OSHA News March 2025

OSHA News for Feb 2025 Hello, March was Confined Space Month. I went in 20 spaces this month. All of a sudden Alternate Procedures are hot. I got word that long time employee Keith Daly took the buyout. OSHA will consolidate some offices and cut management staffs next in the round of budget trimming. Amanda Wood Laihow is Acting head of OSHA. Michael Asplin is the Senior Policy Advisor Matthew Martin is Special Advisor Illinois same surface falls hospitalization 2024 ( If it on the ground, you can trip on it) 52 same surface 11 Tripped over (stanchion, pallet jack, foot, backpack, basket, board, cracked tile etc.) 9 good floor or sidewalk 8 wet 5 parking lots 3 pulling 3 Ice 2 step 2 pushed by another violence 9 various I conducted training at a client’s site in March, where many workers speak Spanish. Claudia had translated the slides into both English and Spanish. I first covered the English text, and then she communicated the yellow text for the Spanish-speaking group. The session went exceptionally well. I like the dual language on one slide. I have been pushing proof of training for competent person. I think this is a weak area for many companies. • Secretary of Labor v. Summit Contractors, Inc. (2010) - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals: • Held: Competent person training must be documented, but experience can be considered. • Secretary of Labor v. CF&I Steel, L.P. (2013) - 10th Circuit Court of Appeals: • Held: Experience alone is insufficient; documented training is required With all the litigation for safety audits, I have decided to write no more audit reports. All the lawsuits go after these reports and consultants even if nothing is wrong. This Month's Powerpoint: Confined Space (of course) March was snow, high winds, 70s, and hard rain. In 2024, There were too many Heat cases. Discuss this in April or May and every day it is 100 heat index. Stay cool. John OSHA News Update – January 2025 1) Titan Tire Reaches Settlement in Des Moines employee death. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2025/03/29/titan-tire-penalized-in-death-of-des-moines-worker-jessica-royce-osha/82658266007/ 2) Are the days of osha's rulemaking and reliance on consensus standards numbered? https://natlawreview.com/article/are-days-oshas-rulemaking-and-reliance-consensus-standards-numbered#google_vignette 3) Small businesses challenge OSHA safety standards and latest brief https://www.nfib.com/news/news/small-businesses-challenge-oshas-safety-standards-in-latest-brief/ 4) OSHA wants to find SeaWorld Orlando after trainer got injured by a killer whale https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article302755124.html 5) Amanda Wood Laihow is now the acting assistant secretary of Labor for OSHA https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha/biography/laihow 6) Congressman Walberg of the Education and Labor Subcommittee told OSHA to withdraw the burdensome regs - Heat Illness - Emergency Response - Walkaround for the Employees at Non Union Sites - Recordkeeping changes for 2025? https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/26633-gop-lawmaker-pushes-for-withdrawal-of-oshas-proposed-heat-rule-other-actions Other News 1) Grain Explosion in TX https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/large-explosion-at-grain-elevator-in-sunray-causes-evacuations-multiple-airlifted-moore-county-sheriffs-office-county-judge-rowdy-rhoades-3rd-street-national-weather-service?fbclid=IwY2xjawJWgt1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQGRQpgOWybWNf6Bt0KRZqe243UV39aLT-zkNIteKTRCsUdpucoTDVA3yQ_aem_3ZOu-NLsV-7zFHrVGzfoIg 2) OH Woman dies of burns at bbq pit. https://www.cleveland.com/nation/2025/03/ohio-woman-dies-of-burns-after-incident-involving-backyard-fire-pit.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJWgy1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcOaTufEo7wNfT6ztoc-ll_cWpZMsfdA-PbXze-NDDupgQG9FD55ZxiFXA_aem_Ln8OOARTKwllX3xJ5R1dTQ 3) Trench rescue in MO. https://www.wsiltv.com/news/missouri/firefighters-rescue-man-trapped-in-collapsed-trench-in-cape-girardeau/article_a028f28e-fabf-11ef-b841-e7256f3aac98.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJWg29leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHW2hn46Oz39CHD8s6oDLt-LziAAmiZ58p_1cPuFz5GyP92G86keiW4C2oA_aem_Gq1RDFkeQIP0ncE2wvLNOg OSHA CITATIONS January 2 2025 to Jan 15 2025 CA 317729986 PSLQ INC DBA GREENBEE INDIO 01/02/2015 $74,435.00 GA 984520.015 Sam Wright VALDOSTA 01/02/2015 $47,080.00 MA 985498.015 JAMES J. WELCH & CO., INC. EASTHAMPTON 01/02/2015 $93,170.00 OH 992274.015 Anomatic Corporation NEWARK 01/02/2015 $41,550.00 NC 986804.015 Tekton Construction FORT BRAGG 01/05/2015 $123,200.00 WA 317401354 RMK CONTRACTORS LLC ABERDEEN 01/05/2015 $111,900.00 CT 984505.015 U.S. Chutes Corporation BANTAM 01/06/2015 $68,068.00 TX 983333.015 Transition of Superior Systems MERKEL 01/06/2015 $51,600.00 WA 317385565 COLUMBIA CEDAR INC KETTLE FALLS 01/06/2015 $151,580.00 KS 983761.015 Americold Logistics LLC. GARDEN CITY 01/07/2015 $62,000.00 ND 984234.015 Northern Excavating Company, Inc. ROSS 01/07/2015 $147,000.00 ME 985960.015 LESSARD BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, INC. LEWISTON 01/08/2015 $287,660.00 OH 985493.015 MCM Precision Castings, Inc. WESTON 01/08/2015 $64,200.00 OK 998853.015 DCP Midstream LP OKARCHE 01/08/2015 $42,000.00 TX 985296.015 Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas POINT COMFORT 01/08/2015 $42,000.00 DE 1002543.015 Reybold Homes Inc., a division of The Reybold Group BEAR 01/09/2015 $77,000.00 WI 985617.015 Besse Forest Products, Inc. GOODMAN 01/09/2015 $88,000.00 WA 317405447 WEST VAN MATERIAL RECOVERY CTR VANCOUVER 01/12/2015 $100,000.00 NJ 995257.015 Zimmer Holdings, Inc. PARSIPPANY 01/13/2015 $56,000.00 WA 317424273 A-1 ROOFING ABERDEEN 01/13/2015 $58,500.00 IL 985545.015 Grainco FS, Inc. NEWARK 01/14/2015 $241,500.00 NJ 989463.015 Xpedited Svcs, LLC JERSEY CITY 01/14/2015 $63,000.00 NV 1008277.015 SOC Nevada LLC HAWTHORNE 01/14/2015 $84,000.00 NY 985098.015 The New York and Presbyterian Hospital NEW YORK 01/14/2015 $201,000.00 OH 985164.015 Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, LLC COLUMBUS 01/14/2015 $60,500.00 CA 317388650 FIVE STAR PLASTERING INC. MISSION VIEJO 01/15/2015 $164,275.00 NJ 995363.015 Trenton Housing Authority TRENTON 01/15/2015 $54,600. No News Releases related to Citations in March either. Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) CSC 502 Apr 21-23 NIU 511 Rockford Mar 31 -Apr 3 NIU 20245 Naperville Machine Guarding Apr 14-16 NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association www.trma.org I usually teach only 10-hour and the 500 series. I have taught 890 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, and early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana. The PowerPoint is posted free at usmwf.org. https://www.usmwf.org/powerpoints-and-safety-information.html I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

OSHA Newquist February 2025

OSHA News for Feb 2025 Hello, February was a whirlwind for OSHA. The probationary employees are gone. The Reduction in Force came out this week. This usually means management cuts. I got word that long time employee Bonnie Knisch in Fairview will retire. Gary Weil of Chicago North will retire this year also. Howie Eberts, the Cleveland AD will retire. OSHA had to write 5 things they did this week to OPM via the manager. It was easy since OSHA compliance officers have many tasks on any given week. NEW OSHA HEAD "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Trump for nominating me to be the next OSHA Administrator at the US Department of Labor. It is an incredible honor, and if confirmed, I am excited about the opportunity to work with Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer and Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling to further OSHA's mission to enhance workplace safety and health," Keeling said. https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-02-12/trump-nominates-kentuckian-to-head-workplace-safety-agency?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwCkZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSPn2L_obLYBLdzZ5lD1_B9WsLVIdn5AAcoosx5Xvjwshw2M2kSYTK84IQ_aem_jp0YSxEcJdYGsieVuhOj8w Keeling has great qualifications to lead OSHA. Clients have taken most of March so teach at non profits is just 4 days. In 2022, 44 workers died in confined spaces, marking a 41% increase from a decade earlier. Not much current data. I only found 9 deaths in 2024. 19 passed the certification tests. This Month's Powerpoint: 70E update. This is the hot topic for many industrial companies in 2025. There are several rules that most are not aware of. I included my Arc Flash Risk Assessment. Take some time to relax. No holidays in March. John OSHA News Update – January 2025 1) OSHA investigating electrocution in Chicago. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/person-electrocuted-construction-site-north-lawndale/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwCEVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZ7lYJ_DeO6wxj8sm8zm6afQpfYpiPIQBD0nsy2uCIElTRev3KsS8ZIJpA_aem_-Gl4aIVwaQDQLKYu5ub2GA 2) OSHA cited Tesla in worker death. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-cited-by-us-regulators-over-workers-death-2025-02-19/?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=67b6a901ea3c450001f685f9&utm_campaign=trueanthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads.net&fbclid=IwY2xjawIwCWVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQOnoXAB15SR-OBGglLJFkq63bOK9FKTYs6gQl1ozTpV2sqsiMaWljXJaA_aem_DlQTja6lBlMfF2ei_L18VA 3. OSHA removes several publications for some DEI reason. https://popular.info/p/in-botched-dei-purge-osha-trashes?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwCZ1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVkVkjtuWdkMzaauuc5rrWffFT_69ORhwMAJMZeHrcsHlV3lIUPAFM8hzg_aem_FrLusqBfTxp8JSuzDpApQQ 4. The Washington Post investigation details the extreme safety hazards at Phenix Lumber Co. in Phenix City, Alabama, which became the deadliest workplace in America over the past five years. Despite numerous OSHA violations, millions in fines, and repeated worker deaths and injuries, the company continued operations unchecked. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2025/osha-workplace-deaths-safety-sawmill/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzM5NjgyMDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzQxMDY0Mzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3Mzk2ODIwMDAsImp0aSI6Ijg4ZGU5ODg1LWRlYjctNDY3Mi1hZjE2LWFhZGQ5OTRiM2JmNSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9idXNpbmVzcy9pbnRlcmFjdGl2ZS8yMDI1L29zaGEtd29ya3BsYWNlLWRlYXRocy1zYWZldHktc2F3bWlsbC8ifQ.CueeN7OrwNtClM4_nuQXqOMDkTng0xzd8FicRKla8WI&itid=gfta&fbclid=IwY2xjawIwCfNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaqvQahCWoUn_NbbbSVZk2aVVmgzkJypaprlRH4HNaVRuA3H2SPPiC_EHQ_aem_wATVYNeQ_N-sW73M9AUd1w Other News 1) Listeria kills 11 in supplemental shakes. https://www.kktv.com/2025/02/22/least-11-deaths-reported-listeria-outbreak-linked-supplemental-shakes-fda-says/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwCShleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYFb84hh0g74JrBWNqbDwmJuMjolNLLZoPj-ErkBaFkO0T3CnQO30p86Fw_aem_a-PHPUbsDALuZbIU8CNnDw OSHA CITATIONS January 2 2025 to present None entered No News Releases in February either. Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) CSC Conference Tunneling Mar 3 NIU 511 Rockford Mar 31 -Apr 3 CSC 500 Mar 10-13 NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association www.trma.org I usually teach only 10-hour and the 500 series. I have taught 699 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, and early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana. The PowerPoint is posted free at usmwf.org. https://www.usmwf.org/powerpoints-and-safety-information.html I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.