Rite Aid to develop safety program for stores

• The U.S. Labor Dept. reached an agreement with Rite Aid Corp. to implement a program to better protect employees, including front-end customer service staff, against hazards related to bloodborne pathogens at all its 370 stores in New Jersey and New York.
• The agreement follows an investigation opened by OSHA after an employee at a Rite Aid location in Niagara Falls was instructed to clean up spilled blood following a customer injury.
• OSHA learned that before the incident, the employee had not been offered a hepatitis B vaccine and that Rite Aid lacked an appropriate exposure control plan, in violation of federal regulations.
• Rite Aid contested the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. In a settlement agreement, OSHA imposed a $10,000 fine.
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OSHA fines Buzzi Unicem USA for safety violations

• Safety inspectors have determined that one of the nation’s leading cement manufacturers could have prevented a 50-year-old employee from drowning after falling from a barge into the Mississippi River.
• An investigation by OSHA into the fatal incident found three employees of Buzzi Unicem USA, which operates as River Cement Sales Co., boarded a barge without wearing personal floatation devices.
• Shortly after climbing to a second deck to repair a blocked valve, one of the workers fell head-first into the river from the barge’s side.
• Co-workers tried unsuccessfully to rescue their colleague and the remains weren’t recovered until nearly a month later when OSHA’s inspectors identified five serious violations and proposed $62,500 in fines.
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Closer look at impact of OSHA fines

• OSHA fines are not tax-deductible and fines and penalties imposed by government agencies are generally not considered deductible business expenses, according to a report by the Investor Times.
• Most insurance policies do not cover OSHA fines. However, employers can consult their insurance providers to explore specific coverage options.
• OSHA conducts inspections based on various triggers, including complaints, referrals, targeted inspections, and follow-ups. Inspections may also be conducted as part of OSHA’s regular enforcement efforts.
• Employers have the right to contest OSHA fines and penalties and can request an informal conference, challenge the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, and seek judicial review if necessary.
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Amazon provides reward after long shift

• Amazon employees were rewarded with popsicles at the end of an exhaustive shift in the warehouse in an undisclosed location.
• Amazon has long been criticized for the poor working conditions in their warehouses, being called unsafe and inhumane.
• The United States Department of Labor has issued citations for various Amazon warehouses, including ones in Colorado, Idaho, and New York, the DOL reported.
• Investigators from OSHA found the company exposed workers to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.
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