Training Institute Education Centers program renewed, one added
OSHA named the Construction Education Foundation in Denver in Region 8 as a new member of the network.
The agency also renewed the 25 existing centers for its Training Institute Education Centers program.
OTI Education Centers are a national network of non-profit organizations authorized by OSHA to deliver occupational safety and health training for all levels of workers.
The centers, established in 1992 and located around the country, trained more than 42,000 people in the fiscal year 2022, an agency press release states.
Asbestos is still a challenge for workers
- The U.S. allows hundreds of tons of asbestos each year from Brazil, primarily for two major chemical companies — OxyChem and Olin Corp, according to a report by NPR.
- The companies say asbestos is integral to chlorine production at several aging plants and have argued to keep the mineral legal.
- Their current protocols for handling asbestos are so stringent that workers face little threat of exposure, the companies claim.
- However, workers at a plant in New York claim asbestos is still causing health problems.
Amazon workers keep a lawsuit alive
- A U.S. appeals court ruled that Amazon.com will have to deal with claims the company failed to protect New York City warehouse workers and their families from COVID-19.
- However, the court did dismiss the bulk of the workers’ 2020 lawsuit.
- Only the OSHA had the power to review complaints about Amazon’s workplace safety practices, the court ruled.
- OSHA may have expertise in worker safety, but the legal issues posed in Amazon’s case are within the conventional experience of judges, according to Circuit Judge William Nardini.
Investigation opens after worker dies
- The North Carolina Department of Labor opened an investigation into the death of a worker at Wolfspeed, a semiconductor manufacturer.
- The death of 45-year-old Vincent Farrell occurred at Wolfspeed’s Research Triangle Park campus, a spokesman said.
- The state plans to reveal more information regarding the death pending the investigation.
- In the past 10 years, Wolfspeed had 17 workplace safety violations, including six serious violations.