How businesses can prepare for workplace violence

How pervasive is violence in the workplace? Answer: Very. Are you protecting your employees from a potential violent attack, particularly in this era of mass shootings and other forms of violence? Philadelphia Inquirer

 

Fed-OSHA cites two employers following employee’s death at Alabama refinery

Fed-OSHA has cited two companies following an employee’s death at a Tuscaloosa, Alabama refining facility and handed down $106,000 in penalties. The citations include failing to ensure confined space entry permits identified all dangers of the space, as well as document that all steps required to ensure safety in a confined space were completed. CBS42 (Birmingham, Ala.)

 

Stone restoration company on Missouri capitol cited for noise hazards

Fed-OSHA has cited the contractor overseeing stone restoration of the Missouri state capitol for occupational noise exposure and failing to administering an effective hearing conservation program when noise exceeded acceptable levels. The three cited violations total $19,890. News Tribune (Jefferson City, Mo.)

 

Employee dies when salvage vessel capsizes on Lake Superior

Fed-OSHA has opened an investigation in response to the death last week of a 68-year-old salvage company employee, who was found in shallow water on Lake Superior. The employee was the operator of a 21-foot aluminum-hulled boat that capsized after the engine became waterlogged in heavy waves. Two passengers were able to swim to safety. Duluth News Tribune

 

Fed-OSHA fines New Hampshire employer $154K after health violations

Fed-OSHA has cited a Stratham, New Hampshire store for failing to keep work areas free of vermin waste and implement an effective extermination program. Cited violations include failing to provide respirator training, fit testing and medical evaluations for employees required to use respirators while cleaning up vermin waste. Total fines exceed $154,000. Seacoast Online

 

New Jersey employers fined more than $16M for unsafe working conditions

New Jersey employers have been hit with at least $16.6 million in fines since 2015 for having unsafe workplaces, although many settle their cases for substantially reduced penalties. Most of the reviewed cases involved private employers, but almost 30 percent of the penalties involved local, state or federal government agencies. Asbury Park Press

 

Workplace violence rampant in South Carolina healthcare sector

The Medical University of South Carolina reported 133 incidents of workplace violence in 2018; 99 of the incidents reported involved patients. South Carolina is one of a handful of states without added legal protections for healthcare workers. This summer, the university launched a campaign with the South Carolina Hospital Association intended to spotlight workplace violence and encourage employees who have experienced or witnessed it to come forward. WCBD (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) [with video]