This issue of Safety News contains articles reproduced from government websites or other government sources. The Construction Institute makes no representations as to the accuracy of the information therein contained; nor do these articles necessarily reflect the views or policies of the TCI.
OSHA Seeking Comments on Third Phase of Standards Improvement Process
OSHA is seeking comments until Feb. 20, 2007, on phase three of its Standards Improvement Project (SIPs III), the third in a series of rulemaking actions intended to improve and streamline OSHA standards and lessen regulatory burdens without reducing employee protections. An advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Dec. 21, 2006.
Quick Action by OSHA Compliance Officer Protects Employee from Trench Hazard
On Nov. 17, Compliance Safety and Health Officer Anthony Nozzi of OSHA's North Aurora, Ill., Area Office, while driving on Big Timber Rd. in Elgin, Ill., observed an employee in an unprotected 6 1/2 foot trench. He stopped and immediately asked that the employee be removed from the trench.
Company Charged in Trench Death of Employee
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filed charges against Maco Concrete, Inc. for willfully violating the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) in connection with the death of 41-year-old Jeff Padot on April 23, 2006.
Region V: Promoting workplace safety and health through cooperative training and education is the focus of a partnership renewed between OSHA's Des Plaines, Ill., Area Office and the Underground Contractors Association of Illinois.
OSHA's Cincinnati Area Office and Mortenson Messer HealthCare Construction formed a partnership aimed at providing a safe environment for employees working on the Health Alliance Hospital construction project.
Ensuring the safety of employees involved in the Argosy Casino expansion project in Lawrenceberg, Ind., is the goal of a partnership signed between OSHA's Indianapolis Area Office and Cincinnati-based Messer Harmon LLC.
EPA Reaches Settlement with North Idaho Developer for Storm Water Violations
As part of an ongoing campaign to protect Idaho's water quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached settlement with CAV OK, LLC. The company was cited following an inspection at its construction site for violations of federal storm water management regulations.
Developer settles with EPA after destroying Provo wetlands
Pettro Properties, LLC has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $9,500 for destroying more than nine acres of wetlands in Provo, Utah. In addition, Pettro will pay $15,500 to The Nature Conservancy for use in the Conservancy's Lower Hobble Creek Restoration Project. The Conservancy is striving to protect endangered June Sucker habitat at Utah Lake.
Colorado home builders, home performance companies commit to Indoor Air Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is teaming up with four Colorado builders and two home performance companies to protect indoor air quality in homes. These businesses are the first in the country to participate in EPA's new voluntary Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) labeling initiative.
State Court Confirms Power of Washington's Ergonomics Rules
The Supreme Court in the state of Washington ruled that a 2003 voter initiative that repealed a statewide workplace ergonomics standard does not remove the power of the state's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to cite employers for ergonomic-related hazards.
Employers Must Post Illness/Injury Summaries Beginning Feb. 1
Beginning February 1, employers must post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2006. Employers are only required to post OSHA Form 300A (summary), not the OSHA 300 log. The summary must be posted from February 1 to April 30. Copies of the OSHA Forms 300 and 300A are available on the OSHA Recordkeeping Web page at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html
Nashua, NH Contractor Faces $64,700 in OSHA Fines for Cave-In Hazards at North Conway Worksite
Powershot Utility Construction Services LLC of Nashua faces $64,700 in proposed OSHA fines for alleged cave-in hazards at a North Conway worksite. The contractor was cited for four alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of safety standards following a September inspection at a water main installation site on the White Mountain Highway.
Study Highlights Workers' Comp Fraud by Employers
Between 500,000 and a million New York workers who should have workers' compensation coverage do not, and the system's revenues are $500 million to $1 billion lower than they should be, according to a study by the Fiscal Policy Institute.
Child Labor Reforms Become Law in Massachusetts
In his final few hours as Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney signed into law a bill that will strengthen the state's Child Labor laws for the first time in nearly 70 years and bolster workplace protections for 300,000 young workers statewide.
Company Faces Criminal Charges in Trench Death of Employee
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filed charges against Maco Concrete, Inc. for willfully violating the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) in connection with the death of 41-year-old Jeff Padot on April 23, 2006.
New Local Emphasis Programs in Construction Underway in Rhode Island
OSHA's New England Region launched two new Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs) in Rhode Island to address specific work-related hazards. The first LEP focuses on reducing workplace hazards associated with crane operation in construction and the second targets the residential construction industry.
Crane Owners Advised to Inspect All Tower Cranes
In light of the tower crane collapse in Bellevue, Washington, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries sent a statewide advisory urging that all owners and employers using tower cranes perform a structural inspection of their cranes.
EPA Fines NY Contractor for Destroying Wetlands Outside Rochester
A local utility contractor working outside of Rochester, New York will be required by the U.S. EPA to restore wetlands it filled illegally, and pay a $5,000 penalty for the violation of federal law. Under the settlement with EPA, the former owner of Rochester Utility Contractors, Michael Maier, must restore the wetlands to their previous condition.
Costly Reminder of Asbestos Dangers
An Anchorage Salvation Army thrift store has agreed to pay a $76,906 penalty to settle with the U.S. EPA for alleged violations of the asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (asbestos NESHAP) under the Clean Air Act.
Dependable Contracting, Inc. of Idaho Settles Storm Water Violations
Dependable Contracting, Inc., located in Priest River, Idaho, has reached a $7,500 settlement with the U.S. EPA for violating federal storm water permitting requirements. EPA says that builders and developers need to get the right permits and find out what's required before they start work, or they will face fines.
American Society Of Safety Engineers Announce New Construction Safety Standard With Focus on Hoists
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of the new American National Standard Institute (ANSI) A10.22-2007 standard. The standard, Safety Requirements for Rope-Guided and Non-Guided Workers' Hoists, recognizes the need for protection of personnel from injury when using rope-guided and non-guided worker's hoists in construction and demolition operations.
International Code Council Policy Supports Building Green
The International Code Council Board of Directors has issued a policy position on Green Building/Sustainable Communities to emphasize its commitment to social responsibility and expand the boundaries of public safety.
Boston Goes Green
Boston has become the first major US city to incorporate "green building" requirements into its zoning code for large development projects.
OSHA Partnership and Alliance Activity
Region 5: Casino Queen Project Partnership
OSHA has agreed to form a safety partnership with Legacy Building Group and Clayco, a joint venture, and their subcontractors with the goal of reducing accidents, injuries and illnesses during the $60 million expansion project of the Casino Queen in Illinois.
OSHA Makes Regulatory Flexibility Act Review on Excavation Standard Available OSHA has made available the "look-back" study for OSHA's construction Standard on excavations. The regulatory review found that the 1989 Excavations Standard has reduced deaths from approximately 90 per year to 70 per year, while overall construction industry activity when adjusted for inflation has increased 20 percent
OSHA Proposes $48,000 in Penalties Against Two South Florida Contractors OSHA has proposed penalties of $43,000 against West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Southland Forming and $5,000 against Dania Beach, Fla.-based KMC Masonry for multiple safety violations at the Peninsula II construction site in Aventura, Fla.
Cave-in Hazard Leads to $73,500 in OSHA Fines for Massachusetts Contractor A Sharon, Mass., contractor's failure to supply cave-in protection for an employee working in an 8.6-foot deep excavation in downtown Boston has resulted in $73,500 in proposed fines from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA Cites Safety Violations at Buckeye Building Renovation OSHA has proposed $151,500 in fines against the WACO Equipment Co. of Columbus for alleged willful and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards following the death of an employee in September, 2006.
New OSHA Web-based Tools for Spanish Trainers Spanish-speaking trainers and students will benefit from two new OSHA Web-based resources. The Spanish Outreach Trainers Lists provides the names of OSHA-authorized outreach trainers who provide 10- and 30-hour construction and general industry outreach training in Spanish. People interested in Spanish safety and health training may contact these individuals. Also, References for Spanish Trainers is a compilation of references outreach trainers will find helpful in developing or conducting their courses.
OSHA Publishes Waste Treatment Facility 'Design for Safety' Case Study
A case study describing how the Washington Group International incorporated its design for safety process into the construction of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility in eastern Idaho was recently posted on OSHA's Web site.
OSHA and Black Contractors Association Partner to Promote Construction Safety Enhanced safety for construction employees is the goal of a new partnership signed by OSHA and the Black Contractors Association. The association represents more than 100 companies, many in the construction industry, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area.
Finding New Life for Old Building Materials -- Building ‘Green’ in Henrico Co. US EPA has been working with the Forest City Commercial Group to recycle almost 85,000 tons of concrete and other debris from a former manufacturing site near Richmond, VA., that is slated to become a hotel and retail complex called the Shops at White Oak Village in eastern Henrico County.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Laars Heating Systems Co., of Rochester, N.H., is voluntarily recalling about 2,100 Laars 9600 CB Condensing Boilers & 9600 HWG Condensing Water Heaters. Internal black plastic venting components in the gas boilers and water heaters can crack and leak flue gases, including carbon monoxide (CO), posing a risk of CO poisoning.
New York Times Covers OSHA Inaction on Diacetyl and Other Hazards NYT reports that OSHA has delayed or halted work on important standards for worker protection and put more of its energies into voluntary programs that let employers decide how far they’re willing to go to protect workers’ health and lives.
OSHA Settles Building and Construction Trades Department Challenge to Hexavalent Chromium Standard OSHA signed an agreement April 6, 2007, with the Building Construction Trades Department (BCTD), AFL-CIO, Laborers’ International Union of North America, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to settle their challenge to OSHA’s hexavalent chromium standard (BCTD, et al., v. OSHA, Case No. 06-2433 (3d Cir.)).
OSHA to Issue New Document on Portland Cement OSHA will issue a new document providing specific enforcement procedures for compliance officers to follow at construction sites where employees work with portland cement as a result of a hexavalent chromium standard settlement. Portland Cement Inspection Procedures will explain how existing OSHA standards and requirements (air contaminants, personal protective equipment, sanitation, hazard communication and recordkeeping) apply to operations involving portland cement and presents all of the applicable provisions in a single inspection checklist.
OSHA Emphasizes Importance of Cave-In Protection Following Fatal Trench Collapse at Greenwich, Conn., Golf Course OSHA is reminding employers that they must provide cave-in protection whenever their employees work in excavations five feet or deeper. The warning from the workplace safety agency's Bridgeport Area Office follows its investigation into the Jan. 10, 2007, death of an employee at the Tamarack Country Club, Greenwich, Conn., who was killed in a cave-in while installing drainage pipes in an unprotected six-foot deep trench on the club's golf course.
OSHA Cites Four Contractors Following Fatal Construction Accident in Miami OSHA has proposed penalties of $59,000 against four contractors – Starsouth Stucco Systems, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Safety Guys Inc. and M.C. Velar Construction – for multiple safety violations at a construction site in Miami, Fla. The safety violations led to a fatality that occurred on Nov. 1, 2006, when a plasterer working on one of the building's balconies fell 210 feet.
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Lead-Safe Work Practices Two new lead dust studies have prompted EPA to seek public comments on the proposed lead-safe work practice standards to determine if any changes to the proposed rule are warranted.
AIHA Calls for Support to Request a GAO Study on NIOSH The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) sent a letter to Senator Kennedy, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for the U.S. Senate, to elicit his support for Congress to request a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to collect the information necessary to determine whether the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) would be best suited in the Department of Labor, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or maintain its current organizational structure within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
AFL-CIO: Nation's Workplaces Too Unsafe A new report from the AFL-CIO claims workplace safety laws are too weak to effectively protect U.S. workers. The union's annual report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect was released April 26 as a precursor to Workers Memorial Day on April 28.
Occupational Cancer and Workers’ Memorial Day Popular media frequently cover cancer: the tragedy for the individual; cancer the challenge for the medical profession; cancer the result of smoking and bad diet. Yet occupational cancer tops the International Labour Organisation workplace diseases and accidents table with over 600,000 dying of occupational cancers ever year.
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week Slated for May 6-12 OSHA and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will kick off a week dedicated to transportation safety on May 7 in Washington, D.C. North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week is a joint venture with the United States, Canada and Mexico to raise awareness of occupational safety, health and environmental programs among employers, employees and the public.
Court Dismisses Petition Challenging OSHA Private Expert The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on May 11 dismissed a National Association of Manufacturers petition that claimed OSHA amended its Hazard Communication standard without notice or comment based on an updated list of dangerous chemicals published in 2006 by a private group of industrial hygienists.
More Delays on OSHA's Latest Agenda OSHA's latest semiannual regulatory agenda, published in the April 30, 2007 Federal Register, includes predictable delays for long-awaited standards such as crystalline silica and occupational exposure to beryllium, to name a few.
Portsmouth, R.I., Contractor Faces Maximum Allowed OSHA Fine of $70,000 East Coast Construction, a Portsmouth, R.I., contractor with a history of trenching safety violations faces $70,000 in proposed OSHA fines – the maximum allowed – for an unguarded trench at a Newport, R.I., water main installation project.
Queens Residential Complex Faces $117,000 in OSHA Fines After Employees Exposed to Asbestos Hazards A Queens, N.Y., residential complex's failure to protect its employees against asbestos hazards has resulted in a total of $117,000 in proposed OSHA fines. Parkway Village Equities Corp. was cited for nine alleged violations of health and safety standards following an OSHA inspection begun Nov. 1, 2006, in response to a complaint.
Man Killed, Uncle Saved In Trench Collapse In Greenville County, South Carolina, emergency crews spent much of the afternoon on May 27 trying to rescue a man and his uncle from a 15-foot trench. The rescue effort took more than three hours and involved more than 50 people. Lester Millwood, 24, was trapped with his uncle while working on a sewer drain when something collapsed. Millwood, a divorced father of two who worked for Whiteside's Construction Company, did not make it out of the trench alive, but rescue workers were able to save his uncle.
Bridge Builder Agrees to Pay Crane Fine In Toledo, Ohio, a bridge building company cited in an accident that killed four workers when a crane collapsed has agreed to pay nearly $300,000 in fines and increase safety oversight, officials said Thursday.
Study Shows That Workplace Health Programs are Good for the Bottom Line Establishing health and wellness programs in the workplace can help improve employee health and reduce days away from work, according to a new study presented at an American Heart Association-sponsored conference in Washington.
Contaminated Soil Halts Construction Of Trenton School State officials have halted work on a $28 million elementary school in Trenton, New Jersey, after discovering that fill dirt used at the site contains petroleum products.
New Contractor Hired at Girder-Deaths Site Colorado officials have chosen a new contractor for a portion of the C-470/Interstate 70 interchange project, where a bridge girder collapsed a year ago, killing an Evergreen family of three.
EPA Orders Buffalo Developer to Stop Destruction and Restore Wetlands EPA has ordered William L. Huntress and his development companies, Acquest Wehrle LLC, et al. to immediately stop activities that might impact wetlands along Wehrle Drive in Amherst, New York and to restore to its original condition the area that he already damaged.
Holden, Mass. Construction Company Fined for Storm Water Permit Violations G.M. Bergeron, Inc., a construction company in Holden, Massachusetts, has paid a $6,150 penalty for failing to obtain coverage under EPA’s Storm Water Permit for Construction Activities as well as other storm water related violations.
ASSE Announces New Fall Protection Program Standard The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of the new American National Standard Institute (ANSI)/ASSE Z359.2-2007 standard. Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program establishes guidelines for an employer-managed fall protection program.
ASSE Announces New Construction Safety Standard with Focus on Personal Hoists and Employee Elevators The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of the new American National Standard Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10.4-2007 standard Safety Requirements for Personal Hoists and Employee Elevators in Construction and Demolition Operations that sets minimum requirements to provide for the safety of workers engaged in occupations that require the use of personnel hoists or employee elevators.
MMWR: Nail-Gun Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments A report by a NIOSH scientist and a colleague in the April 13 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report provides findings and recommendations on preventing nail-gun injuries to workers and consumers in the United States.
NIOSH to Launch Safety-Through-Design Initiative The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and several partner organizations will hold a workshop July 9-11 in Washington, D.C., to launch a national initiative to promote the widespread adoption of prevention-through-design principles.
Secretary Chao Pushes Back on 'Controlling Employer' Decision U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao has asked a court to review the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) decision to suspend an OSHA policy permitting general contractors to be cited along with subcontractors for OSHA violations subcontractors commit.
OSHA Defines "On Site in One Location" for Process Safety Management Standard OSHA recently issued its explanation of "on site in one location" in the "Application" section of the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard. This interpretation simply means that the standard applies when a threshold quantity of a highly hazardous chemical (HHC) exists within an area under the control of an employer or group of affiliated employers. It also applies to any group of vessels that are interconnected, or in separate vessels that are close enough in proximity that the HHC could be involved in a potential catastrophic release. Details are available in the June 7 Federal Register.
OSHA Develops Database of Chemical Information OSHA recently launched a database of information on more than 800 chemicals commonly found in the workplace. The OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database allows users to quickly and easily retrieve information on chemicals such as their physical properties and exposure limits.
OSHA Working Saturdays to Ensure Construction Sites are Safe for Employees OSHA is working overtime during the busy construction season to ensure builders are following proper safety and health standards for their employees. The agency is conducting unannounced Saturday inspections of construction work sites as part of its Summer Weekend Construction Inspection Program.
Workplace Safety Top Reason Workers Join Unions A poll released in April by the Employment Law Alliance found that the top four reasons identified by employees for driving them to unionization include: workplace safety (63%), getting better benefits (60%), obtaining higher wages (57%), and increasing job security (54%).
New OSHA Local Emphasis Program Targets Residential Construction OSHA's Methuen and Springfield, Mass., area offices recently launched a new Local Emphasis Program (LEP) focusing on the reduction of workplace hazards associated with residential construction. LEPs are intended to address hazards or industries that pose particular risks to employees within an OSHA regional or area office jurisdiction. The goal of this LEP will help to reduce the overall rate of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities through outreach activities and targeted inspections.
Canceling Its Own 1991 Directive, OSHA Decides to Go with Guide for First Aid OSHA has canceled its January 7, 1991, directive (CPL 02-02-053) on first aid training programs. The Agency says it will now use the publication Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program as the current Agency guidance on this issue.
OSHA Strategic Partnership and Alliance Program Activity
Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries In 2006 There were 5,703 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2006, down slightly from the
revised total of 5,734 fatalities in 2005. The rate of fatal work injuries in 2006 was 3.9 per
100,000 workers, down from a rate of 4.0 per 100,000 in 2005. Construction accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries, the most of any industry sector. Fatalities among specialty trade contractors rose 6 percent (from 677 fatalities in 2005 to 721 in 2006), due primarily to higher numbers of fatal work injuries among building finishing contractors and roofing contractors. Fatalities in building construction and in heavy and civil engineering construction decreased in 2006.
MMWR: Nail-Gun Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments An enhanced Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) Directory is now available on OSHA's Web site. This new directory allows users to find their local CAS by directing them to the nearest OSHA Area Office. Users in states which operate their own OSHA-approved safety and health programs are provided with contact information for their state agency.
Owner of Massachusetts' Largest Asbestos Training School Indicted The owner of Environmental Compliance Training was charged in federal court on Aug. 22 with falsely reporting the school had trained dozens of individuals to conduct asbestos removal work. One employee of the company was also charged, in a case jointly investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Albania DeLeon, of Salem, N.H., and Jose Francisco Garcia, of Lawrence, Mass., were charged with one count of making a false statement to EPA.
Contractor for Groton, Conn. Submarine Base Faces EPA Fine for Clean Water Violations Two contractors for a construction site at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Conn. are liable for $17,000 in penalties for violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The two contractors, M.A. Mortenson Co., based in Minneapolis, Minn., and Pettini Contracting Corp., based in Mystic, Conn., violated storm water discharge requirements by failing to conduct and/or document storm water inspections, failing to implement and maintain storm water controls required by the site's storm water pollution control plan and failing to update or amend the plan as needed
Survey Shows a High Rate of Asthma at Ground Zero Findings released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene show that Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers have developed asthma at a rate that is 12 times what would be expected for adults.
OSHA Revises HAZWOPER Inspection Procedures OSHA issued a new directive, CPL 02-02-073 - Inspection Procedures for 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65, Paragraph (q): Emergency Response to Hazardous Substance Releases. The directive updates policies and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement of the provisions in the HAZWOPER standard that cover emergency response operations for releases of, or substantial threats of releases of, hazardous substances without regard to the location of the hazard.
New Interactive Map Provides Worker Fatality Details A new interactive online map is available that enables people to learn about many of the workplace fatalities that have occurred in their own communities. The map relies on published news reports in 2007 to show worker fatalities nationwide, and it includes information about the workers' occupations and causes of death.
Court Stays Hours of Service Ruling The decision striking down portions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Hours of Service (HOS) rules has been stayed for 90 days by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
OSHA: 73 Percent of Violations Serious OSHA recently updated a variety of statistics related to the Agency's operations. In Fiscal Year 2006 there were 38,579 federal OSHA inspections, resulting in 83,913 violations. Out of these violations, 73.1 percent (61,337) were classified as Serious, which are violations where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.
OSHA Seeks Comments on Comprehensive Emergency Response Standard OSHA published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Sept. 11 Federal Register seeking input from the public to determine what action, if any, the agency should take to further address emergency response and preparedness.
ANSI Ergo Standard Faces New Delay, OSHA Abdication Despite rejection of their May appeal by the Appeals Panel of the A10 Secretariat of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), five construction contractor associations are continuing their fight to block adoption and publication of the ANSI A10.40 standard, Reduction of Musculoskeletal Problems in Construction. While announcing their intention to file an additional appeal to the ANSI Bureau of Standards Review (BSR), the contractors secured a 90-day extension – until November 9 – to allow time to prepare the appeal.
OSHA Cites AJC Restoration Inc. For Workplace Safety and Health Violations OSHA has proposed $134,000 in fines against Wally Cilulko, doing business as AJC Restoration Inc. in Chicago, for alleged multiple willful, serious and repeat violations of federal workplace safety and health standards. AJC Restoration Inc. employs 25 masonry employees at various sites in the Chicago area.
OSHA Cites Chicago Construction Company in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incident OSHA has proposed $112,000 in fines against Elliot Construction Co. Inc., Glen Ellyn, Ill., for alleged willful violations of federal workplace health standards following a workplace incident that led to the hospitalization of four employees suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
OSHA Fines Four Construction Companies More Than $119,000 Following Fatality At Dallas Worksite OSHA has issued citations to Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. in Houston; Okie Foundation Drilling Co. Inc. and Rent-A-Crane of Oklahoma Inc. in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Soto Rebar Construction in Dallas following the death of an employee at a Dallas worksite. Proposed penalties total $119,550.
Oregon Developer & Construction Firm Agree to Pay over $37,000 to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations Two Oregon Companies involved in property rehabilitation and redevelopment --- Cook Development Corp. (CDC) and Birch Creek Construction, Inc, (BCC) --- have agreed to pay penalties totaling $37,500 to settle with EPA for alleged violations of the asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (asbestos NESHAP), under the Clean Air Act (CAA) during their extensive renovation of the Commodore Apartments located on Court Street in The Dalles, Oregon in May 2001.
Safety Recall: Free replacement for Timberland Pro direct attach steel toe series boots The Timberland Company is voluntarily recalling Timberland PRO Direct Attach Steel Toe Series boots made in the Dominican Republic and sold nationwide between September 2005 and September 2007. Product testing has demonstrated that the boots may not comply with applicable safety standards for compression and impact resistance. Consumers could suffer impact foot injuries. No injuries have been reported.
BLS Reports Workplace Injury and Illness Overall Rate Lowest Ever Recorded The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry declined in 2006 for the fourth consecutive year, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. The total recordable case (TRC) rate in construction declined from 6.3 to 5.9 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Brooklyn, N.Y., Contractor Cited by OSHA Following Trench Collapse That Killed Employee OSHA has cited Star Pak Contracting Inc. for alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards following the death of an employee in a May 4 trench collapse in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood. The Brooklyn-based contractor faces a total of $25,500 in proposed fines.
