OR-OSHA fines Oregon winery $11K after employee death
Oregon OSHA has fined a winery $11,100 for alleged violations of confined space rules following an investigation into the death of an employee who was found unresponsive February 1 in an empty 30,000-gallon wine tank. The violation carrying the largest fine alleges failure to conduct initial testing for atmospheric hazards before the employee entered the tank. Statesman Journal
Fed-OSHA investigating after Maine employee killed while digging pool
Fed-OSHA is investigating after a 21-year-old employee died while digging a swimming pool in Auburn, Maine on Thursday. Police say a crew was installing an in-ground pool when an excavator they were using overturned, trapping the man underneath the boom. WABI
NIOSH, Fed-OSHA partner on revised handbook for small businesses
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has collaborated with Fed-OSHA to revise a handbook that provides self-inspection checklists for employers to identify workplace hazards and review important workplace safety and health resources for small businesses. CollisionWeek
Virginia adopts Fed-OSHA’S emergency temporary standard
Virginia’s Health and Safety Codes Board has adopted Fed-OSHA’s June 21, 2021, Emergency Temporary Standard to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19. Under the ETS, covered healthcare employers must develop and implement a COVID-19 plan to identify and control related workplace hazards. JD Supra
National Safe + Sound Week runs through Friday
Fed-OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, August 9-15, is a nationwide event that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on bolstering workplace safety. Facility Executive
Fed-OSHA targets tank car cleaning and confined space dangers
According to Fed-OSHA, the agency over the last five years has investigated the deaths of 36 transportation and tank cleaning industry employees in the Dallas region. In response, the agency has established a new regional emphasis program targeting exposure to hazards associated with the cleaning of transportation tanks, writes E. Phileda Tennant of Vinson & Elkins LLP. JD Supra