The following incidents were enforced with large fines as the result of a failure to adhere to safety practices on the worksite and the companies complete non compliance in many workers safety statutes outlined by OSHA to be followed in order to save lives. Many times the result was not just a very large fine but included injured workers and fatalities. According to OSHA approximately 4,547 workers died on the job in 2010. The companies names have been omitted.
“With every one of these fatalities, the lives of a worker’s family members were shattered and forever changed. We can’t forget that fact.”
-Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor
1. Company A – $1.94 million
Phenix City, AL at a Planer mill
- 13 willful violations- failure to shut down and lock out 13 pieces of machinery before requiring employees to clear jams on them.
- 11 willful violations- were related to failure to train 11 employees in lockout procedures.
- 3 willful violations- fall hazards, failure to issue locks, & failure to establish lockout/tagout procedures.
- 1 repeat & 2 serious violations guarding procedures.
Safewaze 3550-0241 6 Foot Lanyard
In this case using proper fall protection equipment like the Safewaze 3550-0241 6 Foot Web Lanyard may not only have prevented fines, but possibly could have saved lives.
” Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers.”
-OSHA
2. Company B – $1.25 million
Cicero, IL at a Retail and display promotions
- 15 willful citations- failure to provide proper training, protective clothing and equipment to workers.
- 4 willful citations- failure to inform workers of the location & quantity of the asbestos, failure to monitor airborne asbestos, failure to use appropriate vacuums like the DeWalt D27905 Heavy Duty Dust Extraction Vacuum, & incorrect disposal of asbestos.
- 8 citations -failure to implement a respirator protection program or use engineering controls.
DeWalt D27905 Dust Extraction Vacuum
“An estimated 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays.”
-OSHA
3. Company C – $1.23 million
Colebrook, NH at a Gun powder manufacturer
- 4 willful citations- failure to train each of four workers involved in the manufacturing.
- 12 willful citations- failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment and identify explosion hazards in operating procedures.
- 36 citations – failure to establish and implement an emergency action plan, failure to train workers in electrical safety,hazards associated with exit routes & failure to address hazards associated with handling, storing and transporting explosives.
“Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard. OSHA’s electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions.”
– OSHA
Sources:
http://www.nsc.org/safetyhealth/Pages/OSHATop10PenaltyBox1211.aspx
http://www.osha.gov/
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/index.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/hazard_alert.html
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/HazComm_QuickCard_Pictogram.html
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/index.html
