OSHA Fines Georgia Poultry Processor
OSHA has proposed 22 safety and health violations with fines of $73,275 against a Georgia poultry farm.
A January inspection of the company's processing plant in Gainesville, Georgia, has resulted in the agency proposing two repeat violations with $27,500 in proposed penalties, 18 serious violations with $45,775 in proposed penalties, and two other-than-serious violations with no monetary penalties.
The two repeat violations are for the company's failure to provide standard guardrails for open-sided platforms, and using flexible cords and cables as a substitute for fixed wiring. OSHA issues repeat violations when it finds, following an initial violation, a substantially similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule, or order at any other of a company's facilities in federal enforcement states.
Serious violations alleged include the company's failure to annually train employees on hazards related to bloodborne pathogens and to make the Hepatitis B vaccine available to employees exposed to bloodborne pathogens. According to OSHA, safety training was not provided to all employees, exit routes were obstructed, and workers were exposed to noise and electrical hazards. The company failed to provide personal safety equipment and did not have machine guards on equipment.
The two other-than-serious citations were for the company's failure to certify that all hazards of the permit required confined space had been eliminated, bloodborne pathogen training had been conducted and employees who declined the Hepatitis B vaccine had signed a declination form.
Showing posts with label In the News..... Show all posts
Showing posts with label In the News..... Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
OSHA Budget
The initial budget plan suggested by the Obama administration points to increased funding for OSHA.
Although it does not cite specifics, the budget proposal suggests that labor department increases for fiscal year 2010 would permit OSHA to "vigorously enforce workplace safety laws and whistleblower protections, and ensure the safety and health of American workers."
Additional funds would reportedly go toward increased enforcement of laws, including those governing child-labor violations and toward reform of the nation's unemployment insurance system.
Overall, the 2010 budget as proposed by the administration would fund the Department of Labor at $13.3 billion.
The budget document noted that the administration will seek to reverse a trend of "growing workloads and shrinking staff" within OSHA.
A more detailed budget plan will be released in April.
Although it does not cite specifics, the budget proposal suggests that labor department increases for fiscal year 2010 would permit OSHA to "vigorously enforce workplace safety laws and whistleblower protections, and ensure the safety and health of American workers."
Additional funds would reportedly go toward increased enforcement of laws, including those governing child-labor violations and toward reform of the nation's unemployment insurance system.
Overall, the 2010 budget as proposed by the administration would fund the Department of Labor at $13.3 billion.
The budget document noted that the administration will seek to reverse a trend of "growing workloads and shrinking staff" within OSHA.
A more detailed budget plan will be released in April.
Two companies, two supervisors fined a total of $297,000 after the death of a young worker
TORONTO, April 28 /CNW/ - Brook Restoration Ltd., a Toronto construction
company, was fined $150,000 on April 22, 2009, completing a case that saw
another company and two individuals also convicted for violations of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), after a young worker was killed on
the job.
On January 17, 2007, a young worker employed by Ontario Roofing & General
Contracting Services Ltd., fell over 42 metres (140 feet) from a roof canopy
at 5900 Yonge Street in Toronto, sustaining fatal injuries. Ontario Roofing &
General Contracting Services was subcontracted by Brook Restoration Ltd. to
perform work on this project.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker for Ontario
Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd. fell while clearing snow and ice
from roof canopies that were being restored. The investigation concluded that
the worker, although wearing a full body harness, was not connected to any
anchor or fixed support at the time of the incident.
Brook Restoration Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing, as a constructor, to
ensure that every employer and every worker on the project at 5900 Yonge
Street complied with the fall protection measures set out in Ontario
Regulation 213/91. This was an offence under the section of the OHSA that sets
out the duties of constructors. In this case, the conviction was for failing
to ensure that Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd. ensured
that every worker was adequately protected by a method of fall protection.
In earlier proceedings, Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services,
supervisors Luis Gomes and Carlos Laranjeira pleaded guilty and were fined
$115,000, $20,000 and $12,000 respectively for violating the fall protection
requirement.
Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd. pleaded guilty on
October 3, 2008, to failing, as an employer, to ensure that a worker was
adequately protected by a method of fall protection. This was contrary to the
duties of employers as set out in the OHSA.
Also on October 3, 2008, Luis Gomes pleaded guilty to failing, as a
supervisor, to ensure that a worker was adequately protected by a method of
fall protection, contrary to the duties of supervisors as set out in the OHSA.
Another supervisor, Carlos Laranjeira pleaded guilty to the same charge on
October 28, 2008.
The fines were imposed by Justice R. Bigelow. In addition to the fines,
the court also imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the
Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial
government fund to assist victims of crime.
company, was fined $150,000 on April 22, 2009, completing a case that saw
another company and two individuals also convicted for violations of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), after a young worker was killed on
the job.
On January 17, 2007, a young worker employed by Ontario Roofing & General
Contracting Services Ltd., fell over 42 metres (140 feet) from a roof canopy
at 5900 Yonge Street in Toronto, sustaining fatal injuries. Ontario Roofing &
General Contracting Services was subcontracted by Brook Restoration Ltd. to
perform work on this project.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker for Ontario
Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd. fell while clearing snow and ice
from roof canopies that were being restored. The investigation concluded that
the worker, although wearing a full body harness, was not connected to any
anchor or fixed support at the time of the incident.
Brook Restoration Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing, as a constructor, to
ensure that every employer and every worker on the project at 5900 Yonge
Street complied with the fall protection measures set out in Ontario
Regulation 213/91. This was an offence under the section of the OHSA that sets
out the duties of constructors. In this case, the conviction was for failing
to ensure that Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd. ensured
that every worker was adequately protected by a method of fall protection.
In earlier proceedings, Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services,
supervisors Luis Gomes and Carlos Laranjeira pleaded guilty and were fined
$115,000, $20,000 and $12,000 respectively for violating the fall protection
requirement.
Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd. pleaded guilty on
October 3, 2008, to failing, as an employer, to ensure that a worker was
adequately protected by a method of fall protection. This was contrary to the
duties of employers as set out in the OHSA.
Also on October 3, 2008, Luis Gomes pleaded guilty to failing, as a
supervisor, to ensure that a worker was adequately protected by a method of
fall protection, contrary to the duties of supervisors as set out in the OHSA.
Another supervisor, Carlos Laranjeira pleaded guilty to the same charge on
October 28, 2008.
The fines were imposed by Justice R. Bigelow. In addition to the fines,
the court also imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the
Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial
government fund to assist victims of crime.
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