there had been 26 fatalities reported by this time in 2022, according to reports.
    Read more