Kleen Energy explosion included “Citations …for failing to install & use electrical equipment in accordance with its listing and labeling.”  OSHA and the NEC (NFPA 70) which is law in most states require electrical equipment be used in accordance with its listing and labeling.  It is all to common to find citations on this even in new [...]

OSHA cited Whitcraft LLC for 44 alleged serious violations of workplace standards at its Eastford, Conn., aircraft parts manufacturing plant.
OSHA said, “These sizable fines reflect the breadth and gravity of the hazardous conditions identified during our inspection at this workplace, conditions which should not have existed in the first place,”
The “electrical hazards including misused electrical [...]

Region 6 News Release: DOL-OSHA-10-941-DAL
Monday, July 19, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth Todd
Phone: 972-850-4710
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov

US Department of Labor’s OSHA cites Jarden Home Brands
in Greenville, Texas, for alleged safety violations

GREENVILLE, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Jarden Home Brands with two alleged willful and 12 alleged serious violations following a safety inspection at the company’s worksite in Greenville. Penalties total $197,500.

“This employer jeopardized the safety of its workers by exposing them to the possible release of electrical energy, which could result in electrocution or other hazards,” said Stephen Boyd, OSHA’s area director in Dallas, Texas. “OSHA’s regulations must be followed to avoid injuries and fatalities.”

OSHA’s Dallas Area Office began its inspection Jan. 27 at the company’s facility on Industrial Boulevard after receiving a referral alleging workers were being exposed to safety hazards. Willful violations were issued for failing to develop specific procedures to protect workers from the unexpected release of electrical energy, and for failing to provide adequate machine guarding for employees working around rotating shafts. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

The serious violations included failing to provide fall protection equipment, training in lockout/tagout procedures of energy sources, training in the use of forklift trucks, and ensuring electrical equipment was approved for use in hazardous locations. A serious violation is one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA’s Dallas Area Office at 214-320-2400 or OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

Jarden Home Brands has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Dallas, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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Schneider Electric (a top NFPA 70E compliance company) cited for electrical hazards after an employee electrocution.  It is tough to change the electrical culture.  Companies with leading edge technologies and safety programs have a tough time getting the word down to the lower level workers.  Electricity can kill you. I’m sure Square-D made changes to prevent this [...]

“CHANNELVIEW, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Sneed Shipbuilding Inc. for alleged serious, repeat and other-than-serious violations for exposing employees to electrical and other safety hazards at the company’s facility on Market Street in Channelview. Proposed penalties total $59,300.

“Welders were using damaged welding leads, and the company failed to repair damaged electrical junction boxes,” said David Doucet, director of OSHA’s Houston North Area Office. “Electrical hazards like these can cause electrocution.”

OSHA’s Houston North Area Office began its investigation on April 27, finding structural deficiencies on one of the crawler cranes Sneed Shipbuilding maintained and operated, as well as electrical hazards throughout the shipyard. OSHA has issued 19 serious citations, including failing to provide employees with fall protection, guards on grinders, covers over open manholes in decks, and fire extinguishers in areas where flammable paint and solvents are used. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees when the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

A repeat violation has been issued for failing to provide employees operating crawler cranes with load rating charts. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last three years.”

Now five sites total have been cited for electrical hazards.  We have seen a real uptick in OSHA citations of companies for electrical hazards but this USPS thing has really gotten interesting.  They must have all been doing the same things.  I had a ton of USPS workers in classes over the past four or [...]

“BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Bozzuto’s Inc. for 25 alleged violations of safety standards at its Cheshire, Conn., food distribution warehouse. The company faces a total of $58,750 in proposed fines.

“These citations address a cross section of mechanical, electrical and exit access hazards that exposed workers to the dangers of electric shock, lacerations, amputation, and being caught in operating machinery or unable to swiftly exit the workplace in the event of a fire or other emergency,” said Kang Yi, OSHA’s acting area director in Bridgeport. “It is imperative that the company take effective action to ensure that all such conditions are corrected and do not reoccur.”

OSHA’s inspection found workers unable to open emergency exit doors from inside the workplace; a lack of specific procedures to lock out the power sources for compactors and other machines to prevent their unintended startup during service or maintenance; unguarded grinder, table saw, compactor and other machinery; missing guardrails; no workplace hazard assessment to determine what types of personal protective equipment workers would need; a deficient respiratory protection program; unlabeled lifting slings; improperly stored oxygen cylinders; and several electrical hazards.”

“OSHA identified additional safety and health hazards for Bullins employees, including improper anchorage points for the lifelines, an uninspected suspended scaffold, respirator protection deficiencies, overexposure to respirable dust, fumes and solvents, improper transfer of flammable liquids, smoking while mixing flammable liquids, electrical hazards and failing to appropriately monitor the inside of the water tank for oxygen-deficient atmospheres before workers entered it. Both employers also were cited for recordkeeping violations.”

Employee complaints prompted an OSHA inspection of this plant. Some were repeat citations. Two other facilities had been cited in 2009.
Employee relations can affect safety and compliance and vice versa. Safety should be a team effort. Most companies we do electrical safety training in are wanting to do the right [...]

Click here to read the press release.

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