S.C. looking to block OSHA’s increased fines
- South Carolina is asking a federal court to prevent OSHA from forcing the state to raise its fines for worker safety violations.
- The lawsuit asks the court to urge OSHA from enforcing its requirement that state maximum and minimum fines match those of the federal agency.
- The lawsuit could set a precedent for the other 27 states and territories that have their own federally approved workplace safety agencies to also set lower fine structures.
- Those states include Arizona, Wyoming, Indiana, and Virginia.
ASSP is raising awareness of workplace safety
- The American Society of Safety Professionals is looking for participants in Safe + Sound Week, an annual workplace safety campaign spearheaded by OSHA.
- The nationwide event takes place Aug. 15-21.
- More than 1,300 businesses have already registered online to join the event, which recognizes the success of workplace safety.
- More than 5,000 workers are killed each year on the job and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nebraska waste disposal company faces fines after worker killed
- A 20-year-old worker was killed at a Nebraska waste disposal company when he fell into the baler, became caught, and suffered severe amputation injuries.
- OSHA alleges Mid-Nebraska Disposal Inc. disregarded federal regulations designed to prevent such tragedies.
- OSHA alleges the company failed to ensure energy sources were locked out, which would have kept the machine’s operating parts from moving while the worker cleared the jam.
- OSHA proposed penalties of $337,903 and has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
Texas crate company cited for safety violations
- A wood crate and pallet manufacturer in Jacksonville, Texas, has a history of workplace safety violations that continues after inspectors found the company exposed workers to hazards.
- OSHA determined M&H Crates Inc. failed to develop, document or use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent sudden machine start-ups.
- They also discovered the company failed to ensure required machine guarding, which exposed workers to hazards, including amputation.
- The company faces $248,866 in proposed penalties.