OSHA Compliance Posts

On October 29, 2009, Employee #1 was performing pressures tests on 30-pound fire extinguisher bodies, using a test machine run in automatic mode. Employee #1 loaded four bodies/cylinders into the machine and started the test cycle by activating the two-hand control. The machine submerged the fire extinguishers into a water bath, and the bodies were…...

As a result of a 2012 inspection, Respondent was cited for five repeat violations, which were issued on March 27, 2013. The citations upon which the repeat violations were based were issued to Wynnewood Refining while owned and operated by Gary Williams Energy (GWE), most of which became final orders of the Commission in April…...

In 2015, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to advance the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. The new law directs agencies to adjust their penalties for inflation each year using a much more straightforward method than previously available, and requires agencies to publish “catch…...

KMCL has noted that OSHA has been very aggressive in its enforcement efforts and in seeking large penalties over the last several months.  As described below, the initiatives the agency has recently announced signal that this intensity will continue to ratchet up over the coming months and likely beyond.  As a result, employers should consider…...

This posting is a demonstration as to how OSHA (State of IN OSHA) can/will issue citations against BOTH the host facility and it’s contractor for the same OSHA violations.  In this case, the contractor doing the work, did so using TAGOUT without any additional measures that would make “tagout” equally effective as “lockout” (e.g. Tag…...

We see this argument from time to time, hence I am sharing this OSHRC decision from last week as a discussion “starter” at facilities, especially food facilities where safety glasses are not used for whatever reason(s).  This case involved a chicken processing facility that chose to NOT use safety glasses on a “chicken deboning line”.  The…...

The new rule, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2017, requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness summary (Form 300A) data.  The amount of data submitted will vary depending on the size of company and type of industry.  The new reporting requirements will be phased in over two years.  Establishments in the following industries…...

Last week OSHA published their “spring agenda” and this gives us a very good idea as to which standards OSHA has on their radar screen.  Here is their agenda…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

I came across this citation at an Ethanol plant (May 2016) regarding their combustible dusts hazards and the lack of WARNING signs… Citation 2 Item 1 Type of Violation: Other-than-Serious; $0.00 29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2)(i): Caution signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices:… Membership Required You must...

We have all seen the videos and pics of the storage racks collapsing and most of us are amazed at how violent these incidents are; yet how many of us can walk through our storage areas and not find missing anchor bolts, corroded and damaged structural components, no posted load ratings, or out-of-straight support columns?  In a recent OSHA…...