Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » OSHA Issues

OSHA Proposes Penalties of $46.2 to TX Hydraulic Co

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:44 +0000

High Roller Wells Pearsall SWD #1 Ltd of Pearsall, TX, was cited for serious safety violations following an explosion and fire. Violations included failing to ensure that equipment and electrical wiring are rated for the environment in which they are being used, take necessary precautions to prevent possible ignition sources such as sparks or static electricity, conduct a workplace hazard assessment to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment needed, and ensure that there is an emergency action plan in place.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/24/12.

OSHA Proposes Penalties of $47k to OH Food Group

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:02 +0000

American Foods Group of Sharonville, OH, was cited for 7 safety violations. Repeat violation involved failure to conduct periodic and regular inspections of lockout procedures for the energy sources of equipment. Six serious violations involved failing to train employees who service equipment so that they are authorized to implement the energy control program, train employees on how to troubleshoot electrical equipment using safe work practices, train employees on the operation of powered industrial trucks, affix locks to machines’ energy isolation devices prior to allowing employees to perform maintenance and servicing operations, and provide locks to production employees who service equipment.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/23/12.

OSHA Proposes Fines of $51.3k to OH Steel Manufacturer

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:06:10 +0000

Wrayco Industries Inc. of Stow, OH, has been cited with 14 serious safety and health violations. Included in the safety violations was failure to develop machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures to control hazardous energy, and failure to use electrical equipment according to labels and listings. Additionally, serious health violations involved failure to provide a written hazard communication program.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/25/12.

$67.5k Proposed Penalties to Bartlett Grain of KS due to 6 Deaths & 2 Injuries in Combustible Dust Explosion

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:47:55 +0000

Bartlett Grain of Atchison, KS, was cited by OSHA for willful and serious safety violations in response to the October 2011 grain elevator explosion tragedy.

The willful violations include allowing grain dust – which is nine times as explosive as coal dust – to accumulate, using compressed air to remove dust without first shutting down ignition sources, jogging (repeatedly starting and stopping) inside bucket elevators to free legs choked by grain, and using electrical equipment inappropriate for the working environment.

The serious violations involve a lack of proper preventive maintenance, certification and lubrication of grain handling equipment; inadequate emergency action plan training for employees and contractors; a lack of employee and contractor training on job hazards; and a housekeeping program that was deficient because it did not prevent grain dust accumulations.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/12/12.

Family Members to be Contacted by OSHA Following Workplace Fatality

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:42:20 +0000

A new OSHA directive will guide representatives in communicating with families following a workplace fatality. This will include contacting the victim’s family to explain the investigation process, timeless, updating, Q&A, and employer citations, if applicable.

Click here to read the OSHA Press Release dated 4/17/12.

OSHA’s Fatality / Catastrophe Report for Week Ending 3-3-12

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:41:16 +0000

OSHA’s weekly summary of fatalities and catastrophes has been published for the week ending 3/3/12. The table includes incidents resulting in the hospitalization of 3 or more workers, and fatalities that appear to be work-related. OSHA investigates all work-related fatalaties and catastrophes; once investigation is completed, inspection results and citations will be updated.

Click here to read the OSHA weekly report for w/e 3/3/12.

Republic Steel of OH Reaches Settlement with OSHA for Health & Safety Violations

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:59:40 +0000

Republic Steel of Canton, OH, reached a settlement with OSHA to pay $235k in fines, hire full-time health and safety managers, and improve safety training for workers at its steel mills in federal OSHA’s jurisdiction.

The safety and health managers to be hired at each mill will have the authority to suspend work until a safety or health issue has been abated without having to refer the matter to the mill’s manager or other supervisors. Each safety and health manager will make a bimonthly, random safety inspection of the mill, as well as a quarterly inspection at another one of the company’s mills. A Joint Safety Committee also will be established to audit inspections and develop best safety practices, and will meet on a monthly basis. Additionally, the company will post in-plant safety bulletins, create a quarterly newsletter, implement a system for employees to notify management anonymously of health and safety concerns, and allow union safety coordinators with the United Steel Workers to have increased access to the company’s hourly workforce.

Increased and improved training for workers will include training by a third-party consultant on fall protection and lockout/tagout procedures, training designed for contractors, and a 10-hour health and safety training program specific to Republic Steel’s operations that will be developed within 12 months of the settlement. Additionally, the company will pay attendance fees for safety coordinators and joint safety committee members to participate in the United Steel Workers training conference.

Specific, additional abatement measures Republic Steel agreed to take at the Lorain mill include providing a two-hour lockout/tagout training program to all affected employees, conducting a fall hazard audit and developing a fall protection abatement plan.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/12/12.

Sheet Metal Mfr in GA Cited by OSHA for $81.1k

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:58:26 +0000

Don Park USA LP of Conley, GA, was cited for safety & health violations, including: repeat safety violations involving failure to develop specific energy control procedures that are required to be used when employees perform equipment maintenance, and protect employees from exposure to live electrical parts; serious safety violations involving failure to train employees required to perform procedures involving the lockout/tagout of energy sources, conduct inspections of electrical equipment and properly install electrical equipment; and other-than-serious violation involving failure to provide refresher training to employees on operating a powered industrial truck after an electrical outlet was struck by a forklift.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/12/12.

OSHA cites OH Sign Co $67.4K Including Electrical Safety Fines for PPE and Class E/G Hardhats

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:27:30 +0000

Sign Source USA of Lima, OH, has been cited by OSHA for $67.4k in safety & health violations, including several related to electrical safety: lack of PPE, failing to require the use of nonconducting headgear, failing to train workers to recognize unsafe electrical practices, and not grounding metal parts in the spray booth.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/9/12.

IL Mfg Co Fined $231k after Dust Collector Explosion

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:26:24 +0000

OSHA has proposed $231k in penalties for Gilster-Mary Lee Corp of Steeleville, IL, where 2 maintenance employees were seriously burned following an explosion within a dust collector while conducting welding operations. The men were repairing a hole in the side of a metal trough containing a screw conveyor that was leaking granulated sugar within several feet of an operational dust collector. The dust collector exploded due to a spark from the welding operations.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/10/12.