New task force will look at corruption in construction industry

• The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office named five new New York State and federal agencies to the Construction Fraud Task Force.
• This new task force identifies, investigates, and prosecutes corruption and fraud in the construction industry. Previously, the task force was comprised solely of city agency partners.
• The task force expansion includes statewide and federal agencies — OSHA, the New York State Dept, of Labor, the New York State Insurance Fund, the New York State Office of the Inspector General, and the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
• The first-of-its-kind investigative partnership brings together city, state, and federal agency partners to investigate criminal health and safety lapses in the construction industry, including worksite fatalities and safety hazards.
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Carnival worker injured on Ferris wheel

• An employee of the company operating Tulip Time’s carnival was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries after falling from the Ferris wheel in Ottawa County, Michigan.
• Officers and firefighters from the Holland Department of Public Safety responded just before 11:30 a.m. to the parking lot of Holland Civic Center, where attractions for the Tulip Time carnival are being assembled.
• The 27-year-old male employee of the Skerbeck Entertainment Group was on the ground near the Ferris wheel when responders arrived.
• The man worked for Skerbeck Entertainment Group, which operates the carnival for the Tulip Time Festival and OSHA is investigating the accident.
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Emergency department fined for violations

• The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health officials cited St. Charles Health System for the safety hazards that jeopardized the health of its workers.
• Some of the issues included overflowing containers meant to hold needles, syringes, and lancets.
• The citation came after OSHA investigated a complaint that these containers were overfilled and could not be discarded promptly.
• The hospital is in the process of reviewing its practices for needles and other sharp objects and the frequency of emptying the sharps containers.
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OSHA roof inspection requirements 

• OSHA requires that employers conduct regular roof inspections to identify and address potential hazards before they cause an accident or injury.
• Roofs can become slippery due to rain, snow, or ice and rough surfaces can also cause employees to trip and fall so employers have to ensure the area is safe for work.
• Employees must have safe access to the roof and this includes ensuring that ladders or stairs are properly secured and that guardrails are installed.
• Roof openings such as skylights or vents can pose a hazard if they are not properly covered or protected.
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