The agriculture sector, which employs more than 2 million people in the US, accounted for 475 deaths in 2012. With a fatality rate of 21.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, agriculture recorded the highest fatality rate of any industry sector. Additionally, 48,300 injuries were recorded in 2011, the most recent year for which statistics are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety's National Farm Safety & Health Week was September 15–21, and with the support of OSHA, emphasized the importance of worker safety in the agricultural industry. The theme for this year's National Farm Safety & Health Week was "Working Together for Safety in Agriculture."
"By working together to protect agricultural workers from job hazards and assuring that workers have the right to safety training, we can all make a positive impact on the lives of agricultural workers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "OSHA has worked diligently with agri-businesses, farm agencies and communities in recent years to increase awareness of the hazards of confined spaces, farm equipment, grain handling and other hazards in the this industry in an effort to promote safety and health on America's farms."
Farm Safety and Health Week has been observed annually during September since 1944 as farmers prepare for harvest.
Farmworkers are at high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, work-related lung diseases, heat exposure, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure.
Additionally, record numbers of deaths and injuries in 2010 led OSHA to develop a Local Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities, focusing on the grain and feed industry's six major hazards including: engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, "struck by," combustible dust explosions, and electrocution hazards.
In 2010, at least 26 US workers were killed in grain engulfments, the highest number on record.
There are five different safety topics available including an overview of grain handling and storage safety, grain bin entry as well as entanglement, fall, and confined space hazards. GHSC also offers "Train the Trainer" courses for companies and communities to have a local resource for training.
Approximately one half of farmworkers are Hispanic.
GHS OSHA Hazard Communication Training PowerPoint Now Available
With OSHA’s adoption of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals, virtually every chemical label, MSDS—now called Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard.
By December 1, 2013, all employees at your site that work with, or are exposed to, hazardous chemicals must be trained to understand the new classification system, labels, warning statements, precautions, pictograms, and safety data sheets for chemicals at your worksite.
Environmental Resource Center is making available a PDF presentation or a customizable PowerPoint that you can use for on-site worker training. The training program, which covers all of OSHA’s required GHS Hazard Communication training requirements, is in a format that is easy to understand.
Pricing and options:
Options:
1. Customized PowerPoint: send us your written GHS hazard communication plan and 10–20 safety data sheets. We’ll create a custom training program for your site: $899
2. If you have not updated your hazard communication plan, let Environmental Resource Center update it for you: $799
3. Customized PowerPoint and hazard communication plan: $1600
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 SDSs.
Massachusetts Contractor Faces More than $336,000 in Fines for Multiple Violations
The wood-framing contractor faces a combined total of $336,200 in proposed fines following inspections by OSHA's Braintree and Andover area offices begun in March.
The Plymouth inspection was initiated March 15 after a worker suffered broken ribs and leg injuries when an unbraced wooden roof truss system collapsed around him. The Reading inspection was opened the same day after OSHA received a complaint about possible safety hazards at the jobsite.
At the Plymouth worksite, OSHA found that the trusses were not adequately braced during their installation, exposing employees to being struck by them. The workers were also exposed to falls of up to 12 feet during the installation of the trusses. Inspectors identified an impalement hazard from uncovered anchor bolts and additional fall and struck-by hazards from a misused ladder and uninspected and untagged rigging. These conditions resulted in OSHA issuing Twin Pines two willful, two repeat, and four serious citations with $196,200 in proposed fines. The repeat violations stem from similar hazards cited by OSHA in 2009 and 2011 at jobsites in Walpole, Massachusetts; and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
OSHA found employees at the Reading worksite working without fall protection while framing exterior walls, making final deck attachments, constructing leading edges, and receiving construction building materials. This lack of fall protection exposed them to falls of from 10 to 20 feet. As a result, OSHA issued two willful citations, with $140,000 in fines to Twin Pines.
"The large penalties proposed in these cases reflect the gravity and recurring nature of these hazards, and demonstrate this employer's knowing, active and ongoing disregard for its workers' safety," said Marthe Kent, OSHA's New England regional administrator. "Falls remain the number one killer in construction work. Employers who deliberately and repeatedly fail to supply and ensure the use of effective fall protection safeguards are repeatedly gambling with their workers' lives."
Twin Pines Construction, Inc., has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. OSHA's SVEP focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat, or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations.
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. 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. 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 other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Spartanburg RCRA and DOT Training
Chicago RCRA, DOT, and GHS Hazard Communication Training
Los Angeles RCRA and DOT Training
Piramal Glass USA Inc. Fined after Worker Loses Finger
Prior to maintenance, the machine was not isolated from its energy source. Proposed penalties total $137,400.
"An employer's failure to power off energy sources before conducting equipment maintenance is unacceptable," said Marcia Drumm, acting regional administrator for OSHA in Kansas City. "Amputation hazards are one of the leading causes of injuries in manufacturing, which companies must address to curb preventable injuries."
One repeat violation, which was previously cited in October 2010, involves improperly mounting metallic receptacle boxes to a firm surface.
Thirteen of the serious violations were safety-related, including lack of e-stop devices on lathes, grinding, drilling and milling machines; failing to equip a lathe with a foot-operated guarding device; and unguarded floor holes and missing railings. Several additional safety violations relate to OSHA's lockout/tagout standards, such as failing to complete periodic audits, secure lockout/tagout devices with duct tape, follow adequate procedures and provide production workers with lockout devices, and training on isolating energy sources to a bottle-making machine.
Five serious health violations involve failing to develop and implement a noise monitoring program, exposing workers to noise exposure levels above the time-weighted average, failing to ensure the use of hearing protection, lack of personal protective equipment and barrier guards to protect workers from excessive heat exposure, and failing to maintain clean and dry floors in work rooms.
Additionally, two other-than-serious violations include failing to identify machinery on periodic audit records and inspect fire extinguishers. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Piramal Glass, headquartered in Park Hills, also operates facilities in Mays Landing and Williamstown, New Jersey; as well as in India and Sri Lanka.
Optimum Plastics Inc. Faces OSHA Penalties after 4 Workers Suffer Fractures
Optimum Plastics, Inc., has been cited by OSHA after four workers suffered forearm fractures while operating winder machines with inadequate guarding at the company's Delaware, Ohio, packaging plant. OSHA has cited three safety violations carrying proposed penalties of $81,000.
"Optimum Plastics made no effort to provide adequate machine guarding, even after multiple employees suffered injuries while operating this equipment. That is unacceptable," said OSHA Area Director Deborah Zubaty in Columbus. "Companies must be aware of the hazards that exist in their facilities and take all possible precautions to minimize the risk of injury."
On May 16, 2012, an employee had his left arm pulled into the machine, resulting in the fracture of both bones in his left forearm. Similar injuries occurred in January, February, and April of this year, which resulted in fractured bones in the forearms of three other employees. During the March complaint inspection, company injury reports and medical records were reviewed, and OSHA determined that at least 15 less severe injuries occurred to employees operating winder machines at the company during the past five years.
One willful violation was cited for failing to have adequate machine guarding on the winder machines on production lines one, two, and three at the plastics packaging plant.
OSHA also issued one repeat violation for having a flexible cord, which was not grounded. Optimum Plastics was cited at the same facility for a similar violation in January 2010.
One serious violation was issued for installing ring guards on the emergency stop actuators of the winder machine on production line six, which prevented employees from readily activating the emergency stop buttons.
Cross Construction Repeatedly Exposes Workers to Trench Hazards
OSHA initiated an inspection of the Urbana-based company on May 1 after receiving a complaint that alleged cave-in hazards. OSHA has proposed $75,460 in penalties.
"Cave-ins are the leading cause of injury and death in excavation," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "Repeat violations of a well-known safety hazard in the trenching industry demonstrate a disregard for workers' safety by Cross Construction."
Two repeat violations were cited for failing to provide a means of safe access and egress during trenching and excavation work and to conduct daily inspections of the excavation site to identify and correct hazards. The same violation was cited December 2012 at a job site in Mahomet.
One willful violation was cited for failing to provide cave-in protection to workers in a trench greater than 7 feet deep. OSHA standards mandate that all excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse.
As a result of exposing workers to cave-in hazards, OSHA has placed Urbana-based Cross Construction in its SVEP, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.
Alabama Roofing Contractor Exposes Workers to Fall Hazards, 3 Workers Injured
OSHA has cited steel erection and roofing contractor Marcus Borden for six safety violations, some involving fall hazards, following the hospitalization of three workers for injuries suffered while performing roof work in Cordova, Alabama. The contractor is based in Russellville.
In March, a gust of wind during a severe thunderstorm ripped a large piece of metal decking from the workers' hands. One worker was thrown against the edge of a new metal roof and suffered a left arm amputation; a second worker was thrown across the roof and suffered an injured shoulder. A third worker became wrapped in a sheet of metal, managed to escape, but was carried by the momentum over the roof's edge and fell 30 feet to the ground. The worker broke wrists, ribs, tailbone, and pelvis.
A willful violation has been cited for failing to provide workers with fall protection while working within 6 feet of an open edge that was 30 feet above the ground.
Four serious violations involve exposing workers to severe weather conditions and struck-by hazards during severe weather conditions; not ensuring use of fall protection when riding an aerial lift basket from the ground to the roof; overloading the aerial lift's posted weight limit; and not securing metal decking during inclement weather conditions.
An other-than-serious violation relates to the employer failing to notify OSHA about the workers being admitted to the hospital due to a work-related incident.
"Marcus Borden did not provide fall protection, even after an employee request and after indicating prior to roofing work that it would protect workers from fall hazards," said Ramona Morris, OSHA's area director in Birmingham. "Employers are responsible for providing workers with proper protection to perform jobs safely."
The page offers fact sheets, posters, and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures.
Proposed penalties total $69,200.
Feutz Contractors Inc. Fined after Exposing Workers to Trench Hazards
Feutz Contractors, Inc., has been cited by OSHA for four safety violations, including one willful, for failing to protect workers from cave-ins during trenching operations at a construction site in Mahomet, Illinois. Proposed penalties total $67,760.
"Feutz Contractors has a responsibility to follow safety standards that protect workers from excavation hazards," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "These types of hazards result in numerous fatalities and injuries every year. No job should put workers at risk due to an employer's failure to properly protect and train them."
The willful violation involves failing to provide cave-in protection to workers installing sewer pipes and a manhole in a trench approximately 6 feet deep.
Additionally, three serious violations were cited for failing to provide a means of safe access and egress during trenching and excavation work, keep excavated material away from the edge of the trench, and to conduct daily inspections of the excavation site to identify and correct hazards.
The company has been inspected by OSHA five times since 2003.
Texas Companies Fined Following Worker’s Death from Excessive Heat Exposure
OSHA has cited BFI Waste Services of Texas LP, doing business as Republic Services, Inc., and their temporary labor provider Recana Solutions, LLC, with seven safety violations for exposing workers to excessive heat after a worker died from heat stress in June.
"It is truly a matter of life and death that workers and employers take proactive steps to stay safe in extreme heat and be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion," said Mark Briggs, OSHA's area director in the Houston South office. "It's as simple as drinking plenty of water and taking breaks in cool, shaded areas in order to save lives."
BFI Waste Services of Texas was cited for two serious violations, with a penalty of $14,000, for failing to provide first aid training and protect workers from recognized heat stress hazards. Two other-than-serious violations, with a penalty of $6,000, was cited for failing to report the facility to OSHA within 8 hours and record the temporary worker's fatality on the employer's OSHA 300 log for record keeping. Recana Solutions was cited for one serious violation, with a penalty of $7,000, for failing to protect workers from recognized heat stress hazards. Two other-than-serious violations, with a penalty of $6,000, were cited for failing to report the fatality to OSHA within 8 hours and provide personal protection equipment. BFI Waste Services proposed penalties total $20,000 and Recana Solutions proposed penalties total $13,000.
OSHA has developed heat illness educational materials in English and Spanish, as well as a curriculum to be used for workplace training.
OSHA offers a free application for mobile devices that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites. The app displays a risk level for workers based on the heat index, as well as reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level.
Proposed penalties for both companies total $33,000.
Cal/OSHA Cites Los Angeles Engineering Inc. Over $100,000 Following Fatal Trench Collapse
Cal/OSHA has cited Covina-based Los Angeles Engineering, Inc., following a trench collapse in March, which killed one employee and severely injured another. The two pipe layers were checking the depth of the trench when an unshored wall caved in.
“When safety is not a priority, there can be tragic consequences, and this incident is a sad reminder of that fact,” said Christine Baker, director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Cal/OSHA, also known as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, is a division of DIR.
Cal/OSHA issued four citations to Los Angeles Engineering, Inc., one general, two serious and a willful serious violation, totaling $100,635. Violations included failure to properly protect the trench from caving in, not inspecting the trench after a cave-in that occurred earlier in the day, lack of employee training on heat illness prevention, and lack of an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Plan. The citation was classified as willful because the employer failed to install the required shoring in the trench after the earlier cave-in and still sent workers into the unprotected trench.
“Incidents like this are heartbreaking because they are so unnecessary,” said Acting Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Employers must be more vigilant in protecting worker safety.”
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