WY-OSHA (within the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) will cite a refinery with $707,000 in fines for 22 violations found at the company’s Wyoming refinery operation. The violations are the result of a May 2013 OSHA inspection which stemmed from an employee complaint and several gas releases that the refinery voluntarily reported to DWS OSHA in May of 2013. Monetary penalties go entirely...

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  MANY THANKS to my RENEWING Partners in Safety 2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 30 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 59 (2012 = 52) (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 78 (2012 = 92*)  (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) *no longer includes China accidents Explosions 184 (2012 = 241) (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 45 (2012 = 52)...

The Facility is a frozen food storage and distribution facility, which contains anhydrous ammonia refrigeration equipment. On September 15, 16 and 20, 2011 , EPA conducted inspections (“the 2011 Inspections”) at the Facility to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7412(r). The 2011 Inspections revealed a number of safety concerns regarding the physical state...

An ethanol business has been cited for 15 health and safety violations by OSHA after a worker was fatally engulfed in corn inside a grain storage bin on April 19 at the ethanol manufacturing facility. The worker entered the grain bin in an attempt to unclog the floor chute and became engulfed when corn began to flow. The commercial grain bin held about 140,000 bushels of corn at the time of the incident....

Something tells me this does not even meet the intent of ANSI/ASME A13.1 Scheme for Identification of Piping Systems!  This is NOT a set up photo, it is an actual pipe label found inside a facility.  Someones attempt at process safety humor???

Each year I try and support several worthy causes through member’s fund raising efforts.  These are usually safety related, but also for our men and women serving in our armed services.  This year Heather is running in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 10K race event in January 2014 to raise money to provide specially adapted homes for our severely injured veterans.  PLEASE...

A common question I receive from clients/members is “why do some of my facilities get RMP inspections from the Fed’s and others get inspected by the state; should I be prepared for both Fed and State to inspect a facility?” The answer is based 100% on where the facility is located and NO, a facility will NOT receive an RMP inspection from both state AND feds; it will be either the...

OSHA has not changed the general requirements for workplace labeling. Employers have the option to create their own workplace labels. They can either provide all of the required information that is on the label from the chemical manufacturer or, the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols or a combination thereof, which in combination with other information immediately available to employees,...

  MANY THANKS to my RENEWING Partners in Safety   2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 29 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 57 (2012 = 52) (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 77 (2012 = 92*)  (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) *no longer includes China accidents Explosions 182 (2012 = 241) (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 45 (2012...

This week OSHA announced they issued a WILLFUL citation in the amount of $49,500 to a project general contractor of a power plant construction project.  The citation was for allowing a worker to wear a tight-fitting respirator over facial hair while the worker removed lead-containing paint. Facial hair can encumber a respirator from being properly sealed, thus exposing the worker to lead...