Union complaints spur investigation at schools in Oregon

• Oregon OSHA found five serious safety violations, and a dozen more less serious infractions during an examination of student-caused injuries at Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon.
• The district and its teachers’ union agreed to the voluntary OSHA consultation after union members filing multiple formal complaints with OSHA, union president Tyler Scialo-Lakeberg said.
• The state won’t penalize the district for the violations because the review was voluntary.
• The agency did require the district to provide documentation that it has corrected three of the serious violations by the end of the year.
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Investigation after iron worker falls 

• An employer facing six citations from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration after an ironworker fell from the Ambassador Bridge has resulted in his.
• The injured worker, Spencer Baker, claims that he was following all the safety rules while replacing the bridge’s suspension cables, but something went wrong and he fell 150 feet from the bridge deck into the Detroit River below.
• MIOSHA  conducted a safety investigation at Structural Technologies LLC. and found six alleged serious citations.
• Some of the issues were the employer had no procedure for the use of their two-way radio to communicate with the available lifeboat and workers were not issued life jackets or buoyant work vests when working near or over water.
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College safety training approved for OSHA Alliance Program

• Odessa College in Texas is hosting an OSHA Alliance signing and Safety Training Open House at the OC Safety Training Center to celebrate its approval into the OSHA Alliance Program.
• The OSHA Area Director and members of the OSHA Regional and National Offices will join Odessa College faculty, staff, and administrators for the formal signing ceremony.
• Through the Alliance Program, OSHA establishes formal relationships with groups committed to worker safety and health and collaborates with them to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.
• These groups include trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies.
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Poultry firm loses challenge