As the holiday season approaches, OSHA is encouraging retail employers to implement safety measures to prevent workplace injuries during major sales events, including Black Friday.
Tragic consequences and risk to workers can occur if the proper safety procedures are ignored. In 2008, a retail worker was trampled to death when shoppers rushed through the store to take advantage of holiday sales.
"During the hectic shopping season, retail workers should not be put at risk of injury or death," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "OSHA urges retailers to take the time to adopt a crowd management plan and follow a few simple guidelines to prevent unnecessary harm to retail employees."
Crowd management plans should, at least, include:
- On-site trained security personnel or police officers
- Barricades or rope lines for pedestrians that do not start right in front of the store's entrance
- The implementation of crowd control measures well in advance of customers arriving at the store
- Emergency procedures in place to address potential dangers
- Methods for explaining approach and entrance procedures to the arriving public
- Not allowing additional customers to enter the store when it reaches its maximum occupancy level
- Not blocking or locking exit doors
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard (GHS)
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, safety data sheet (formerly called “material safety data sheet” or MSDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on safety data sheets.
Wilmington RCRA and DOT Training
Raleigh Area 24-Hour HAZWOPER Training
Cleveland RCRA and DOT Training
Tenneco Automotive Operating Co. Placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program
OSHA initiated the inspection after receiving a complaint alleging improper material handling and machine guarding hazards. Proposed penalties total $342,250.
Tenneco is a global transportation components manufacturer with more than 80 facilities on six continents and corporate offices in Lake Forest, Illinois.
"The high number of repeat violations of the same or similar hazards demonstrates that this employer is not concerned with protecting its permanent or temporary employees from occupational dangers," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "Fixing a hazard once, but allowing it to creep back into the workplace, shows that management has priorities other than running an effective safety and health program."
Tenneco was cited for eight repeat violations, carrying $242,550 in penalties. The violations involve exposing workers to slip and fall hazards due to soiled and slippery welding oils on floors; failing to protect workers from moving machine parts during service and maintenance; neglecting to protect employees from dangerous equipment with required guarding; and storing oxygen and acetylene cylinders improperly. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule, or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The company was cited for these same violations in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
OSHA also cited Tenneco for 16 serious violations, with $93,400 in penalties, for an inoperable stop pull cord used for emergencies and exposing workers to struck-by and crushing hazards. The company failed to ensure emergency exit signs were installed and operational and to affix equipment to the floor, which exposed workers to fire.
Three other violations included failure to label hazardous materials properly, workers using designed safety locks inappropriately, and not standardizing safety locks. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Elite Logistic Service employs approximately 110 temporary workers at the Tenneco facility.
OSHA has inspected the Hartwell plant 11 times since 2009. During the most recent inspection in May 2013, the company was cited for machine guarding, noise, and combustible dust hazards.
The REP's focus is to reduce employee exposure to common violations found in the industry, including protecting employees from moving machine parts, machine guarding, and electrical hazards.
The initiative includes outreach, training and enforcement to ensure that temporary workers are protected in their workplaces. In recent months, OSHA has received and investigated many reports of temporary workers suffering serious or fatal injuries, some in their first days on the job.
Central Transport LLC Fined $330,800 for Exposing Workers to Electrocution, Fall, and Crushing Hazards
Employees at the Central Transport, LLC, freight shipping terminal in Billerica, Massachusetts, were exposed to electrocution, falls, crushing, and other injuries due to their employer's knowing and repeated disregard for basic worker safeguards, OSHA has found. The company faces $330,800 in fines for these hazards.
"Several hazards were brought to management's attention, but the company took no corrective action, while other conditions were strikingly similar to violations for which Central Transport was previously cited at its locations in Illinois and Mississippi. The cited conditions put employees at risk of deadly or disabling injuries," said Jeffrey A. Erskine, OSHA's acting deputy regional administrator for New England. "It's clear that Central Transport must systematically and effectively address and eliminate hazards at all its locations. The safety and well-being of its employees, now and in the future, depend on it."
OSHA found that the building's roof leaked water on to the work floor where electrical cabinets and forklift battery chargers were located.This exposed workers to possible electrocution, forklift tip-overs, and slipping hazards. Employees also were exposed to falls from the loading dock entrance ramp, which lacked required guardrails. Crushing or struck-by injuries arose from the use of defective forklifts, which were not removed from service. Given the company's knowledge of, and failure to address these conditions, OSHA cited Central Transport for four willful safety violations, carrying $242,000 in fines. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
Eight serious violations, with $44,800 in fines, were issued for inadequately evaluating workers' ability to operate forklifts; unattended forklifts; lack of fire extinguishers; and tripping and electrical hazards.
Cal/OSHA Cites Disney Construction for Two Worker Fatalities
Cal/OSHA cited Disney Construction, Inc., of Burlingame $106,110 for serious violations following the May 30th deaths of two employees who fell 80 feet from a crane-hoisted platform at a bridge construction site in Winters.
The Sacramento District Office’s investigation found:
- Disney Construction’s crane had not been certified or visually inspected for defects to satisfy current testing and examination standards
- The crane operator failed to perform an unmanned trial run or have a competent person inspect the rigging and platform before usage
- There was no qualified, trained signal person to assist with the lifting operation
“Employers in California are required to perform regular equipment inspections to identify and prevent mechanical problems that can lead to tragedy,” said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Cal/OSHA, formally known as the division of Occupational Safety and Health, is a division of DIR.
Disney Construction was hired to build a new concrete vehicle bridge to connect the City of Winters in Yolo County to Solano County across Putah Creek. Workers were using a pile driver crane when a cable broke near the top of a pile driver. A second crane was used to hoist a personnel platform with two workers, Marcus Powell of Los Gatos and Glenn Hodgson of Richmond, so they could troubleshoot the cable on the pile driver. The rigging used to connect the platform to the crane dislodged, causing the platform and workers to fall some 80 feet to the ground.
“Specific regulations are in place to operate cranes safely. This incident is a sobering reminder of the tragedies that can occur when safety protocols are not followed,” said Acting Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.
Cal/OSHA also cited Disney Construction for not thoroughly surveying the conditions of the work site for predictable employee hazards and neglecting to implement the necessary safeguards required to perform this type of operation.
Colonna’s Shipyard Inc. Repeatedly Exposed Workers to Life-Threatening Injuries
While welding the frame of a US Navy vessel, a shipyard worker was just 1 foot away from three open manholes that exposed the employee to potential falls of up to 30 feet.
The company faces $101,000 in proposed penalties.
"Shipyard work is traditionally hazardous, with an injury and accident rate more than twice that of construction and general industry," said Dan DeWease, director of OSHA's Norfolk Area Office. "Colonna's Shipyard must do a better job of protecting workers from the dangers associated with this type of work. With the right safeguards, accidents are preventable."
In addition to the unguarded manholes, OSHA inspectors determined that fall protection was not provided for employees working on a barge, which exposed them to a potential fall of more than 18 feet. Inspectors also found that, because of defective equipment, employees were exposed to a number of electrical hazards while welding. Having been previously cited for similar hazards in 2010, the company received four repeat citations, carrying an $85,000 penalty.
Four additional violations were cited for other guarding, electrical, and fire extinguisher hazards.
The page offers fact sheets, posters, and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures.
Soldream Inc. Fined $59,290 for Multiple Serious Safety Violations
What began as a fire in a titanium dust collection system at a precision machining shop in Vernon, Connecticut, resulted in OSHA's identifying and citing 20 safety and health violations at Soldream, Inc., Proposed fines total $59,290.
"In addition to fire and explosion hazards, workers at this facility faced serious cuts and amputations, electrocution, illnesses and other serious injuries due to a lack of safeguards," said Warren Simpson, OSHA's area director in Hartford. "Clearly, worker safety and health were not the priorities they should have been. Soldream must quickly and effectively address these issues for the health and well-being of its employees."
A workbench in the finishing room of the facility caught fire on May 19, 2014, while an employee cleaned titanium aircraft parts. OSHA found that the bench had not been designed or equipped for work with titanium and that the bench and the room's dust collection system lacked adequate fire and explosion controls. Flammable titanium dust had also settled on electrical equipment. Additional fire hazards stemmed from the lack of sprinklers and fire safeguards in spray booths where flammable liquid was sprayed on parts, and employees did not have hands-on training to use portable fire extinguishers.
OSHA also found that employees in the spray finishing operation, who worked with the hazardous chemical molybdenum sulfide, lacked adequate respiratory protection. The workers had not been medically evaluated and fit tested for respirators or adequately trained in their use.
For employees who worked with liquid nitrogen, the company did not evaluate the need for and ensure the use of eye and face protection. In addition, containers of hazardous chemicals were not properly labeled, and workers were inadequately trained in the hazards associated with these chemicals.
In addition, several milling machines had inoperative or bypassed interlock mechanisms, which allowed them to operate with their access doors open. This exposed employees to being caught in the machines. Soldream was cited for serious violations in relation to these hazards.
Nissin Brake Georgia Inc. Fined $53,000 for Serious Safety Violations
Nissin Brake Georgia, Inc., was cited by OSHA for 11 safety and health violations following a June 2014 inspection at the manufacturer's Rock Spring facility. Proposed penalties total $53,000.
Nine serious violations, with penalties of $53,000, were cited for allowing employees to adjust and bypass safety guards when entering a machine for servicing or maintenance and failure to protect workers from dangerous equipment that required machine guards.
Two other violations were cited for using electrical equipment workspace for storage and not training designated emergency response personnel.
Dollar General Fined $51,000 for Repeat Violations at Mississippi Store
Dollar General Corp., was cited by OSHA for four repeat safety violations following an August 2014 inspection at a retail store located on Highway 49 in Brooklyn. OSHA initiated the inspection in response to a complaint. Proposed penalties total $51,700.
"This is another example of a corporation not sharing safety information with all its employees. These violations have been cited previously in other Dollar General stores across the country," said Eugene Stewart, director of OSHA's Jackson Area Office. "The employer's failure to protect workers from basic fire and electrical hazards is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately throughout the company."
Repeat citations were issued for the employer's failure to ensure that exit routes, fire extinguishers, and electrical access panels were not blocked by merchandise, display racks, or supplies. Additionally, the employer failed to inspect portable fire extinguishers annually.
This employer was previously cited for these same violations in 2010. Since 2009, OSHA has conducted 72 inspections of Dollar General nationwide. Of those inspections, 39 have resulted in citations.
Austal USA LLC Fined $41,500 for Serious Safety Violations
Austal USA, LLC, was cited by OSHA for 12 safety and health violations that involved fall and other hazards following a May 2014 complaint regarding the Mobile shipbuilder's facility. Proposed penalties total $41,500.
"The government expects that contractors, such as Austal, should not only deliver a good product, but also conduct operations in a safe manner," said Joseph Roesler, OSHA's area director in Mobile. "The lack of attention to safety and health issues unnecessarily exposed employees to hazards at the Mobile facility, and these hazards need to be addressed and controlled throughout the shipbuilding process."
Other citations included failure to ensure workers followed safety procedures to prevent accidental machine startup and to protect workers from unguarded machinery.
Three other citations were issued for using temporary flexible cable instead of permanent wiring, improperly labeling hazardous chemicals, and failure to ensure that temporary wiring was not damaged.
OSHA has cited this facility three times in the past five years. The company was issued citations for improper use of slings and maritime gear, poor walking and working surfaces, a lack of accident prevention signage, and electrical hazards.
Accurate Box Co. Inc. Fined over $40,000 for Machine Hazards
After entering a die cutting machine to do maintenance, a worker employed for 26 years at Accurate Box Co., Inc., in Paterson, New Jersey, was crushed when the die cutter was activated by another employee unaware that the victim was inside. A subsequent investigation into the incident, which caused severe internal injuries to the worker, was initiated in May 2014 by OSHA.
The investigation found that Accurate Box failed to prevent inadvertent machine startup and similar incidents because it had not implemented an effective lockout/tagout program.
"This case clearly highlights why lockout/tagout and machine guarding measures are essential, especially in preventing amputation and crushing injuries," said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA's Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. "If OSHA's safety standards for machinery were implemented, this incident would not have occurred."
OSHA found that machine guarding was not provided to protect the machine operator, and it cited the employer for one repeat violation, carrying a $13,860 penalty.
These violations carry a $27,720 penalty.
OSHA Cites Double Dutch Dairy after Worker Fatally Injured
SHA has cited the company for four serious safety violations after an inspection found that the driver's view was obstructed.
"This was a horrible and senseless tragedy. No worker should ever lose their life because they did not receive adequate training or protection," said Bonita Winingham, OSHA's area director in Omaha. "Latino workers take some of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in America and are injured on the job at higher rates than other workers. Last year, on average, two Latino workers were fatally injured each day. This worker should not have been part of that statistic."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 797 Hispanic workers suffered fatal work-related injuries in 2013. This year in Nebraska, three Latino workers have lost their lives so far.
OSHA's investigation found employees were exposed to struck-by hazards and they were neither trained in safe equipment operation nor required to use seat belt restraints. The company failed to develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program to train workers about hazardous chemicals used in the workplace and necessary safety precautions when handling them.
OSHA has proposed fines of $22,500 for the four serious violations.
OSHA has a regional outreach initiative in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska to educate workers and their employers to prevent struck-by incidents, which often involve a vehicle hitting a pedestrian outside the driver's field of vision. In the past five years, 15% of all workplace fatalities investigated by OSHA in these states have been caused by these hazards.
Struck-by prevention strategies include ensuring backup alarms are functional; walking around a vehicle before operating it; staying alert; obeying all traffic rules and signs; minimizing distractions; inspecting and maintaining vehicles; using seat belts; and turning on headlights. In addition, training can help both drivers and pedestrian workers understand vehicle limitations and obstructions to avoid hazards.
Educational materials called "Evaluate Your Entire Surroundings," or E.Y.E.S., are available in both English and Spanish. The materials include a one-page fact sheet with incident data and prevention strategies; an "OSHA Region 7 Informational Guide for Preventing Struck-By Accidents"; a brochure that covers risk assessment steps, common operator errors and safety tips; and a laminated poster. Electronic copies of materials regarding this initiative, as well as limited printed copies, can be obtained free by contacting OSHA's office in Omaha at 402-553-0171.
Double Dutch Dairy is based in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, and also operates a dairy in Rising City, Nebraska.
Columbian Logistics Network Distribution Center Receives SHARP Award for Workplace Safety and Health Excellence
The Michigan SHARP award, established by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), recognizes employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
“We commend Columbian’s Grand Rapids Distribution Center for voluntarily taking the steps necessary to ensure its employees’ safety and health,” said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. “We are thrilled to welcome yet another partner to this extraordinary group of companies committed to workplace safety and health.”
MIOSHA Director Yoder presented the SHARP award to company management and employees at a luncheon held at the distribution center, formally recognizing the center as a MSHARP participant.
The Michigan SHARP targets small, high-hazard employers to help them develop, implement and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system. The program provides an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems, rather than reacting to them.
The MIOSHA Onsite Consultation Program within the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division operates the Michigan SHARP Program. Onsite consultants work with employers to help them become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety and health. SHARP worksites earn an exemption from “programmed” MIOSHA inspections on a yearly basis.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for Columbian Logistics – Grand Rapids Distribution Center is493110, which is classified as General Warehousing and Storage. The facility has 40 employees. The MIOSHA onsite review team consisted of Dave Henderson, senior safety consultant and Harvey Johnson, senior industrial hygienist.
In 2013, Columbian Logistics – Grand Rapids Distribution Center had a Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) and a Days Away from Work and Restricted/Transfer Cases (DART) rate below the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) averages for their industry. Their TCIR was 0.0 compared to the BLS rate of 5.6 for this type of industry.
“Safety is at the core of our company values,” said Columbian Logistics CEO John Zevalkink. “This recognition highlights that focus and the extent to which we have built a culture of safety into all of our processes and procedures.”
The company has an excellent system in place, which incorporates each of the seven required SHARP elements: Hazard Anticipation and Detection; Hazard Prevention and Control; Planning and Evaluation; Administration and Supervision; Safety and Health Training; Management Leadership, and Employee Participation.
Columbian Logistics Network (Columbian) is a full-service logistics company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving the Midwest and surrounding regions with best-in-class Transportation, Warehousing, Food and Manufacturing Logistics support.
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