OSHA News July 2025

OSHA News for July 2025 Hello, July was much project work for clients. This Month's Powerpoint: Wind Tower. I had made one in 2008 and updated to this year.. My Floor hold case settled. The $5 million dollar floor hole. Yet another successful win. 35+ years without a loss. 1926.501(b)(4)(ii)Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers. A $5,000,000 settlement was secured, along with a waiver of $800,000 in workers’ compensation benefits, for a worker who sustained a serious shoulder injury after a mobile scaffold fell into an unprotected floor hole on a jobsite. The injury occurred while the worker was completing punch list tasks. The investigation revealed that the general contractor exercised site-wide control and bore responsibility for coordinating work by subcontractors. After reviewing over 40,000 documents, it was proven that the general contractor failed to provide a safe working environment, ultimately leading to the incident. The hole was covered up after with a cone which does not meet the standard. Imagine reading 40,000 documents. The joy of being an expert witness. The $20 million dollar Toeboard. If the manufacturer requires toeboards, the competent person should follow their guidelines and put the $10 toeboard up. I spent two days in July in discussion with the partner and his staff in getting the information for the partner to present the demand letter. ‘They are asking for $20 million. Names changed. Claimant: Mr. Steve Rogers Defendant: Axis Construction Date of Injury: July 22, 2023 Claim: Negligence – Personal Injury (Severe Injury from Falling Object) Demand Amount: $20,000,000 FACTUAL BACKGROUND On July 22, 2023, Mr. Rogers was working in a designated area on the third floor of the building under construction when a heavy pipe rolled off an improperly equipped scaffold on a floor above, striking him. The scaffold, used for material handling, lacked essential safety measures, specifically a toeboard, which would have prevented the pipe from falling. Axis Construction, as the controlling employer, permitted the use of this unsafe scaffold and allowed work to proceed below it without adequate protection. No proper hazard assessment or pre-task planning was conducted for work involving materials on elevated scaffolds. No inspection was performed by a competent person to ensure scaffold safety. These omissions directly violated Axis Construction’s fundamental safety obligations and several applicable OSHA regulations, including: 29 CFR 1926.451(h)(1): Requires protection from falling objects on scaffolds through the use of toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems. 29 CFR 1926.451(h)(2): Mandates toeboards along all open sides and ends of platforms 10 feet or more above a lower level. 29 CFR 1926.451(h)(2)(v): Requires paneling or screening extending from the toeboard to the top of the guardrail when materials are stacked higher than the toeboard. September! ASSP Chicagoland Safety, Health & Environmental Conference in Naperville: Dates: September 15-17, 2025. Location: Naperville, IL. Keynote Speaker: Mayor Scott A. Wehrli, focusing on "The Cognitive E-Stop – When Safety and Culture Collide". Expo: The Business Expo is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, with set-up and break-down times around this period. https://chisafetyconf.org/ My fourth tunneling cofferdam safety class this year. Shouldn't every worker in a tunnel have some kind of tunnel / cofferdam safety class with a test? The Free Lockout webinar through NIU had 515 attend. The Free lockoput class August 15 is full at 40 people in Naperville. We had a record 78 people get certified this month. Most were CSP beating the August 1 deadline for CSP10. August 1, 2025 the score to pass CSP11 was raised. John OSHA News Update 1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration: OSHA is expanding its Voluntary Protection Programs to meet businesses where they are on their safety journey to help develop strong safety programs and lower injury rates, allowing them to undergo regular self-evaluations and avoid routine inspections. OSHA is increasing its efforts to support voluntary compliance through its On-Site Consultation Program, which offers no-cost and confidential safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20250724?fbclid=IwY2xjawL_T0BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHoTu4xOIAlndDy2ck265IpU3UcfLURSxvOnLZXJosi7TpAu0TEo6KSRKGcQt_aem_YFZD0-a5JeUi5fN13hbObg 2. OSHA Investigating. Young worker killed after falling into meat grinder at factory of popular frozen burrito company https://www.foxnews.com/us/young-worker-killed-falling-meat-grinder-factory-popular-frozen-burrito-company?fbclid=IwY2xjawL_T5RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHstscbuYBJUpqxq7_2e1Tq87YHVEKLz-F5RRIKHuexbw9SYn1xpZBf1HTqRg_aem_6U2VP2XMlnukZzGDxwF64w 3. OSHA announced penalty reductions in July 2025 for small businesses and employers with good safety records, expanding eligibility for penalty cuts and introducing new incentives for prompt hazard correction. Employers with 25 or fewer employees now qualify for a 70% penalty reduction, up from the previous 10-employee limit. An additional 15% reduction is available for fast hazard abatement, and a 20% reduction is offered for employers with no history of serious violations. https://natlawreview.com/article/osha-cuts-penalties-small-employers-and-fast-abatement#:~:text=On%20July%2014%2C%202025%2C%20the,penalty%20and%20debt%20collection%20procedures. 4. Under the Department of Labor’s FY 2026 budget proposal, the White House is seeking to cut roughly $50 million from OSHA’s budget and reduce the agency’s full-time workforce by 223 positions — from 1,810 to 1,587. OSHA had a $632.3 million budget in FY 2025. The proposed $582.4 million budget would represent about a 7.9% cut. The agency would be expected to make up part of the savings by spending around $23.7 million less on enforcement than the $243 million spent in FY 2025, focusing more on compliance assistance. The Department of Labor also plans to eliminate $12.8 million for the Susan Harwood Training Grant program, claiming the grants are “wasteful and unnecessary” due to limited evidence of success. The agency says it has other compliance assistance programs and tools that are more effective than the Harwood Grants. 5. Rollback of OSHA rules on walkaround and heat ? https://www.maynardnexsen.com/publication-biden-era-osha-regulations-will-be-reassessed-by-new-trump-administration#:~:text=Overview%20%7C%20Executive%20Orders%20from%20the,new%20Assistant%20Secretary%20for%20OSHA. Other News 1) Nebraska biofuels plant explosion kills 3 people, including 2 young girls https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fremont-nebraska-horizon-biofuels-plant-explosion/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL_TmtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsx0DHZKvMP7-Qy6ethW6pG1UNHD6Jr5HcNEAPnKYTHKKP9fvoGlleSZmKZc_aem_EqFLOClaY_CygtM9NvX0uA 2) 31 rescued for LA Tunnel collapse. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/workers-trapped-after-tunnel-collapses-in-wilmington/ OSHA CITATIONS May 25 2025 to 6/20/2025 IN 1818182.015 Weihe Construction Inc CAMBY 06/20/2025 $40,000.00 AL 1827942.015 King Kutter, Inc. WINFIELD 06/18/2025 $63,842.00 CO 1803715.015 Huckleberry Roasters LLC DENVER 06/17/2025 $46,343.00 FL 1822621.015 OldCastle APG South, Inc. ORLANDO 06/17/2025 $59,108.00 NY 1796537.015 Compass Group USA, Inc. SYRACUSE 06/17/2025 $49,650.00 NY 1815573.015 Clean Textile Systems, LP BUFFALO 06/17/2025 $40,361.00 CT 1795052.015 F&G Recycling LLC ENFIELD 06/16/2025 $163,858.00 TX 1821430.015 Alpha Machine & Repair LP JOURDANTON 06/16/2025 $81,102.00 MN 1825813.015 The Amble Group Inc dba NAPA St Cloud SAINT CLOUD 06/13/2025 $48,000.00 NY 1800372.015 Olsen's Landscaping and Tree Service GREENWOOD LAKE 06/13/2025 $50,978.00 TX 1793715.015 Sterling Shipyard LLC PORT NECHES 06/13/2025 $60,860.00 MN 1816837.015 Bix Produce Company LLC SAINT PAUL 06/12/2025 $48,000.00 NC 1806589.015 Benito Maya-Silva LAKE PARK 06/12/2025 $56,893.00 NJ 1820389.015 AA Ribeiro Construction LLC BEACH HAVEN 06/12/2025 $72,820.00 IL 1794910.015 Concrete Construction Company GLEN ELLYN 06/11/2025 $56,748.00 MA 1809835.015 Lifetime Contractors, Inc. WINTHROP 06/11/2025 $115,860.00 OR 1824603.015 Splash Of Color Painting LLC GRESHAM 06/11/2025 $42,638.00 TX 1822580.015 Amaru Motors LLC EL PASO 06/11/2025 $76,608.00 IL 1809546.015 Berger Excavating Contractors Inc. GURNEE 06/10/2025 $42,560.00 MN 1819047.015 Mill Rock Packaging Inc HUTCHINSON 06/10/2025 $42,000.00 OH 1829319.015 Styx Acquisition LLC dba Buehler's Fresh Foods WOOSTER 06/10/2025 $73,296.00 VA 1808461.015 Dollar Tree Inc ALEXANDRIA 06/10/2025 $284,225.00 ID 1812917.015 J & V Dairy, LLC SHOSHONE 06/09/2025 $44,686.00 IL 1813583.015 Edsal Manufacturing Company, LLC CHICAGO 06/09/2025 $66,200.00 IL 1802210.015 United Builders Group Co. CHICAGO 06/09/2025 $50,974.00 KY 1800439.015 WESTERN PACIFIC STORAGE SOLUTIONS INC PARIS 06/09/2025 $68,200.00 ME 1814753.015 Hanscom Construction, Inc. MARSHFIELD 06/09/2025 $95,519.00 NC 1793108.015 Veolia Water North America-South, LLC NEWTON 06/09/2025 $53,165.00 WA 1809493.015 SAFECOVER ROOFING LLC TUMWATER 06/09/2025 $54,264.00 WI 1826616.015 Saputo Cheese USA Inc. ALMENA 06/09/2025 $49,650.00 WV 1798908.015 TEMA North America, LLC KEARNEYSVILLE 06/09/2025 $121,977.00 IA 1793772.015 Glycerin Traders KEOKUK 06/06/2025 $46,454.00 MO 1814482.015 Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. CAPE GIRARDEAU 06/06/2025 $188,526.00 OH 1818482.015 Solve Industrial Motion Group LOVELAND 06/06/2025 $65,540.00 OH 1807123.015 Telcycle LLC MILFORD 06/06/2025 $51,072.00 OK 1793248.015 Orr Construction Inc ANADARKO 06/06/2025 $76,133.00 WA 1801199.015 LIQUIVISIONTECHNOLOGY INC CLINTON 06/06/2025 $40,200.00 MA 1819666.015 Sadi Gonzales GREENFIELD 06/05/2025 $47,594.00 OH 1806678.015 The Pullman Company, LLC NAPOLEON 06/05/2025 $65,022.00 VA 1794811.015 Emanuel Tire Management Virginia LLC WAVERLY 06/05/2025 $41,075.00 CO 1799789.015 Hammond's Candies Since 1920 II, LLC DENVER 06/04/2025 $44,685.00 NV 1805185.015 RV Retailer Idaho, LLC LAS VEGAS 06/04/2025 $49,651.00 VA 1803736.015 AFG-JM1, LLC (Atlantic Food Group) VA BEACH 06/04/2025 $41,275.00 GA 1793864.015 Mejia Construction LLC SAVANNAH 06/03/2025 $81,922.00 TX 1792871.015 Progreso LMMM San Antonio #10, LLC SAN ANTONIO 06/03/2025 $172,593.00 AL 1791839.015 Gulf Coast Underground, LLC BIRMINGHAM 06/02/2025 $44,685.00 GA 1791631.015 SOUTHERN FOREST INDUSTRIES, INC. FORSYTH 06/02/2025 $82,751.00 WA 1795518.015 FLUID MOTION LLC ARLINGTON 06/02/2025 $75,900.00 IL 1819443.015 Joseph Birkenheier Tuckpointing and Masonry, Inc. WINNETKA 05/30/2025 $67,621.00 NJ 1794034.015 All American Poly Corporation PISCATAWAY 05/30/2025 $49,650.00 OH 1803660.015 Shape Corp TRENTON 05/30/2025 $82,750.00 OH 1802179.015 MSC Walbridge Coatings Inc. WALBRIDGE 05/30/2025 $42,135.00 OH 1823093.015 TWIN CREEK ROOFING SERVICES, LLC CANTON 05/30/2025 $52,019.00 PA 1814556.015 Hospital Central Services Cooperative, Inc KINGSTON 05/30/2025 $55,323.00 PR 1792649.015 Cortes Industrial Organization Inc CAGUAS 05/30/2025 $70,200.00 RI 1792519.015 Pet Food Experts, LLC CUMBERLAND 05/30/2025 $84,177.00 TX 1817840.015 Dynamic Tool Co., Inc. EL PASO 05/30/2025 $50,974.00 ID 1793908.015 Agropur Inc. JEROME 05/29/2025 $49,650.00 NJ 1813471.015 Guadalupe Construction, LLC CLIFTON 05/29/2025 $51,495.00 NV 1793937.015 Western States Contracting, Inc. NORTH LAS VEGAS 05/29/2025 $82,750.00 TX 1792841.015 Henson Lumber, Ltd DECATUR 05/29/2025 $106,398.00 VA 1818481.015 Aero Global Logistics LLC WINCHESTER 05/29/2025 $42,725.00 WA 1803094.015 HAYDEN HOMES LLC MOSES LAKE 05/29/2025 $42,280.00 WA 1803964.015 JAMES JOHNSON LLC SEATTLE 05/29/2025 $49,800.00 AK 1807691.015 Golden Alaska Seafoods DUTCH HARBOR 05/28/2025 $40,962.00 FL 1790802.015 Traffic Materials Supplier, LLC SAINT AUGUSTINE 05/28/2025 $65,680.00 GA 1804096.015 BRAZILIAN STONE DESIGN LLC POWDER SPRINGS 05/28/2025 $44,449.00 GA 1801461.015 Associated Materials, LLC SAVANNAH 05/28/2025 $101,428.00 OH 1820417.015 A & E Framing LLC MASON 05/28/2025 $66,200.00 OK 1793264.015 Molded Products, Inc. BROKEN ARROW 05/28/2025 $43,031.00 OR 1822999.015 MJ General Contractor LLC BEAVERTON 05/28/2025 $63,234.00 TX 1801996.015 Arlon Innovations, Inc. SAN ANTONIO 05/28/2025 $40,195.00 AZ 1819855.015 Marriott International, Inc. CHANDLER 05/27/2025 $62,249.00 IL 1793673.015 Seymour of Sycamore LLC SYCAMORE 05/27/2025 $44,685.00 IN 1810573.015 Haynes International Inc KOKOMO 05/27/2025 $41,500.00 KS 1810303.015 Perfection Masonry, Inc. MAIZE 05/27/2025 $52,964.00 Safety Training at Non-Profits (Check Sites for Starting Dates) OSHA 7115 Naperville Aug 15 Sold out OSHA 7100 Machine Guarding Napervile Aug 8 OSHA 511 Rockford Aug 11-14 OSHA 502 virtual Aug 18-20 OSHA 2055 CSC Aug 25-27 2025 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 1705 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