Monday, September 3, 2018

OSHA August 2018 news


OSHA News for August  2018
Happy Labor Day! It is one of the relaxing holidays that fits in right after school starts. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
I was able to take a workcation in Japan. They have similar safety prevention enforced through their Department of Labour. They have similar fatality rates in construction. They often enclose the building in debris netting to prevent falling objects. Many permanent building have full guardrail systems.
I passed the OHST exam in August. Many questions on conflict resolution, machine guarding terms from ansi, risk management, engineering controls, jha, training, confined space, electrical terms, safety management application, emergency response, ghs, IH, bbo, bbp, leading and lagging indicators, flammable liquid storage, epa, and forklifts. The public sector OSHA certificate is a great prep for this exam.
www.nsec.niu.edu
I thought it harder than the CSP test.
This month ppt is welding.  I find many issues related to hot works that are serious before the place burns down.  Stay cool and hydrate.
John

OSHA News. 
1)  State plan numbers to call in amputations.
https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping2014/state_adoption_table.html
2)  OSHA 10 hour trainer list.
Trainers who want to be listed with OSHA’s Outreach Training Program as an authorized trainer should contact their Authorizing Training Organization (OTI Education Center).
https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/outreach_trainers.html
3) Barry Salerno was selected as the Peoria Area Director.
4)  OSHA wins Appellate court decision on general duty.
“The fact of Mr. Losey’s death combined with the physical characteristics of the vessel provide substantial evidence supporting the factual finding of the ALJ that placement of the vessel on the pipe racks was likely to result in death or serious injury,” the appellate court stated.
https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180821/NEWS08/912323483/OSHA-general-duty-clause-citation-fatal-accident-upheld-on-appeal-F&H-Coatings
5) U.S. Justice Department announced a 22-count indictment Thursday against a Nebraska railroad services company and its owners related to an April 2015 explosion that killed two workers and seriously injured a third.
https://www.salon.com/2018/08/24/nebraska-firm-and-its-owners-hit-with-criminal-charges-in-blast-that-killed-2-workers_partner/
6) Amazon fatalities may get OSHA look. I count nine fatalities at Amazon in the last few years. I am not sure if a Senator can trigger an OSHA inspection. He is entitled to a full review of the investigations.
https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-says-he-will-call-on-osha-to-investigate-amazon-2018-8?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=topbar&utm_term=mobile
7) New Review Commission decision refines the definition of what OSHA must prove to establish a “Repeat” violation.
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=64f99b32-99ee-466b-970f-925acbbb31a9
8) Cintas Romeoville gets VPP
https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/OSHA-Recognizes-Cintas-With-Safety-Designation--22824
9) OSHA inspector in NE indicted for faking inspections.
https://journalstar.com/news/local/911/feds-indict-ex-osha-employee-accused-of-fabricating-worksite-inspections/article_4e001c30-0d25-525d-8768-6d6b8aa22e15.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share
10) OSHA wins Appellate court decision on general duty.
“The fact of Mr. Losey’s death combined with the physical characteristics of the vessel provide substantial evidence supporting the factual finding of the ALJ that placement of the vessel on the pipe racks was likely to result in death or serious injury,” the appellate court stated.
https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180821/NEWS08/912323483/OSHA-general-duty-clause-citation-fatal-accident-upheld-on-appeal-F&H-Coatings
11) OSHA SHARP success in IL. Congrats to Mid-States Concrete.
The total number of recordable injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2010 was 18 with a total recordable case (TRC) rate of 47.8 and a days away from work, days restricted work activity or job transfer (DART) rate of 9.7. To participate in SHARP, a company's injury and illness rates must be at or below the national average for its industry. Since 2010, the Mid-States' injury and illness rates have dropped significantly. In 2010, the company's TRC rate was 47.8, and DART rate was 9.7. By 2016, Mid-States' TRC rate was 5.0, and their DART rate was 3.2.
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/success/ss_msci.html
12) Tom Galassi retires from OSHA>
http://jordanbarab.com/confinedspace/2018/08/07/osha-comings-and-goings/
13) New OSHA trench safety sign.
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA0088.pdf

Other Major News Stories.
1) EtO scare in Willowbrook IL
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/08/29/willowbrook-cancer-concerns-grow-following-report-of-carcinogenic-emissions/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
2) IL cracking down harder on texting and driving.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180822/why-illinois-is-making-penalties-for-texting-while-driving-tougher
3) Several hurt in explosion at Chicago Reclamation Plant.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/explosion-130th-street-chicago-south-side-water-reclamation-district-492092961.html?_osource=mobilesharebar
4) $289 million to man who got cancer from Roundup.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/10/health/monsanto-johnson-trial-verdict/index.html


OSHA Citations this month
1) $189,221  ID Machine guarding trim saws and conveyors. Lumber Company.
2) $190,247 OH fall, machine guarding, and electrical hazards Recycling company
3)  $331,490. OH machine guarding, noise, respirators. Secondary Containment.
4) $129,337 TX Willful blocked exit. Dollar Tree
5) $587,564 IL Respirators, bonding and grounding of flammables, Adhesive company.
6) $190,642. TX Cave-in. Trenching company.
7) $71,599 TX Arc Flash, Nuclear power maintenance contractor.
8) $57,738 FL Saw blade kick back. Underground contractor.
9) $213,411 OH Conveyor guarding. Tool manufacturer.
10) $177,893. CO Metal rook installation fall. Roofing contractor and General Contractor.
11) $175,528 AL fall steel mill. Industrial service contractor.
12) $105,283 FL Roofing fall protection. Roofer.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 500 SC                                                               Sep 10-13
OSHA 7205 Health Hazards CSC                              Sep 19
ASSE Rigging Safety                                                    Sep 20  http://cshc.us/

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 1864 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.   

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/welding-2018-511

I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

OSHA June 2018 news

OSHA News for June 2018
I hope the third heat wave of the year is not knocking you down.  Lori Mac and Walt Siegfried mentioned that pickle juice can help prevent heat cramps. This is one of many articles that seems to show its positive benefit.
https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/science-finally-helps-explain-legendary-pickle-juice-massacre-dallas?amp
I met with OSHA on the large Trench stand down this month. Over 200 workers and people attended the event.  OSHA mentioned that trenches and excavations on larger jobs are generally very good. It is the small jobs where they see most of the problems.
The OSHA nominee Scott Mungo is still not at the agency. I am not sure what is the hold up.
This month’s PowerPoint is skin cancer. It is now the most diagnosed cancer. I have had people I know die from the cancer and was surprised how prevalent it is today. The diagnosis and treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the U.S. increased by 77 percent between 1994 and 2014. ... Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 4.3 million cases of BCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year resulting in more than 3,000 deaths.
Some sunscreen can help prevent it and well and wearing light clothes. Stay cool and see you a month from now.
 John

OSHA News. 
1) OSHA issues new VPP. Death or willfuls is not automatic termination.
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/policy_memo7.html
2)  Representatives Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee has reported out a bill cutting overall OSHA funding from $552.78 million in FY 2018 to $545.25 million for FY 2019, a 1.4% reduction.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP07/20180615/108431/BILLS-115-SC-AP-FY2019-LaborHHS-LaborBill.pdf
3) Silica enforcement delayed until July 23, 2018 for Industry
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/osha-announces-30-day-grace-period-enforcement-silica-standard-general-industry
4) Education and Labor department to be merged?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-to-propose-merging-education-labor-departments-1529533148
5)  OSHA 300a due in July.
https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2018/06/recordkeeping-reminder-get-300as-osha-july-1/
6)   OSHA whistleblower win. Wells Fargo to pay $5.4 million to a former manager who said he was fired in 2010 after reporting to his supervisors and to a bank ethics hotline what he suspected was fraudulent behavior.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/business/04-wells-fargo-whistleblower-fired-osha.html
7) OSHA has a new searchable, online database of workplace chemicals http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17209-osha-launches-database-for-workplace-chemical-information
8)  OSHA has new trenching safety poster
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/trench/3215_trench_poster_eng.pdf
9)   On June 29, Ann Rosenthal leaves the Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor where she has spent 40 years handling worker safety and health cases.
https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/safety/labor-solicitor-wraps-four-decades-of-defending-worker-safety
10) The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that its five most popular videos center on construction safety.
https://www.equipmentworld.com/oshas-5-most-popular-construction-safety-videos-trenches-silicosis-falls-and-heat-illness/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Other Major News Stories.
1) Two workers die on elevator collapse in St. Louis
https://www.ksdk.com/mobile/article/news/local/2-construction-workers-dead-after-safety-cable-snaps-in-elevator-in-downtown-st-louis/63-561295160
2)  Skin cancers kills 50 a year from work exposures in Britain.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3051354/Skin-cancer-work-kills-50-year-250-cases-registered-people-spend-time-outside-jobs-construction-agriculture-leisure.html
3) OSHA has safety and health bulletin out on horizontal directional drilling.
https://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib031318.html
4) Two KS deputies died during prison transfer
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-city-theresa-king-second-sheriffs-deputy-dies-following-shooting-2018-06-16/
5) Two dead in NY when slabs fall over on them.
https://www.wkbw.com/news/two-men-killed-in-industrial-accident-in-lockport

OSHA Citations this month
1)  $125,460 NH Conveyor fatality. Lockout. Guarding. Energy company.
2) $64,857 CO confined space, respirators. Chemical manufacturer.
3)  $120,320 WI Willful roof fall. Ladderjacks. Roofer.
4) $202,201 OH Willful trench. Excavation company.
5) $129,336 FL Willful roof. Roofing company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 10 Industry. Rockford July 9-10
OSHA 7200 Bloodborne Rockford July 11
OSHA 500 CSC July 9-12
OSHA 511 NSC July 10-13
OSHA 3015 Trenching Depends on enrollment July 16-18
OSHA 511 Chicago July 23-26


NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 1502 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Central Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.   

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/skin-cancer-2018
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

Saturday, June 2, 2018

OSHA May 2018 News


OSHA News for May 2018
We survived the third hottest May and the wettest May ever here in IL.  80% of the heat deaths were the employee’s first three days per OSHA. Everyone should have heat illness training and know the signs of heat stress.
This month’s presentation is concrete safety. I like teaching it in the OSHA classes. I want to make a day long concrete safety class. I see shoring mistakes and masonry walls over 8 feet that are not braced. The file is 37 megs, so I need a gmail address if you want the powerpoint.
Jake Scott from OSHA was excellent as usual at the ASSE Three Rivers Chapter meeting last month. I summarized some key points in the news below.
I find myself in the summer doing more audits and legal work. No two attorneys prepare cases the same. These injuries cases and lawsuits are good material for training. They show that a third party can go after a company that does not meet the OSHA requirements.
John


OSHA News. 
1) Two CA managers charged in death of untrained forklift driver.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/2-charged-in-death-of-forklift-operator-at-San-12895421.php
2) Aurora office will be moving to 88 and 59 area in the summer.
3)  Silica Emphasis Program is on hold until compliance directive is finished. This means most will be handled via a phone call.
4) EPA pushes to rescind some Risk Management Program rules.
EPA is proposing to rescind:
            the requirement that any facility that has a catastrophic release or a near miss conduct a "root cause" investigation into what happened;
            the requirement that any facility that has a reportable release or incident get a third-party safety audit, or when the agency considers such an audit necessary;
            the requirement that facilities in certain high-risk categories (such as chemical manufacturing and oil refining) research whether they could use safer alternatives;
            the requirement that facilities provide, upon request by a member of the public, specific chemical hazard, accident history, and response information;
            the requirement that facilities hold a public meeting to provide specific information within 90 days after a reportable release/incident.

https://www.epa.gov/rmp/proposed-risk-management-program-rmp-reconsideration-rule
5) OSHA recently published a final rule extending the operator certification compliance date until November 10, 2018, to provide the agency with additional time to complete this rulemaking to address stakeholder concerns related to the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/federalregister/2017-11-09
6) OSHA proposes to amend its recordkeeping regulation to remove the requirement to electronically submit to OSHA information from the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) for establishments with 250 or more employees which are required to routinely keep injury and illness records. Under the proposed rule, these establishments would be required to electronically submit only information from the OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses).
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/osha-s-revised-improve-tracking-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-regulation-omb
7) OSHA guidance on lighting. Seek an ENCLOSED building.
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3863.pdf
8) Highlights from the OSHA ASSE meetings
For FY17 – OSHA
-             52% construction. Up 3%
-             Average penalty $3645
-             27% incompliance. Up 2%
-             51,273 violations. Down over 5000.
-             27% complaint inspections.
-             32,396 inspections. Up slightly.

Region V 2004-2016 had 449 struck by fatalities, 426 fall fatalities, 393 caught in fatalities, 126 electrocutions;
Region V fatalities went up from 106 CY16 to 127 in CY17. Construction was 40, Manufacturing was 20, and OTHER was 67.
OSHA in Aurora is inspecting nearly 100% of the lockout and machine guarding amputations. Over 400 amputations and hospitalizations were called in. $0% inspected of that total. 




Other Major News Stories.
1) Two workers die on elevator collapse.
"The workers were simply constructing the temporary elevator shaft when, unfortunately, it broke and they fell," said Seth Finman with the Naples Police Department.
http://www.wfla.com/news/florida/2-workers-killed-after-falling-110-feet-in-naples-elevator-shaft/1170202390
2) Two workers die in Powerline contact.
Sampedro and one of his coworkers were killed last week while drilling for soil near the Ray Nixon Power Plant. A part of their truck hit a power line overhead, killing the men almost instantly in a suspected electrocution.

OSHA Citations this month
1)  $71,137 FL workplace violence, health facility
2) $199,178 FL willful falls, framing contractor
3) $251,108 GA 36 violations, combustible dust, noise, lockout,  mulch mfr
4) $79,004 CO Fatal pipeline fire, Energy and pipeline companies.
5) $222,152 PA Willful cylinders, falls, and floor holes. General contractor.
6) $201,212 PA willful lockout and machine guarding. Box manufacturer
7) $139,684  AL Fatal trench. Sewer contractor and staffing agency.
8) $281,220 NY Flash fire fatal. Willful bonding. Cosmetics company.
9) $147,822 WI Repeat Lead, Battery Company
10) $162,596 FL Steel plate trench fatal. Energy company.
11) $138,927 FL Cave-in protection, Paving company.
12) $191,071 NE Willful falls, Residential roofer

  

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 511 NIU Hoffman Estates                              June 4-7

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 1435 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/1926-concrete-safety-2018
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

April 2018 OSHA News

OSHA News for Apr 2018
It has been a crazy three weeks with audits and legal work filling in the schedule.
Worker’s Memorial Day was good in Lincoln Nebraska.  It was good to see friends again. I like teaching there every other year. Other trainers were excellent.
The Heat Stress Training for companies should be covered again as we had a taste of summer this last week. I had people get sunburn and heat rash already.
I did four lockout audits and all four had serious issues. One maintenance man was upset that it would take 30 minutes to restart. The company policy was to lockout. An identifier needs to be on the lock or tag.
The Bulk Powder show was in Rosemont this year. Most of the fire protection, spark detection, explosion venting and dust collector companies were there. It was a good chance to see the state of the art that is out there.
I will be attending the ASSE Three River Meeting on May 11. Jake Scott from OSHA is speaking. He is one of the best OSHA speakers with the best data shown in any presentation.   https://threerivers.asse.org/events/osha-update-rescheduled/
This month’s powerpoint is hazardous materials. Many instructors find this a difficult module to teach. I focus on the hazards and the common citations. The file is 25 Megs so I included a pdf. If you have a gmail, I can send a ppt.
OSHA News. 
1) OSHA offers searchable trainer list online.
https://www.constructionequipment.com/osha-offers-searchable-outreach-trainer-list-online
2) Ignorance of OSHA rules is not a defense.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/ignorance-of-osha-standards-no-defense-for-workers-death/521280/3)
3) Eleventh Circuit Highlights Importance of Safety Training in Affirming Willful Violation of OSHA Standard
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/eleventh-circuit-highlights-importance-safety-training-affirming-willful-violation


Other Major News Stories.
1) Opioid-related overdoses claimed the lives of nearly 1,000 Midwest construction workers in 2015
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16749-midwest-construction-industry-hit-hard-by-opioid-crisis-report-shows
2) Tree care-related worker fatalities down in 2017: report
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16753-tree-care-related-worker-fatalities-down-in-2017-report
3) ComDust victim awarded $39.7 million
https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/comdust-victim-awarded-397-million?utm_source=Real_Magnet&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=180417_DB&utm_content=DAILY%20BRIEF&utm_campaign=ComDust%20victim%20awarded%20big
4) Two FL deputies killed in ambush.
 https://nypost.com/2018/04/19/two-florida-deputies-shot-dead-in-suspected-ambush/
5) Honeywell recalls some hardhats.
https://cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Honeywell-Recalls-Hard-Hats-Due-to-Risk-of-Head-Injury
6) A California jury has awarded $11.4 million at the conclusion of a take-home asbestos exposure trial, finding that the defendant had acted with malice when it failed to warn employees of asbestos-related hazards.
https://harrismartin.com/article/23436/calif-jury-awards-114-million-at-conclusion-of-take-home-asbestos-exposure-trial/


OSHA Citations this month
1)  Mi $154,000 Pole Barn Roof fall. General Contractor
2) CA $134,454 Roofing fall repeat. Roofer. 
3) NY $108,095 Asbestos Silica, Rental facility
4) OH $258,672 Willful forklift, Farm Supply company
5) OH $261,454 Willful machine guarding. Plastic Mfr.
6) NE $46,930 Cave-in hazards, Sewer contractor.
7)  ND $454,750 Cave-in Hazards, Pipeline company
8) OH $138,394 Willful falls. Residential Roofer
9) NJ $435,679 Willful Lockout, Machine Guarding, and Forklift. Plastic company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 500 CSC May 7-10
OSHA 7205 Health Hazards CSC             May 16
OSHA 511 NSC May 7-10
Scaffold TRMA               May 30

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 1358 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too     

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/gi-2018-subpart-h-hazardous-materials
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

March 2018 OSHA News


OSHA News for March 2018
April brings the remnants of winter with it. The training will cool off in the spring and summer. The Train the trainer class classes are going strong. The new changes take effect today. I did not know the 510/511 expire have 7 years so a trainer who is coming back from 10 years would have to repeat the whole process.
I am seeing custom made lifting devices on many jobs. Osha Regs do not allow job made baskets and drums to lift hundreds of pounds. Too often these containers break apart. There is no capacity on these devices.
1926.251(a)(4) - Special custom design grabs, hooks, clamps, or other lifting accessories, for such units as modular panels, prefabricated structures and similar materials, shall be marked to indicate the safe working loads and shall be proof-tested prior to use to 125 percent of their rated load.
I was glad to meet many of you at the CSC safety conference.  A record 31 took the CHST prep class.  The CHST has changed with more management and training questions. One person has passed, I hope success for the others.
This month’s powerpoint is Coal Power plants fatalities.  This is an industry with safety programs, but it seems like there are many different types for fatalities.

OSHA News. 
1) Fake OSHA cards on the rise?
http://www.safetyfirstconsulting.com/safety_consulting_safety_consultant_osha_compliance_austin_san_antonio_waco_houston_dallas_ft_worth_texas_blog/post.php?s=fraudulent-osha-certification-a-disturbing-trend
2) Second Circuit Rules OSHA Not Bound By Field Operations Manual's Look-Back Period for Repeat Violations
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/second-circuit-rules-osha-not-bound-field-operations-manual-s-look-back-period
3) Bravo MA for having public worker OSHA protections.
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/03/gov_charlie_baker_signs_bill_e.html
4) OSHA makes Trenching the top priority.
https://www.ishn.com/articles/108183-osha-makes-reducing-trenching-deaths-a-top-priority
5) Dr. David Michaels:Worker injuries are evidence of the absence of operational excellence.
https://hbr.org/2018/03/7-ways-to-improve-operations-without-sacrificing-worker-safety
6) OSHA 2018 budget Highlights. Harwood Grants funded. VPP gets a budget
For necessary expenses for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
$552,787,000, including not to exceed
$100,850,000 which shall be the maximum amount available for grants to States under section 23(g)
Small Farmers still exempt: Provided further, That the foregoing proviso shall not apply to any person who is engaged in a farming operation which does not maintain a temporary labor camp and employs 10 or fewer employees:
Provided further, That $10,537,000 shall be available for Susan Harwood training grants, of which the Secretary shall reserve not less than $4,500,000 for Susan Harwood Training Capacity Building Developmental grants
Provided further, That not less than $3,500,000 shall be for Voluntary Protection Programs.
http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20180319/BILLS-115SAHR1625-RCP115-66.pdf
7) At a hearing yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum claimed the training sign-in sheets were “intentionally falsified.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2018/03/forged_documents_alleged_in_trench_collapse_trial
8) OSHA provided guidance for citing employers that were required to electronically submit the injury and illness records but failed to do so. OSHA has instructed that failure to submit records should be classified as Other than Serious.
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=88f80652-4b83-47b4-9686-366581d0905b

Other Major News Stories.
1) Three workers killed by shooter in CA Veteran home.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/10/us/california-veterans-home-shooting-victims/index.html
2) Jury Awards $30 Million in Fatal Grinder Machine Accident
 https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Jury-Awards-30-Million-in-Fatal-Grinder-Machine-Accident-477347743.html
3) TOPEKA, Kan.  • A water park company co-owner accused of making a spur of the moment decision to build the world's tallest waterslide and rushing it into service, and a designer accused of shoddy planning, were charged Tuesday in the 2016 death of a 10-year-old boy who was decapitated on the ride when the raft he was on went airborne and hit an overhead hoop.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/designer-park-owner-of-deadly-kansas-city-waterslide-charged-with/article_eadaf343-8328-5e7e-8dd1-5fbb7ec512b2.html

OSHA Citations this month
1)  FL $271,606 Willful cave-in, Utilities contractor.
2) OH $155,208 Amputation in bag sealing machine. Plastics company.
3) CO $90,538 Trench collapse. Concrete company.
4) OH $109,939 Amputation clearing a jam. Food company.
5) NY $143,954 Hot milk burns. Milk company.
6) FL $133,604 Falls. Roofing company.
7) MA $299,324 Falls. Roofing contractor.
8) NE $188,464 Dock leveler fatality Lockout. Food company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 510 CSC                                                             Apr 2-5
OSHA 7500 Chicago Campus                                   Apr 6
OSHA 511 Dekalb                                                       Apr 9-12
OSHA 10 Industry Hoffman Estates                        Apr 17-18
OSHA Silica, Trenching, Confined space in NE      Apr 28 fordtonya@gmail.com is contact person
This is a free event for USMWF.org

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 1141 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/coal-power-plant-fatalities
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

February 2018 OSHA News


OSHA News for February  2018

John

We survived the cold start to February.  March 5 starts the Construction Safety Council annual conference. I will be doing a Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) prep class on March 5 from 8-12. Over 30 have already signed up. I had four students pass the CHST in the last 6 weeks.  Here is the link to register.  I volunteer to teach this and do not get paid. I want to see Chicago have the most CHSTs for any city.
https://myprereg.com/Registration.aspx?key=SAud56LoHLs9n2JYJ8EjBYXULNXTiY4lnatUIbmN83dRYttowi0vtw%3d%3d

This month powerpoint is respirators. The ppt is I am finding this is requested after silica so this is a shorter version. I am seeing grade D breathing air compressors that are oil-less and cost $1600.

Some audit findings for February include: no manual for equipment; wet electric welders; homemade lift material baskets; electrical tape repair on electrical cords; saws that are burning wood; no proof of aerial lift training; silica – no written program, training, medical surveillance, and air sampling; exits blocked; mobile scaffolds – no manuals, over 2 to 1 height to base ratio; missing confined space signs; ergonomics lifting to much; and many more. 

OSHA News. 
1) OSHA’s FY 2019 budget request provides an increase of $6.1 million for 42 new Compliance Safety and Health Officers; and another $5.1 million for 24 Compliance Assistance Specialists and eight Voluntary Protection Programs staff to allow the agency to expand its training, outreach, compliance assistance, and cooperative programs.

2) OSHA budget
FY 2016: $552,787,000
FY 2017: $551,736,000
FY 2018: $543,257,000 Still pending as Labor’s budget has not passed.

3) CAL-OSHA Approves Hotel Housekeeping Injury Standard. It will require. Worksite evaluations for identifying and evaluating housekeeping hazards.
            Specific Risks Identified – The worksite evaluation must identify and address potential risks to
            Injury Investigations
            Corrective Measures
            Training
            Recordkeeping

https://www.fisherphillips.com/california-employers-blog/cal-osha-approves-hotel-housekeeping-injury-standard

4) Another OSHA multi-employer case. "The subcontractor was a sole proprietor who derived almost all of his work from the GC."
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/for-osha-purposes-first-circuit-deems-16872/

5) "Accordingly, this case upholds OSHA’s right to refuse to allow its compliance officers to testify in civil proceedings."
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/district-court-upholds-osha-s-refusal-48794/

6) There are many online vendors offering OSHA official training. Here is the 10/30 authorized training vendors.
 https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/training_providers.html

7) OSHA only has the capacity to inspect every workforce once every 159 years, so the Volks decision rendered the record-keeping rule “virtually unenforceable” without the 2016 rule, David Michaels, the longest-serving assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, under the Obama administration, and professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University in Washington, testified at a House subcommittee on workforce protections hearing on Tuesday.
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180227/NEWS08/912319496/Former-OSHA-head-criticizes-regulatory-pullbac

8) OSHA requested $549,033,000 and is seeking a change from 2018 funding levels in only five of its ten budget categories: enforcement, federal compliance assistance, training grants, technical support, and executive direction. The agency requested the same amount of money and staff for safety and health standards, whistleblower programs, state programs, state consultation, and safety and health statistics that those areas received in 2018
https://safety.blr.com/workplace-safety-news/safety-administration/OSHA-Occupational-Safety-and-Health-Administration/OSHA-budget-seeks-more-enforcement-funding-cuts-tr/

9) "After OSHA had left, the company owner found the officer’s credential card left behind and discovered that the card had expired several weeks earlier."
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/an-osha-officer-with-expired-31428/

10) OSHA and Waubonsee College have an OSHA day in Sugar Grove on March 14. I cannot make it this year. It offers many great speakers.
http://www.kendallcountynow.com/2018/02/20/waubonsee-planning-osha-safety-day/azhce0g/

11) OSHA budget request eliminates training grants.
https://www.constructionequipment.com/osha-budget-request-eliminates-training-grants

12) OSHA data shows 23 construction workers were killed in trench collapses in 2016, exceeding the combined total from 2014 and 2015.
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16730-alarming-rise-in-trench-worker-deaths-prompts-hazard-alert

Other Major News Stories.
1) Three dead at Manitowoc. Not any details.
http://www.echo-pilot.com/news/20180206/crane-accident-at-manitowoc-claims-two-lives

OSHA Citations this month
1)  $256,088 GA Fall Protection, Confined Space. Colorant Manufacturer.
2)  $101,800 AL Combustible Dust, 10 Serious. Pressure Vessel mfr.
3)  $74,833 AL Amputation pipe winding machine. Pipe mfr.
4) $195,144 AL Fatality in plastic recycling machine. Recycler.
5)  $281,286 IL Falls. Residential Roofer.
6)  $40,096 FL Fatal fall. Pool Mfr and installer.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
CHST Prep and CSC annual show                            Mar 5 Drury Lane
OSHA 500 CSC                                                             Mar 5-8
OSHA 7205 Health Hazards CSC                              Mar 14
OSHA 511 NSC                                                            Mar 20-23
OSHA 510 NSC                                                            Mar 26-29

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 994 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/respirators-2018
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

January 2018 OSHA News

OSHA News for January 2018
Training was in demand and silica was the hot topic. I included a construction ppt on silica that I presented at the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association in January. They had record attendance, and many wanted to hear about silica. The ppt is 22 megs. I included a pdf. If you want the ppt; it is on slideshare, or I can try to send.
I see too many workers attaching at their feet exposing themselves to 12 foot falls.  It is clear that OSHA has specific rules on this. It would take a professional engineer to allow this excessive fall.
1926.502(d)(16)(iii) Fall arrest systems shall be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level;
I attend the ASSE Three River Chapter meetings on the second Friday in Lisle. It is well attended and has a speaker each month.
I will be doing a CHST prep class at the Construction Safety Conference on March 5. I do not get paid and it is free for paid attendees. www.buildsafe.org
Thanks for everyone help make February a sellout month.
John


OSHA News. 
1) OSHA penalties for other-than-serious, serious and failure to abate violations increased by $319 from $12,615 per violation to $12,934 per violation.  The penalty for willful and repeat violations increased from $126,749 to $129,336, an increase of $2, 587.  The new penalty increase is effective today and will apply to any citations issued today or through the remainder of 2018.
https://www.oshalawblog.com/2018/01/articles/osha-penalties-up-to-adjust-for-inflation/?utm_source=Jackson+Lewis%2C+P.C.+-+OSHA+Law+Blog&utm_campaign=405bda7527-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fd6a79170f-405bda7527-70486261
2) OSHA inspectors drop 40 in 2017.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/exclusive-number-osha-workplace-safety-inspectors-declines-under-trump-n834806
3) OSHA 10 will have only one hour of Intro of osha. Effective April.
https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/generalindustry/General_Industry_Procedures-2018.pdf
4) WA man charged with Felony in cave-in death.
http://www.khq.com/story/37220262/seattle-construction-company-owner-faces-manslaughter-charges-over-worker-death
5) Covered establishments with 250 or more employees are only required to provide their 2017 Form 300A summary data. OSHA is not accepting Form 300 and 301 information at this time. OSHA announced that it will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to reconsider, revise, or remove provisions of the "Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses" final rule, including the collection of the Forms 300/301 data.
Covered establishments with 250 or more employees are only required to provide their 2017 Form 300A summary data. OSHA is not accepting Form 300 and 301 information at this time. OSHA announced that it will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to reconsider, revise, or remove provisions of the "Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses" final rule, including the collection of the Forms 300/301 data.
https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/finalrule/index.html
6) Former OSHA head discusses OSHA for 2018.
https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/sites/nationallawjournal/2018/01/12/former-osha-head-predicts-shift-from-enforcement-to-compliance-assistance/?slreturn=20180013145154
7) OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of OSHA’s Form 300A, which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during 2017.
8) Two OSHA regulatory developments bear watching in 2018, including an advancing potential rule on lockout/tagout requirements and possible changes to OSHA’s current electronic record-keeping rule, Mr. Conn said.
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180117/NEWS08/912318549/Trump-administration-impact-on-OSHA-minimal-so-far-Experts
9) Workplace Violence, Indoor Heat, Cannabis Regulations on Cal/OSHA 2018 Schedule
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/workplace-violence-indoor-heat-cannabis-regulations-calosha-2018-schedule
10) OSHA under the Obama administration had promised to share the data, Sean Sherman, a Washington-based attorney for the Public Citizen Foundation, which brought the suit, told Bloomberg Environment.
https://www.bna.com/employers-osha-injury-n73014474351/
11) Missouri Court of Appeals Upholds $1.5 Million Whistleblower Jury Verdict
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/missouri-court-appeals-upholds-15-million-whistleblower-jury-verdict



Other Major News Stories.
1) Postal worker kills 2.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/trending-now/ohio-police-naked-postal-worker-kills-2-supervisors-in-separate-shootings/668323524
2) A NY jury awarded approximately $174,00 to a whistleblower who was fired for reporting improper asbestos removal practices at asbestos abatement and demolition company.
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/whistleblower-fired-disclosing-improper-asbestos-removal-wins-trial
3) 5 dead in oil rig explosion in Oklahoma
http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/drilling-contractor-in-quinton-explosion-had-osha-violations-in-past/article_c1062dba-160d-5957-9752-3c4c233991ff.html

OSHA Citations this month
1)  $91,629 OH Fall Protection Roofer.
2) $212,396  MA Foundation collapse Foundation company
3) $199,996 NJ Repeat machine guarding Chainlink fence mfr.
4) $59,864 FL Willful guardrails Concrete company
5) $91,832 IL Machine guarding. Pallet company.
6) $69,058 GA Lockout, Tire mfr.
7)  $70,711 CO Fatal explosion at Tire and gas battery. Petroleum company.
8) $208,977 GA 14 serious. Machine guarding. Poultry company.
9) $194,006 KS Willful hexchrome Aircraft mfr.
10) $113,073 AL Willful Fall protection Framing company.


Safety Training at Non-Profits
TRMA Crane Signal Rigging          Feb 14
CSC Confined Space                      Feb 15
OSHA 511 Naperville                    Feb 5-8
NSC OSHA 501                               Feb 20-23
OSHA 6000 NIU                              Feb 26-Mar 1

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
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 734 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/silica-2017-construction
I use your feedback to make chan