OSHA Weekly: November 2020

OSHA News for November 2020

Hello,

The Covid virus was another surge and November the worst month for infections. I had three friends get it so be careful in social settings indoors and outdoors. I am a fan of Vitamin D, low dose aspirin and iron as my prevention medicines.

I am working on a Mill Safety ppt. If you have photos or milling machines, I would like to see them.

Two of the Chicago law firms settled a large plaintiff case against 6 companies. One worker died, the other lost both arms. I was deposed 9 hours about OSHA and Multi-employer. I think the case turned to settlement when the defense leading expert agreed with my multi-employer responsibility for the host contractors, general contractor, and subcontractors.

Another company reported a year without an OSHA recordable. 270 employees in the food industry. Three factors made the difference.

1. Consistent enforcement of the rules for all managers and workers.

2. 100% training for all workers in all OSHA topics.

3. Engineered lifts so that employees do not lift 50 pounds anymore. Vacuum lifts do the lifting.

This month’s powerpoint is incident investigation for industry. Many companies have asked to train the managers in incident investigation in the last three months. I have three training sessions in December alone. It is very interactive and gets them thinking. I hadn’t published a version since 2014 and I have many cases that are more relevant to industrial companies. I had to mail it PDF since it was 20 Megs. Email me or use slideshare if you want it in ppt.

I hope everyone can take some time off and relax during the December holidays. You deserve it.

John

OSHA News.

1) Alex W. Smith Jr., 87, of Rockford, IL passed away on November 10, 2020. Born February 12, 1933 in Rockford, son of Alex W. Smith Sr. and Doris (Corey) Smith. He also worked 25 years with the State of Illinois Safety and Education Division and the Federal OSHA program as safety compliance officer. He was an instructor for the OSHA Training Institute and Safety Supervisor Share online memories and condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com

2) Employer Appeals of OSHA Citations Fell in FY2020 Due to Virus

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/safety/employer-appeals-of-osha-citations-fell-in-fy2020-due-to-virus

3) Investigation: OSHA fails to issue citations in thousands of complaints from workers related to COVID-19

https://www.wtae.com/article/osha-fails-to-investigate-thousands-covid-19-complaints/34759576?fbclid=IwAR08cNW0Q-vnTr4BEZt92nGtY0NNdJD60nA2frZruJ73h4JzjgVXg1JWe4Q

4) Tyson Suspends Meat Plant Managers Accused of COVID Betting Pool

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2020/11/20/591414.htm?fbclid=IwAR0j4XpD8BiH7hiTzRaD-myurNNqcFm9hmaL0B2fN5YjcXluIYgPJDoMoH4#:~:text=Tyson%20Suspends%20Meat%20Plant%20Managers%20Accused%20of%20COVID%20Betting%20Pool,-By%20Mike%20Dorning&text=Tyson%20Foods%20Inc.%20said%20it,Covid%20outbreak%20earlier%20this%20year

5) Unions Float Two Picks to Be Workplace Safety Chief Under Biden

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/unions-float-two-picks-to-be-workplace-safety-chief-under-biden?fbclid=IwAR08cNW0Q-vnTr4BEZt92nGtY0NNdJD60nA2frZruJ73h4JzjgVXg1JWe4Q

6) Cal/OSHA requires face masks, sick pay in new COVID-19 worker protections

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/11/20/cal-osha-requires-face-masks-sick-pay-in-new-covid-19-worker-protections/?fbclid=IwAR3fqD_Kak9FPZXUoovhw86oS7_NGC0BLWM69A9bPO3jJMU09_zzhofNsfg

7) Cloth masks are not PPE. OSHA

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/cloth-masks-are-not-personal-protective-equipment-osha-says?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&fbclid=IwAR2TjydsBaBg9OHHMLH1ryHyI3hE5AXkSij7PBVbb0BkoWrXGjP16nZLuLw

8) Expect These 8 Changes To OSHA Under The Biden Administration

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/expect-these-8-changes-to-osha-under-19340/?fbclid=IwAR2QJL1kTbhaWYEyPl6yWHfYUzUa4JTK-Rx1sfyvedCls01Y3YRZTK1TWY4

9) Document Shows What COVID-19 Violations OSHA Cites Most

https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/Document-Shows-What-COVID-19-Violations-OSHA-Cites-Most--26366?fbclid=IwAR0oKnLHwZhbQ0SSrRnHTB1YSl3gRXd21KpeaF0F4Ag7GIorfIXgMI_KrKE

10 ) Alabama auto parts maker Joon LLC, also known as Ajin USA, was ordered in federal criminal court to pay a $500,000 fine and $1 million to the estate of a worker who died after she was caught in machinery.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/auto-parts-maker-joon-must-pay-1-5-million-in-worker-death?fbclid=IwAR0Kzxd9CRA6-HF1eDRCZkVlnsNYda2PLPq0Vb_mgFiuoHjNQ4YOif0-lLA

11) Contractor on hook for fine after not responding to fatality citation

https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20201105/NEWS08/912337602/Contractor-on-hook-for-fine-after-not-responding-to-fatality-citation-Secretary-?fbclid=IwAR27pj552s6aaf9TdKSDIMlFsNrHz_MERBEbkhgOU_tzUBwHeKsmqI7HnLE

12) OSHA guidelines on covid ventilation.

Does not mention ASHRAE 10 cfm per person or ACGIH 6 air changes an hour.

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA4103.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1fOFCnizD0lRVh8MnPcUhna6Z6oWKfCve8wNup8i-ka5LG4nlE3Cn_eiw

13) Eleventh Circuit Says General Contractor Was Responsible for Subcontractor's Safety Practices

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/eleventh-circuit-says-general-46977/?fbclid=IwAR0-zPlVFIksfumn9PryDX6toZKLpxCpyaz9soLljtZmkbXo7fGNgHPZwZ4#:~:text=Eleventh%20Circuit%20Says%20General%20Contractor%20Was%20Responsible%20for%20Subcontractor's%20Safety%20Practices,-Jonathan%20Crotty&text=OSHA%20says%20that%20if%20the,working%20on%20the%20construction%20site

OSHA Weekly

Monday, November 30, 2020

OSHA News November 2020

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