OSHA News for May 2021

OSHA News for May 2021 Hello, It was a long busy month. June should be a little easier. Most of the month and July are booked. I am seeing much work in OSHA settlement training. The CHST prep class on May 17-21, 2021 already three have passed the examination. Next one in the fall. An Audit of a large Japanese company showed these Program and Training Deficiencies. 1. Missing energy control procedures for robots. 2. No Periodic inspections for authorized people in the plant. 3. Lockout training was missing for some. 4. No fall protection training for workers who access the roof. 5. Workers (Supervisors, Industrial Machine Operator, Forklift Operators, and Welders, have not received Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices training. 6. Some forklift operators were missing recertifications. 7. Respirator fit tests need to be done for workers wearing a half mask respirator. 8. Aerial lift operators did not have proof of training. 9. No ladder training for those that use ladders. A good audit should pick up these weaknesses. If an accident would occur, it will be hard to explain that you are missing these programs in a large corporation. I did a fun podcast with Lauren Brizendine. https://www.buzzsprout.com/16601110/8364196?fbclid=IwAR0-Uzd67GxFP8RPmLIuUfPZR-Rur-exSeWwoXTLpLoIrbN21MqYEWtyAoI This month's ppt is formaldehyde. I am seeing more chemicals using this in cleanings and adhesives. Sampling to determine the formaldehyde level is required. June is good to review heat stress with the workers. John OSHA News. 1) Amazon’s relentless pace is injuring warehouse workers and violating the law, Washington state regulator says. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazons-relentless-pace-is-violating-the-law-and-injuring-warehouse-workers-washington-state-regulator-says/?utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TSA_052521145426%20Amazon%27s%20demand%20for%20speed%20injures%20workers%2C%20Washington%20state%20says_5_25_2021&utm_term=Active%20subscriber&fbclid=IwAR3jbeX_N8RJhOhUsgPHbK3Rqvm5ICKMM7kAaOD0RYTS7kED_O3CqmkDf1E 2) OSHA reverse vaccine adverse reaction policy. Are adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine recordable on the OSHA recordkeeping log? DOL and OSHA, as well as other federal agencies, are working diligently to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. OSHA does not wish to have any appearance of discouraging workers from receiving COVID-19 vaccination, and also does not wish to disincentivize employers’ vaccination efforts. As a result, OSHA will not enforce 29 CFR 1904’s recording requirements to require any employers to record worker side effects from COVID-19 vaccination through May 2022. We will reevaluate the agency’s position at that time to determine the best course of action moving forward. https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/faqs?fbclid=IwAR2I8pPZWBZ00B8TtbWBkVYo1i1cTs6il0wjy6e51l9ZUPbXJdIGUtajFxA#reporting 3) Owner pleads guilty to lying to OSHA. https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/owner-of-local-tanker-truck-repair-company-pleads-guilty-to-violating-safety-standards-making-false/article_fbbd9e06-96ba-53a9-9732-046f1993f574.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR2dU1JURkjbDddFco-StOYfftVWfjqKQDG4FO9e9X4Oheok7vssKSI2CFA 4) IL Proposed more training for high hazard workers. SPRINGFIELD – Workers at high hazard facilities could soon be required to undergo advanced safety training thanks to legislation passed by the Senate Executive Committee yesterday. State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) is the chief sponsor of this initiative. “Safety training is crucial at every job site, but the need at facilities where workers are handling dangerous substances is especially prudent,” Hastings said. “Those who have gone through proper training are statistically less likely to be at risk of making a mistake that could result in an accident. We cannot afford to lose lives on the job site due to neglect, and we certainly cannot afford to let these dangerous chemicals seep into our communities.” This initiative is a response to a 2012 Chevron refinery explosion and subsequent fire in Richmond, Cal. According to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, approximately 15,000 people from the surrounding communities sought medical treatment at nearby medical facilities for ailments including breathing problems, chest pain, shortness of breath, sore throat, and headaches following the incident. Approximately 20 of these people were admitted to local hospitals as inpatients for treatment. Under House Bill 3437, the Illinois Department of Labor would be required to develop a curriculum of approved advanced safety training for workers at high hazard facilities. These building and construction contractors would be required to pay prevailing wage and use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all onsite work at petroleum refining facilities, petrochemical manufacturing facilities, ethyl alcohol manufacturing facilities, and basic organic chemical manufacturing facilities. If these contractors fail to do so, they could face a monetary penalty. In addition to these safety provisions, two measures to increase workforce diversity at these facilities would be implemented. 5) OSHA says please refer to the CDC guidance for information on measures appropriate to protect fully vaccinated workers. https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR2I8pPZWBZ00B8TtbWBkVYo1i1cTs6il0wjy6e51l9ZUPbXJdIGUtajFxA 6) EPA orders Virgin Islands refinery to shut down, citing ‘imminent’ health threat The St. Croix oil refinery, senior EPA official said, is ‘not how a normal refinery operates’ (This is the former Hess Refinery) https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/05/14/limetree-bay-refinery/?fbclid=IwAR3Dko88tEvIcgtWJTpF2KmeWanTINMjjcyz18b3e2GtaAvoh_19EBLWZtY 7) General Contracting Company Admits Causing Death of Employee who Fell Off Roof During Residential Roof Installation https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/general-contracting-company-admits-causing-death-employee-who-fell-roof-during?fbclid=IwAR2I8pPZWBZ00B8TtbWBkVYo1i1cTs6il0wjy6e51l9ZUPbXJdIGUtajFxA 8) Contempt of OSHA? Nationwide inspections of Dollar Tree locations over the past 5 years have resulted in proposed penalties of more than $9.3 million, according to OSHA. https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2021/05/dollar-tree-receives-yet-another-six-figure-osha-citation/?fbclid=IwAR2I8pPZWBZ00B8TtbWBkVYo1i1cTs6il0wjy6e51l9ZUPbXJdIGUtajFxA Other Major News Stories. 1) COVID-19 deaths. I did not count the presumptive cases. Friday May 28, 2021 – 571184 fatalities, 33,213,516 cases, 165,074,907 one dose, 131,850,089 fully vaccinated COVID-19 data continues to move in a favorable direction; 50% of US adults are fully vaccinated (418.24) Last night: US reported 16,116 cases, 358 deaths, and 23,138 current hospitalizations. Compared to one week ago: 19,483 cases, 518 deaths, and 27,027 current hospitalizations. 49.81% of US population has received one dose of a multi dose vaccine versus 49.67% prior update. 39.72% of US population has been fully vaccinated versus 39.58% prior update. Friday, May 21, 2021 566629 deaths. 38,041,136 illness, 159,174,963 at least 1 dose, 125,253,423 fully vaccinated Deaths up to 4000. Florida only state over 400 deaths in the week. CDC lets mask off for vaccinated. Vaccinations slowing down. Friday, May 14, 2021 – 562,176 deaths, 32,840,007 illness, 153,986,312 one dose, 117,647,439 fully vaccinated First week in a year the deaths were under 2000. GA and CA were 35% of the deaths. CDC lifts masks for vaccinated people. Vaccinated people are slowing down. 170 million with one shot might be hard by July. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is tracking these coronavirus infections that break through the vaccine's protection, told NPR on Thursday that the agency has so far received reports of about 5,800 breakthrough cases. No "unexpected patterns have been identified in case demographics or vaccine characteristics," the CDC says. Though these sorts of breakthrough infections have been reported among people of all ages, a little more than 40% so far have been among people age 60 or older, according to the agency, and 65% of such cases have been among women. About 29% of those experiencing breakthrough infections experienced no symptoms, but 7% were hospitalized and 74 people died. https://www.npr.org/.../a-mystery-under-study-how-why-and... Friday May 7, 2021 – 561,417 deaths, 32,685,608 cases, 148,462,265 one dose, 108,926,627 fully vaccinated. FL had over 1000 deaths of the 7000 deaths. FL, MI, CA, and AZ had 400-500 deaths. 2) Amazon announced the launch of WorkingWell; Program components will roll out to all Amazon operations sites in the U.S. by end of year. Amazon announced the launch of WorkingWell, a new comprehensive program providing employees with physical and mental activities, wellness exercises, and healthy eating support that are scientifically proven to help them recharge and reenergize, and ultimately reduce the risk of injury. The program is part of the company's investment of more than $300 million into safety projects in 2021, and its mission to be Earth's Safest Place to Work. There are a number of components of WorkingWell, each of which was developed in collaboration with employees from within Amazon operations. Aspects of WorkingWell piloted in the U.S. in 2019, and the program has since expanded to 859,000 employees at 350 sites in North America and Europe. By the end of 2021, WorkingWell will expand further to cover all of Amazon's operations network in the U.S. with the aim of cutting recordable incident rates by 50 percent by 2025. 3) Illinois first trench fatal in 2021 https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/05/15/piece-of-concrete-falls-on-man-in-heart-of-chicago/?taid=60a098cbb4526500012f0c00&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter&fbclid=IwAR1Mrjf6ikLaO5KlQ-y-KQBHLLwFoKYj9Yzo_hVouOOUOPRHaN2bE6vV71g 4) Two funerals at one plant in MI. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/05/14/garr-m14.html?fbclid=IwAR3jbeX_N8RJhOhUsgPHbK3Rqvm5ICKMM7kAaOD0RYTS7kED_O3CqmkDf1E Recent OSHA Citations State Inspection Number Employer City Issuance Date Initial Penalty AL 956197.015 Willcutt Block and Supply Company of Tuscaloosa, Inc. TUSCALOOSA 05/27/2014 $80,200.00 KS 1504375.015 TYSON FOODS, INC. HUTCHINSON 05/19/2021 $68,265.00 KS 1510379.015 Keesecker Agri Business Inc. (Main) WASHINGTON 05/17/2021 $42,326.00 OH 1517355.015 Menards WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE 05/17/2021 $40,179.00 TX 1524572.015 Celeros Flow Technology, LLC HOUSTON 05/17/2021 $48,765.00 CA 1497587.015 Willoughby Brothers LLC GILROY 05/14/2021 $64,685.00 CA 1492136.015 Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital SALINAS 05/14/2021 $55,615.00 TX 1507084.015 Reinforced Earth Company WACO 05/14/2021 $42,131.00 WA 1509653.015 NOVELLA BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION INC. RENTON 05/14/2021 $51,000.00 OH 1510821.015 Aero Fulfillment Services Corporation FAIRFIELD 05/13/2021 $81,139.00 CA 1505590.015 The Penta Building Group, LLC CATHEDRAL CITY 05/12/2021 $40,959.00 PA 1522098.015 Peach State Roofing, Inc. ALLENTOWN 05/12/2021 $67,582.00 NJ 1526515.015 Kearny Department of Public Works KEARNY 05/11/2021 $54,000.00 OH 1522338.015 M & T HARDWOODS, LTD APPLE CREEK 05/11/2021 $40,959.00 OH 1519716.015 PSC Metals MASSILLON 05/11/2021 $56,564.00 CA 1507239.015 California Premier Roofscapes Inc. IRVINE 05/10/2021 $75,060.00 FL 1507065.015 DWC CONTRACTING, LLC GAINESVILLE 05/10/2021 $183,225.00 GA 1502375.015 HPPE LLC COLUMBUS 05/10/2021 $93,122.00 GA 1502399.015 HPPE LLC COLUMBUS 05/10/2021 $43,694.00 IL 1504457.015 Plastic Designs, Inc. PAXTON 05/10/2021 $54,070.00 IL 1501977.015 Sterling Bridge, LLC BENSENVILLE 05/10/2021 $55,978.00 TX 1522716.015 Blazey Construction Services, LLC SPRING 05/10/2021 $51,366.00 GA 1502017.015 Commercial Stainless Fabricators, Inc. MARIETTA 05/07/2021 $127,661.00 IL 1518035.015 Kevin Rodriguez dba KRA Construction BURR RIDGE 05/07/2021 $46,985.00 WA 1528775.015 BILLYS CAFE LLC BURLINGTON 05/07/2021 $96,390.00 MA 1511557.015 Polar Corp. AUBURN 05/06/2021 $85,823.00 NY 1501701.015 Lucas Shrewsberry SYRACUSE 05/06/2021 $60,074.00 PA 1528591.015 Panera Bread LEWISBURG 05/06/2021 $53,642.00 PA 1501676.015 Middle Creek Roofing, LLC CLIFTON HEIGHTS 05/05/2021 $60,074.00 CA 1490465.015 Kaiser Foundation Hospitals DOWNEY 05/04/2021 $73,975.00 TX 1501372.015 Clarke Products Inc. WACO 05/04/2021 $502,050.00 TX 1501376.015 Clarke Products Inc. WACO 05/04/2021 $56,771.00 CA 1489286.015 Permanente Medical Group SAN LEANDRO 05/03/2021 $74,185.00 CA 1505617.015 Watermark Livermore, LLC LIVERMORE 05/03/2021 $59,960.00 CA 1495693.015 Amazon.com Services, LLC RIALTO 05/03/2021 $41,000.00 CA 1475269.015 Cedar Operations, LLC YUCAIPA 05/03/2021 $72,875.00 CA 1488938.015 Kaiser Foundation Hospitals VALLEJO 05/03/2021 $54,000.00 MA 1519773.015 Gorton's Inc. GLOUCESTER 05/03/2021 $93,745.00 Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) CSC 3015 Trenching June 21-23 at CSC OSHA 10/30 NIU Online May 11-15 Machine Guarding NIU Online June 11, 25 NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu FREE machine Guarding https://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/course-schedules/free-courses/free-machinery-courses/index.shtml CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association www.trma.org NSC is National Safety Council http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/ Global OSHA is https://www.globalosha.org/ I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10/30 hour class for private companies. I have taught people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/ I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections. -- John Newquist 815-354-6853 Attachments area