OSHA administrator forging ahead with goals

• OSHA administrator Doug Parker has been focused on expanding his staff of inspectors to ensure companies are following the correct safety procedures.
• The number of inspectors is up 25%, with new training since Parker took over in 2o21.
• OSHA has also increased the violations that can lead to a “severe violator” designation, established a heat hazard inspection program, and inspected Amazon warehouses for violations.
• However, Parker said the success has not been the number of new inspectors but making the most effective strategies to evaluate the industries under OSHA’s guidance.
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Update on mine safety violations

• Monthly impact inspections by the Mine Safety and Health Administration at 16 mines in 12 states in March 2023 have identified 205 violations, including 52 significant and substantial findings, the Labor Dept. reported.
• Impact inspections are done at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement related to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, illnesses, and other concerns.
• MSHA conducted its monthly impact inspections in March 2023 at mines in Alabama, California, Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia.
• In the first three months of 2023, the agency’s inspections identified 579 violations, including 165 significant and substantial and 13 unwarrantable failure findings.
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Crane fire sends worker to hospital

• A crane being used to work on the new Harbor Bridge caught fire during a Corpus Christi (Texas) Hooks minor-league baseball game where fans could see the smoke and flames.
• There was one injury that resulted from some of the material falling from the crane and that person was transported to a local hospital.
• The hospital would not disclose any information on the status of the injured person due to HIPPA laws.
• The city will work with contractors Flatiron Dragados and the Texas Department of Transportation to better understand what caused the accident and make adjustments.
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Investigation opens after COVID outbreak at conference

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has begun an investigation after dozens of attendees at one of its conferences tested positive for COVID.
• Some of the attendees said many people at the conference did not wear masks or practice social distancing.
• About 35 people have so far tested positive, after the conference in Atlanta, which was the first in-person Epidemic Intelligence Service meeting in four years, officials said.
• COVID cases are at their lowest levels in nearly two years, but many Americans are testing at home or not testing.
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