OSHA Compliance Posts

Citations issued for health and safety violations were affirmed by an administrative law judge from the independent OSHRC, upholding an earlier decision by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The violations occurred at the company’s chicken processing plant. OSHA cited the plant in May 2012 for a variety of safety and…...

In “general industry” workplaces OSHA has a “General Requirements” standard for conducting Welding, Cutting, and Brazing activities (1910.252). For those working within the battery limits of a PSM/RMP covered process, both OSHA (1910.119(k)(2) and EPA (68.85(b) reference 1910.252(a) as the basics of safely conducting these HW activities. But there is one (1) requirement that we…...

The Top 10 for Fiscal Year 2014 are: Fall protection (1926.501) = 6,143 Hazard Communication (1910.1200) = 5,161 Scaffolding (1926.451) = 4,029 Respiratory Protection (1910.134) = 3,223 Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) = 2,704 Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) = 2,662 Electrical – Wiring Methods (1910.305) = 2,490 Ladders (1926.1053) = 2,448 Machine Guarding (1910.212) = 2,200 Electrical –…...

A refinery was cited by OSHA for five repeat and three serious violations for continuing to expose workers to hot surfaces of refinery process equipment, falls from heights and other hazards at its crude oil refinery. Proposed penalties from this February 2014 follow-up inspection total $184,800. The five repeat citations, with a penalty of $170,500,…...

I have highlighted the major items in this appropriations report.  Major items are: 1) small farms with less than 10 employees continue to be exempt, unless they have a labor camp, 2) new language clarifying OSHA’s ability to inspect small establishments where there exists the potential for a catastrophic chemical incident, with clarifying language that exempts…...

On April 29, 2013, OSHA launched the Temporary Worker Initiative (TWI) in order to help prevent work-related injuries and illnesses among temporary workers.1 The purpose of this initiative is to increase OSHA’s focus on temporary workers in order to highlight employers’ responsibilities to ensure these workers are protected from workplace hazards.  As detailed in the…...

OSHA recognizes that in some situations, violations of certain standards which require the employer to have a written program to address a hazard, or to make a written certification (e.g., hazard communication, personal protective equipment, permit-required confined spaces, and others), are perceived to be “paperwork deficiencies” rather than critically important implementation problems. In other circumstances,…...

The purpose of this memorandum is to establish a temporary enforcement policy for: 29 CFR 1910.137(b) and 1910.269; and 29 CFR 1926.97(b) and Subpart V. On April 11, 2014, OSHA promulgated a final rule revising the general industry and construction standards for work on electric power generation, transmission and distribution installations and for electrical protective…...

  Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Prerule Stage Bloodborne Pathogens Combustible Dust Infectious Diseases Preventing Backover Injuries and Fatalities… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Respondent contends that it was improperly cited pursuant to OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP). Specifically, Respondent contends that the NEP, in effect, creates a substantive rule that requires employers to comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s “Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate…...

Good morning everyone, I am contacting you because we have heard from you in the past. If this story is not in your beat or specialty, please forward to your peers who would be interested in attending this telephone conference. This is advanced notice that Secretary Perez and Secretary Pritzker will hold a national press…...