Flash: Dramatic Increases in Fed, Cal/OSHA Penalties?

Language in a congressional budget bill would increase Fed-OSHA penalties tenfold for certain violations. Would Cal/OSHA be forced to follow suit? Cal-OSHA Reporter

 

Fed-OSHA cites Colorado dairy farm after driver died in unguarded manure pit

Fed-OSHA has cited a LaSalle, Colorado dairy farm operator for multiple violations following an investigation into how a 44-year-old employee drowned in a manure pit in March when the vacuum truck he was driving entered the unguarded pit. The agency found the dairy failed to protect its workers from drowning, crushing, and chemical hazards and issued more than $24,000 in penalties. Denver Channel

 

MIOSHA investigating Ann Arbor school over asbestos report

Michigan OSHA inspectors last week made a surprise visit to an Ann Arbor high school where asbestos may have been disturbed during demolition and construction activities. MIOSHA also been investigating allegations of asbestos being disturbed at two elementary schools. WXYZ (Detroit)

 

New regional emphasis program targets transportation tank cleaning operations

Fed-OSHA Region 6 (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico) recently announced a new local emphasis program on transportation tank cleaning companies. Related enforcement activities will focus on worksites in the business of cleaning, repairing and/or maintaining truck and rail transportation tanks, writes Michael Bowling of Crowe & Dunlevy. JD Supra

 

Fed-OSHA proposes $319K in penalties for Tampa lead factory

Gopher Resource is facing more than $319,000 in fines after Fed-OSHA determined the company willfully exposed employees to high levels of airborne lead. Tampa Bay Times [may require registration]

 

New York contractor fined more than $70K in fatal trench collapse

Fed-OSHA has fined a Rockland County, New York company more than $70,000 stemming from a fatal trench collapse in March. A 43-year-old construction worker was digging a 10-foot ditch without a trench safety box in place when the walls of the trench collapsed, fatally burying him. News12 The Bronx

 

Union nurses say hospitals aren’t following Fed-OSHA’s COVID-19 mandates

Hospitals are not fully compliant with Fed-OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standards that took full effect July 21, according to a survey of 5,000 registered nurses conducted by National Nurses United. Becker’s Hospital Review