People living near asphalt pavement sealed with coal tar have an elevated risk of cancer, according to a study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Much of this calculated excess risk results from exposures in children, age six or younger, to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the sealant.
“The increased cancer risk associated with coal-tar-sealed asphalt (CSA) likely affects a large number of people in the US. Our results indicate that the presence of coal-tar-based pavement sealants is associated with significant increases in estimated excess lifetime cancer risk for nearby residents,” said E. Spencer Williams, Ph.D., principal author of the study and Baylor University assistant research scientist at the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Researchers from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and the US Geological Survey in Austin, Texas, are the first to report on the potential human health effects of PAHs in settled house dust and soil in living spaces and soil adjacent to parking lots sealed with coal-tar-based products.
“Exposure to these compounds in settled house dust is a particularly important source of risk for children younger than six years of age, as they are expected to ingest this material at higher rates,” Williams said. “This indicates that the use of coal-tar-based pavement sealants magnifies aggregate exposures to PAHs in children and adults in residences adjacent to where these products are used and is associated with human health risks in excess of widely accepted standards.”
Data on PAHs in settled house dust used for this analysis were published previously by the same authors. In that study, settled house dust and parking lot dust were sampled for 23 ground-floor apartments in Austin, Texas. The parking lot surfaces adjacent to the apartments were coal-tar-sealed asphalt, asphalt-based sealant over asphalt pavement, or unsealed concrete. Concentrations of PAHs were 25 times higher in house dust in residences adjacent to coal-tar-sealed pavement compared to those with other pavement types.
“This study was the first to find a strong association between a product or a behavior and PAHs in house dust,” said Barbara Mahler, the USGS research hydrologist who oversaw the study.
For this study, doses and risk associated with residences adjacent to unsealed asphalt lots were considered relative to those adjacent to (CSA) parking lots. Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations in CSA-affected settled house dust were high relative to those reported in most parts of the US where coal-tar-based sealcoat is not used (California and Arizona). Data for PAHs in coal-tar-sealed asphalt-affected soils and unsealed asphalt-affected soils are available from samples from New Hampshire and suburban Chicago.
The analysis did not consider exposure to the dust on the pavement itself, which has PAH concentrations 10s to 100s of times higher than those in house dust or soil, or inhalation of air over sealed pavement.
“Over time, about half of the PAHs in the sealcoat are released into the air, and concentrations in air are extremely high, particularly in the hours to days after application,” said Peter Van Metre, USGS research hydrologist and author of two papers on volatilization of PAHs from sealcoat.
Sealcoat is a black, shiny substance sprayed or painted on the asphalt pavement of parking lots, driveways, and playgrounds to improve appearance and protect the underlying asphalt. An estimated 85 million gallons of coal-tar-based sealant are applied to pavement each year, primarily east of the Continental Divide in the US and parts of Canada. Coal-tar-based pavement sealants are 15 to 35% coal-tar pitch, which has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Over time, the dried sealant is worn away from pavement surfaces, and the resulting mobile dust particles can be transported into nearby homes.
“Although the analysis presented here is based on a limited dataset, the results indicate that biomonitoring might be warranted to characterize the exposure of children and adults to PAHs associated with coal-tar-based pavement sealant,” Williams said. “Further investigation is also needed into the impacts of coal-tar-based pavement sealants on PAH concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments.”
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.
Environmental Resource Center is offering live online training for you to learn how the new rule differs from current requirements, how to implement the changes, and when the changes must be implemented.
New Orleans RCRA and DOT Training
Virginia Beach RCRA and DOT Training
St. Louis RCRA and DOT Training
OSHA Cites Wynnewood Refining Co. Following the Death of Two Workers
OSHA has cited Wynnewood Refining, Co., LLC, with repeat, serious and other-than-serious violations following the death of two workers at the company’s crude oil refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
OSHA’s Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation September 29, 2012, at the South Powell Street facility following the explosion of a boiler, which killed the employees. The inspection was expanded to include associated contractors and ongoing maintenance activities during a turnaround operation.
“Failure to implement effectively OSHA’s process safety management regulations, which protects employees from potential hazards at high-risk facilities, such as petrochemical refineries, will not be tolerated,” said David Bates, OSHA’s area director in Oklahoma City. “If OSHA’s standards had been followed, it is possible this tragedy could have been avoided.”
The six repeat citations were cited for failing to ensure that boiler equipment complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices; ensure operating procedures addressed consequences of deviation from operating limits, including steps to avoid deviation from operating limits; provide training at least every three years on the practice of igniting boiler burners; establish and implement written procedures for testing and inspecting the shutdown and gas train interlocks for the boiler; and implement a management of change procedure when modifying boiler operating procedures. 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. Similar violations were cited in 2008.
The 15 serious citations include failing to ensure the process safety information includes equipment design codes and standards; failing to ensure the process hazard analysis addressed purging the boiler burner firebox; and loss of burner pilot/flame, prolonged fuel gas flow and failing to develop and implement operating procedures that address initial start-up of the boiler burner. 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.
The two other-than-serious violations include failing to ensure boiler lockout procedures included a statement of intended use and ensure a second level storage area was designed, constructed, and marked with its maximum intended load. 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.
Proposed penalties total $281,100. Wynnewood Refining Co., a subsidiary of Sugar Land, Texas-based CVR Energy, Inc., employs about 265 workers in Wynnewood.
Lakewood Manufacturer Fined Nearly $185,000 for Exposing Workers to Chemical Hazards
OSHA has cited eSmoke, LLC, an electronic cigarette manufacturer based in Lakewood, with 20 workplace safety and health violations. OSHA’s inspection was prompted by a complaint alleging serious safety and health hazards throughout the facility, resulting in $184,500 in proposed penalties.
“Each of these hazards has the potential to cause serious injury and must be abated as soon as possible,” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of the OSHA Marlton Area Office. “We want to ensure that workers can go home healthy at the end of every workday.”
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.
Additionally, exit passageways and electrical panels were blocked.
Two other-than-serious violations, carrying no penalty, were also cited for not providing eye protection to workers exposed to liquid chemicals and an insufficient number of bathrooms.
“One means of eliminating hazards, such as these, is for employers to establish an injury and illness prevention program in which workers and management can continually identify and eliminate hazardous conditions,” said Robert D. Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in New York.
Queens Metal Products Manufacturer Faces $108,900 in Fines from OSHA
. The manufacturer of metal products faces a total of $108,900 in proposed fines following a September 2012 complaint inspection.
“Our inspection uncovered recurring hazards, from exposure to high noise levels and hazardous chemicals to lack of proper protective equipment, training and information that would help workers to protect themselves,” said Kay Gee, OSHA’s area director for Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. “It’s imperative that this employer take effective and ongoing action to eliminate these hazards and prevent them from occurring again.”
The repeat violations, with fines of $74,250, include failing to train, fit-test and provide medical fitness evaluations for workers who wear respirators, provide hazard communication training and certify that a hazard assessment had been conducted to determine what personal protective equipment was needed to perform the work safely. Similar violations were cited in April 2011.
The seven serious violations, with fines of $34,650, were cited for failing to conduct initial noise monitoring and administer a hearing conservation program for workers exposed to high noise levels; provide employees with eye and hand protection when working with chemicals; determine hexavalent chromium exposure levels; provide protective clothing and information to workers exposed to hexavalent chromium; train forklift operators; and provide fire-resistant shields during welding operations.
“A key way employers can prevent conditions that can injure or sicken workers is to establish and maintain an effective illness and injury prevention program in which management and employees work together to identify and prevent hazardous conditions,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator for New York.
OSHA Fines Chemical Distributor for Safety, Chemical Hazards
The inspection resulted in $64,665 in proposed penalties.
The serious violations, with a $63,000 penalty, include failing to protect workers from chemical hazards associated with working on a formaldehyde loading system; protect against fall hazards; complete and revalidate a process hazard analysis and resolve analysis recommendations in a timely manner; develop a lockout/tagout program or line breaking procedures for the formaldehyde loading system; provide training on usage and maintenance of the formaldehyde loading system; conduct inspections and testing of the formaldehyde loading system; ensure an approved forklift for a hazardous area; and ensure the use of approved wiring.
The other-than-serious violations, carrying a $1,665 penalty, include an electrical cord strung across a highly traveled road that make it exposed to vehicles running over it and a failure to decontaminate formaldehyde-exposed equipment.
“Process safety management prevents or mitigates a catastrophic release of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids and gases in chemical processes,” said Kevin Kilp, director of OSHA’s Harrisburg Area Office. “This company jeopardized the safety of its workers by failing to implement effectively OSHA’s process safety management regulations.”
Kyklos Bearings International Fined for Failing to Comply with Asbestos Removal Standards
OSHA has cited Kyklos Bearings International for 13 alleged serious safety violations after an October 2012 complaint inspection found that the company failed to comply with asbestos regulations while removing boiler components at the Sandusky facility. No injuries have been reported as a result of the violations. Proposed fines total $65,000.
“Failing to require workers to wear personal protective equipment and use respirators when disposing of asbestos is unacceptable and exposes workers to unnecessary health risks,” said Kim Nelson, OSHA’s area director in Toledo. “Employers have a responsibility to properly train workers for tasks to which they are assigned and to monitor their exposure to hazardous materials.”
Kyklos Bearings International is a subsidiary of HHI, headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan, and manufactures bearings for the automotive industry. About 850 workers are employed at the Sandusky facility.
OSHA Fines Cape May New Home Builder Nearly $49,000 for Fall Hazards
OSHA has cited Cape May-based JF Builders, Inc., with two repeat and two serious safety violations, including fall hazards, found at a Sea Isle City work site. The November 2012 inspection was initiated as part of OSHA’s local emphasis program for fall hazards in construction, resulting in $48,510 in proposed penalties.
The repeat violations, with a $37,730 penalty, were cited for workers exposed to fall hazards from heights of approximately 12 feet to the ground surface. The same violations were cited in 2009 and 2011.
Two serious violations, carrying a $10,780 penalty, were due to unprotected workers exposed to fall hazards while working from an elevated wooden pallet resting on the forks of a front-end loader
“Falls remain the leading cause of death and serious injury in the construction industry,” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA’s Marlton Area Office. “It is imperative for employers to ensure their workers have adequate protection and are safe in the workplace.”
Medical Practice Cited for Inadequate Worker Safeguards Against Bloodborne Pathogen Hazards
The Newburgh medical practice faces a total of $44,800 in fines following a complaint inspection begun in September 2012 by OSHA’s Albany Area Office.
OSHA issued the medical practice one willful citation, with a fine of $28,000, for using nonengineered hypodermic needles instead of safer needle devices, such as needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharp protections. OSHA standards require that the safer devices be used at all times.
OSHA regulations require that employers establish and maintain a written exposure control program outlining the protective measures used to eliminate or minimize workers’ exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. OSHA’s inspection found that Orange Medical Care lacked such a program to protect its workers, who face exposure when performing daily tasks, such as administering vaccinations and drawing blood.
“This employer’s failure to implement basic, recognized, and effective safeguards needlessly places the health and well-being of employees at risk,” said Kim Castillon, OSHA’s area director in Albany. “Compounding this is the use of traditional hypodermic needles when safer needle devices are available. These conditions must be corrected promptly and effectively to minimize and eliminate this exposure hazard.”
Orange Medical Care also failed to provide its employees with training and properly sized protective clothes. The employer did not offer the Hepatitis B vaccine, allowed sharps disposal containers to routinely overfill and let employees recap contaminated nonengineered needles, a practice known to increase the likelihood of needle sticks. These conditions, plus the lack of an exposure control program, resulted in six serious citations, with $16,800 in fines.
Small Arms Manufacturer Fined for Lead, Safety, and Health Hazards
The inspection was initiated in September 2012 after health hazards were discovered during an earlier OSHA safety inspection at the facility. Proposed penalties total $72,000.
Carrying a $46,800 penalty, the repeat violations include failing to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program for lead exposure; medically evaluate, conduct fit tests and provide annual training on the proper fit, use, limitation, and maintenance for half mask negative pressure respirators to protect against lead; make an initial determination on whether lead exposure was above the action level; ensure surfaces were maintained as free as practicable from lead accumulation; develop and implement a hazard communication program on chemical hazards; and provide training to workers on chemical hazards. The same violations were cited in 2008.
The serious violations, with a $25,200 penalty, involve failing to implement a hearing conservation program and training program and provide annual audiograms for workers exposed to noise above 85 and 90 decibels; properly store a respirator to prevent its exposure to chemicals, such as lead; implement a medical surveillance program for workers who may be exposed to lead above the action level; provide medical surveillance at no cost to the worker; and make medical surveillance available upon a worker’s notification of signs and symptoms of lead intoxication.
“Exposure to lead and noise in the firearms manufacturing industry has been well-known for decades” said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA’s area office in Parsippany. “OSHA’s standards must be followed to protect workers from exposure that can lead to lead-related illness and occupational hearing loss.”
OSHA Cites Las Vegas-Based NV Energy Following Death of Transmission Line Trainee
OSHA has cited Las Vegas-based NV Energy for seven alleged safety and health violations, including six serious, following an investigation into a worker’s death on September 25, 2012.
A lineman in training died when he fell 75 feet from a temporary horizontal ladder used as a platform between a transmission tower and a live 500-kilovolt transmission line. The transmission tower was part of a power grid that crosses the Moapa Paiute Reservation northeast of Las Vegas.
“Working with lines energized at thousands of volts demands expertly trained workers clad in gear that can protect workers from shocks associated with strong electromagnetic fields,” said Joy Flack, director of OSHA’s Las Vegas Area Office. “NV Energy spelled disaster when it failed to ensure these workers were protected from falling.”
Conductive booties too small were modified by cutting off the top portion and securing it to the work boots with tape, resulting in potential exposure to transient electrical shock and falls. Gloves and conductive suits had holes and tears. Additionally, NV Energy also failed to ensure that fall arrest equipment met required safety rules; ladders and platforms were used in applications other than for which they were designed, such as a ladder used as an anchorage for a personal fall arrest system, although the spliced horizontal ladder was not designed for this purpose; failure to comply with fall protection rules applicable to power transmission lines, which require trainees to use fall protection equipment any time they work more than 4 feet above the ground.
One other-than-serious violation was cited for failing to provide OSHA with injury and illness records within four hours of request.
OSHA Cites Tricon Precast with Serious Violations
Serious violations include failing to ensure electrical equipment is properly installed; failing to prevent exposure to electrical conductors on overhead cranes; failure to provide the required fall protection for employees working at heights of 4 feet or more; failing to properly maintain forklifts and cranes and to provide seat belts on forklifts; failing to ensure backup alarm was in working order and that combustible materials were not stored in closed containers; and failure to provide an eyewash/shower station in coating operation area, medical evaluations and fit testing, ensure hands were protected by wearing gloves and to provide the required guarding for machinery with rotating parts, pulleys and belts. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to the employees when the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.
The other-than-serious violations include failing to have a respirator protection program in place, failing to test carbon monoxide in a supply air respirator and to provide a hazardous communication program. An other-than-serious violation is one where the incident would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but would have a direct and immediate relationship on the safety and health of employees.
“This company failed to protect its workers from possible electrocutions, falls and other safety hazards,” said David Doucet, OSHA’s area director at its Houston North office. “It is fortunate in this case that no one was injured.”
Tricon Precast, which employees about 220 workers who specialize in the manufacture of concrete barriers and retaining walls.
OSHA Orders Norfolk Southern Railway Co. to pay $1.1 Million after Firing 3 Workers for Reporting Injuries
Norfolk Southern Railway, Co., has been ordered to pay $1,121,099 to three workers following an investigation by OSHA, which found that the company violated the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act. Two investigations, conducted by OSHA staff in Chicago and Pittsburgh, found that three employees were wrongfully fired for reporting workplace injuries. In addition to monetary remedies, the company has been ordered to expunge the disciplinary records of the three whistleblowers, post a notice regarding employees’ whistleblower protection rights under the FRSA and train workers on these rights.
Railroad carriers are subject to the FRSA, which protects employees who report violations of any federal law, rule or regulation relating to railroad safety or security, or who engage in other protected activities.
“The Labor Department continues to find serious whistleblower violations at Norfolk Southern, and we will be steadfast in our defense of a worker’s right to a safe job—including his or her right to report injuries,” said acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris. “When workers can’t report safety concerns on the job without fear of retaliation, worker safety and health suffer, which costs working families and businesses alike.”
One investigation involved a crane operator based in Fort Wayne, Ind., who was removed from service after reporting an eye injury requiring the extraction of a sliver of metal and rust ring from his eye. The injury occurred while he was operating a crane in support of a bridge-building operation in Albany, Ind. The employee was taken out of service and formally terminated on August 24, 2010, after an internal investigation determined he had made false statements concerning the injury.
OSHA’s investigation concluded that the worker would not have been terminated if he had not reported the injury. The agency has ordered the railroad to pay him a total of $437,591.70 in damages, which includes $100,000 in compensatory damages for pain and suffering, $175,000 in punitive damages, and $156,518.94 in back wages and benefits. It also includes compensation of $6,072.76 to the crane operator for penalties incurred when he had to cash in savings bonds prior to their maturity date after being terminated. In addition to damages, the company has been ordered to pay reasonable attorney fees. Further, OSHA has ordered the railroad to reinstate the worker to the proper seniority level, with vacation and sick days that he would otherwise have earned.
OSHA’s second investigation involved a thermite welder and a welder’s helper based in western Pennsylvania. Both employees had worked at the railroad for more than 36 years without incident when they reported injuries sustained as a result of an accident caused by another vehicle that ran a red light and hit a second vehicle, which in turn collided with the company truck in which they were riding.
The employees initially reported minor shoulder area pain plus some stiffness and soreness. Later, when questioned by management, they initially declined medical treatment, but as the pain increased, sought and received treatment at a local hospital. They were then taken out of service pending an investigative hearing and formally terminated. Management concluded that the employees’ reports about their condition were false and conflicting and constituted misconduct.
OSHA’s investigation found that the employees were terminated for reporting injuries to management. The agency has ordered the railroad to pay them $683,508 in damages, including $300,000 in punitive damages; $233,508 in lost wages, benefits and out-of-pocket costs; and $150,000 in compensatory damages for pain and suffering. Interest on back pay due will accrue daily until the employees are paid. In addition to damages, the company has been ordered to pay reasonable attorney fees.
These actions follow several other orders issued by OSHA against Norfolk Southern Railway, Co., in the past two years. OSHA’s investigations have found that the company continues to retaliate against employees for reporting work-related injuries, and these actions have effectively created a chilling effect in the railroad industry.
“The Labor Department’s responsibility is to protect all employees, including those in the railroad industry, from retaliation for exercising these basic worker rights,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “Railroad workers must be able to report work-related injuries without fear of retaliation.”
Norfolk Southern Railway, Co., is a major transporter/hauler of coal and other commodities, serving every major container port in the eastern United States with connections to western carriers. Its headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia, and it employs more than 30,000 union workers worldwide.
Any party to these cases can file an appeal with the Labor Department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges within 30 days of receipt of the findings.
On July 16, 2012, OSHA and the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration signed a memorandum of agreement to facilitate coordination and cooperation for enforcing the FRSA’s whistleblower provisions. Between August 2007, when OSHA was assigned responsibility for whistleblower complaints under the FRSA, and September 2012, OSHA received more than 1,200 FRSA whistleblower complaints. The number of whistleblower complaints that OSHA currently receives under the FRSA surpasses the number it receives under any of the other 21 whistleblower protection statutes it enforces except for Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. More than 60% of the FRSA complaints filed with OSHA involve an allegation that a railroad worker has been retaliated against for reporting an on-the-job injury.
OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the FRSA and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, worker safety, public transportation agency, maritime and securities laws. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government.
OCDC–Washington County Earns Safety Recognition
Oregon OSHA welcomes the Oregon Child Development Coalition, Inc., (OCDC) in Washington County as the latest employer in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
SHARP provides an incentive for Oregon employers to work with their employees to find and correct hazards, develop and implement effective safety and health programs, and continuously improve. The ultimate goal of SHARP is to encourage employers to become self-sufficient in managing workplace safety and health issues. Currently, about 61 employer locations in Oregon participate in SHARP, in addition to approximately 100 facilities that have graduated from the program.
OCDC, a private, not-for-profit company, provides Head Start and Oregon pre-kindergarten early childhood education services for low-income and disadvantaged children. Many of the services OCDC offers are for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, which serves low-income families who obtain at least 50% of their income from agricultural work. Family and health services are also provided, including parent education and medical and dental care for children. While OCDC’s work is year round, it peaks in the summertime when many families go to Washington County to do agricultural work. OCDC employs 241 people in its four separate Washington County locations.
“The SHARP process helped us put safety and health into proper perspective,” said Donalda Dodson, OCDC’s executive director. “OCDC has always placed a high priority on safety, particularly children’s safety. SHARP made us look closer at the safety and well-being of our employees, placing it on equal footing with our mission and child safety. The two are inextricably linked.”
Participation in SHARP does not eliminate regulatory enforcement, although SHARP participants do receive a limited exemption from programmed inspections. Employees retain all workplace safety and health rights contained in the Oregon Safe Employment Act. Oregon employers that have been in business for more than one year are eligible to apply for SHARP regardless of size or type of business.
SKF USA Inc. to Receive State Award for Outstanding Safety and Health Record
SKF USA, Inc.’s, Linear Motion Manufacturing Plant in Armada will receive the CET Gold Award tomorrow for an outstanding safety and health record from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder will present the award to Steven Brown, General Manager, and Bill Weig, Quality and EHS Manager for SKF USA.
The MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division recognizes the safety and health achievements of Michigan employers and employees through CET Awards, which are based on excellent safety and health performance. The CET Gold Award recognizes two years without a lost-time accident.
FMCSA Declares Bus Company Rimrock Stages to be and Imminent Hazard to Public Safety
“Safety is our highest priority,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will move quickly to shut down bus companies that do not operate safely.”
FMCSA initiated an investigation of Rimrock Stages and determined the company does not have adequate safety management practices to ensure that its commercial motor vehicles are systematically and properly inspected, repaired and maintained. FMCSA also found that Rimrock Stages failed to repair its commercial motor vehicles in a competent manner, failed to ensure that its mechanics are knowledgeable and qualified, failed to ensure that its commercial motor vehicles meet minimum safety standards and knowingly dispatched vehicles with safety defects. These patterns of violation substantially increase the likelihood of serious crashes, which endanger Rimrock Stages’ drivers, passengers, and the motoring public.
FMCSA inspected eight commercial motor vehicles operated by Rimrock Stages last week and discovered serious noncompliance and safety defects during every vehicle inspection. During the inspections, FMCSA discovered 79 violations of federal safety requirements, including 33 violations that individually required the vehicles to be placed out of service. Each of the eight vehicles inspected was ordered out of service.
“FMCSA will continue to do everything within its current legal authority to remove unsafe operators from our roads,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Our agency is committed to raising the bar for commercial vehicle and driver safety.”
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