Proposed Fuel Farm Raises Concern

November 17, 2023

Transport of fuel has residents on alert

  • A proposed fuel farm in Florida has raised concerns about public safety and water pollution as it would be near homes, schools, churches, campgrounds, waterways, and nature preserves west of Fort Pierce.
  • Belvedere Terminals Co. LLC plans to transport gasoline, propane, ethanol, diesel, and jet fuel by train from Gulf Coast refineries to a site northeast of Midway Road and Florida’s Turnpike.
  • There was already a fire that destroyed Viesel Fuel as about 40,000 gallons of biodiesel, methanol, and vegetable oil burned and leaked into drainage ditches.
  • OSHA issued a $13,000 fine for safety violations in that incident.
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Arizona safety inspectors find little reason to worry at worksite

  • Safety inspectors in Arizona found few workplace safety violations at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company construction site in north Phoenix despite claims of serious safety problems and a challenging work culture.
  • However, inspectors did discover a lack of ventilation in locations where workers were exposed to carbon monoxide and silica dust.
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning can deprive the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen, according to OSHA.
  • Since November 2022, Arizona OSHA has conducted two main inspections at the site, which have not been shut down due to safety concerns.
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Updates on pair of new OSHA rules

  • OSHA will require about 52,000 establishments to provide details of workplace injuries and illnesses beginning Jan, 1.
  • The agency’s COVID-19 rule for the healthcare industry has been under White House review since December 2022 and no release date has been announced.
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the highest infection rate for 2021 and 2022 in private industries was among healthcare and social service workers.
  • In combined numbers for 2021 and 2022, about 105 cases for every 10,000 workers led to the employees missing a day or more of work.
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OSHA National Advisory Committee to meet Dec 12

  • OSHA will hold an in-person and online meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
  • Committee members will meet in person and the event will be open to the public either in person or online.
  • The meeting will include new member introductions, updates from OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and discussions about safety as a core value and whistleblower protection.
  • Submit comments and requests to speak to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Docket Number OSHA-2023-0003, by Nov. 27, 2023.
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