Ordnance manufacturer settles with Fed-OSHA over citations

A Jamestown, Pennsylvania-area manufacturer of “less-lethal” ordnance will pay a fine and complete safety measures as part of a settlement with Fed-OSHA, which initially proposed fines of $45,000 for 10 safety violations, in connection with a February fire that injured five employees. The agency says an employee was placing explosive materials into mineral oil on the day of the incident when a flash fire occurred and that employees were not provided adequate protection from potential fires. Sharon Herald

Employee killed in work accident at South Carolina plant

A 60-year-old employee of a Spartanburg County, South Carolina automotive supply plant died Monday following a work-related accident. South Carolina OSHA was expected to be notified. GoUpstate

New report on death and infections at Utah meat plant

According to Utah OSHA, one person has died and 441 employees have been infected after the COVID-19 outbreak at a meatpacking plant in Hyrum, Utah, a new case count that’s nearly 100 more than originally reported. The report also states the company implemented protective measures before the outbreak. ABC4.com (Salt Lake City)

Harvest heightens risk of bin entrapments in Illinois

Grain storage is a particularly dangerous area on family farms and in other agricultural settings. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting a significant harvest of soybeans and corn for many Illinois farmers this season. myjournalcourier (Jacksonville, Ill.) [may require registration]

New Jersey bill would make warehouses responsible for COVID outbreaks

Under proposed legislation in New Jersey, employees who test positive for coronavirus during the public health state of emergency will be presumed to have gotten it at on the job. NJBiz [may require registration]

COVID-19: Has Fed-OSHA done enough?

OSHA has been criticized extensively for not investigating enough workplaces, not filing enough citations for safety and health violations, and not punishing employers harshly enough. The greatest criticism however stems from its decision not to promulgate any emergency standards related to COVID-19, and to rely on guidance instead, write attorneys James R. Erwin and Charles S. Einsiedler, Jr. of Pierce Atwood LLP. National Law Review