Collapse at oil company HQ site kills 3, injures 1 in Houston

A stairwell collapsed on Monday at the site of the 15-story future headquarters of Marathon Oil, in downtown Houston, killing three employees and injuring another. Houston Chronicle [may require registration]

Fed-OSHA fines 14 New Jersey hospitals, nursing homes for lack of PPE

More than a dozen New Jersey healthcare institutions including hospitals, nursing homes and an ambulance company have been cited and fined by Fed-OSHA for allegedly failing to provide enough equipment and other protections to healthcare employees who became ill and died during the pandemic. The fines totaled more than $252,000. NorthJersey

Nevada OSHA hands down COVID fines

Four Nevada businesses including a Pahrump winery have been cited and fined by Nevada OSHA for failing to comply with COVID-19 related safety measures during the week of September 28 through October 2. During initial observations of more than 400 businesses last week, officials found 92 percent were compliant with coronavirus health measures. KVVU (Las Vegas)

MIOHSA officials say COVID-19 business fines, rules still in place after ruling

Michigan OSHA says citations issued to businesses for non-compliance with COVID-19 rules will not be rescinded, even in light of a Michigan Supreme Court decision that reverses Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders back to April 30. The Michigan Supreme Court unanimously ruled last week the governor lacked authority under a 1976 emergency law to extend her emergency declaration past April 30 without approval from the state legislature. Detroit News

Fed-OSHA provides new guidance on reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths

Fed-OSHA has released its latest guidance on when employers must notify it of employees being hospitalized or dying due to COVID-19. It applies to employers subject to Fed-OSHA standards. Employers with operations in states with their own safety and health agencies and regulations should review their state requirements, according to several attorneys with the Benesch law firm. JD Supra

Latina farm employees face workplace hazards, lack of health, child care: Researchers

Boise State University researchers have found that women farm employees are more likely than their male peers to be employed seasonally, rather than year-round. Latina farm employees are also more likely to take on more emotional and physical labor involved in managing a household. Other concerns noted in the study were low pay, lack of access to medical care and health insurance, dangerous work with pesticides and machinery, and anxiety when it comes to their immigration status. Idaho Press