Pennsylvania employee fatally struck by industrial vehicle
A 63-year-old Allentown, Pennsylvania man died Sunday after being hit by a front-end loader, a vehicle with a hydraulically operated scoop in front for excavating loose material. Fed-OSHA is investigating. WFMZ (Allentown, Pa.)
New York railcar leak resembles Ohio incident in which ‘catastrophic explosion’ was avoided
The railcar that leaked styrene gas near Selkirk, New York, forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders, reportedly had sat at the plastics plant for more than three months and contained approximately 180,000 gallons of liquid styrene monomer, which is flammable and highly volatile. The company’s most recent incident resembles another accident that occurred in Cincinnati in 2005. Spotlight News
MIOSHA cites 19 businesses for COVID-19 violations
Michigan OSHA confirmed last week that it has issued coronavirus citations to 19 different businesses for serious violations related to the pandemic. The cited violations, which include failure to require face coverings when social distance could not be maintained, failing to designate a workplace COVID-19 supervisor, and lack of a preparedness and response plan, among others at the various employers, total more than $51,000 in penalties. Detroit News
Workplace safety complaints soar in Indiana
Indiana OSHA reports that it has received more than seven times its usual number of complaints this year, most of them related to precautions during the pandemic. The state’s deputy labor commissioner says IOSHA typically isn’t threatening shutdowns, but asking businesses what precautions they’re taking to virus-proof the workplace, and that there’s been an increase in employees objecting to having to wear masks. WIBC
Can an employer claim employee misconduct in an OSHA citation?
When Fed-OSHA cites for a workplace injury, employers often claim employee misconduct as an affirmative defense. Courtney Malveaux, a Principal in the Richmond, Virginia office of Jackson Lewis P.C., discusses a few key points employers can keep in mind. National Law Review
Labor Department awards $11.2M in training grants
Fed-OSHA has announced that it has awarded approximately $11.2 million in Susan Harwood federal safety and health training grants to 90 nonprofit organizations nationwide. In the state of Ohio, both Ohio State University and University of Cincinnati received grants. Highland County Press (Hillsboro, Ohio)