OSHA isn’t publicizing its enforcement efforts as much as it did under the Obama administration, but that doesn’t mean employers aren’t being cited and fined. Here’s a roundup of some recent enforcement cases that led to significant penalties: Alabama—A motor vehicle parts manufacturer was cited with three repeat violations and three serious violations. The repeat…

We know falls in the workplace are preventable and yet falls remain the leading cause of death in construction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 300,000 workers in the United States sustained nonfatal injuries from slips, trips, and falls in 2015. Fatalities caused by falls from heights in construction accounted for…

As an organization operating in today’s business landscape, you know the importance of conducting risk assessments… and you’re also intimately familiar with the challenges in making those assessments happen efficiently and successfully. You need a systematic approach to ensure that you’re successfully mitigating risk throughout your organization to ensure the safety of your personnel and…

A National Safety Council survey found 58 percent of Americans working in construction – the industry that sees the most workplace fatalities each year – feel that safety takes a backseat to productivity and completing job tasks. What’s more, 51 percent say management does only the minimum required by law to keep employees safe, and…

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Federal investigators proposed penalties of $214,782 to an Illinois roofing contractor after a recent inspection at a home construction site in Troy found workers exposed to fall hazards. Statistics show falls cause four of every 10 deaths in the construction industry. On Jan. 3, 2017, OSHA issued four willful and two serious…

Two outside electrical contractors arrive at a facility to complete work, but fail to check in with building management. They continue on unescorted to a mechanical room. Despite not wearing the proper personal protective equipment, they proceed to remove bolt covers on equipment. These three missteps are the equivalent of strikes one, two and three.…

Putting a law in the books is merely a symbolic gesture until the agencies are sworn to uphold it, take to the streets, and crack down on the violators. The same holds true for a workplace safety program. No matter how comprehensive the requirements and procedures, without a guiding presence patrolling the facility and enforcing…

Safety in Manufacturing Plants Resurgence of Manufacturing Operations in America: Growth in the Midwest The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) has reported that economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December for the seventh consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 55th consecutive month.  The National Association of Manufacturers cites that the…

PART 2 (of 2): PPE Selection, Maintenance and Testing Standards have been established for PPE where hazards are present which could affect the head, foot and leg, eye and face, hearing loss, hand, body, and respiratory system.  OSHA requires that many categories of PPE meet or be equivalent to standards developed by the American National…

PART 1 (of 2): PPE Standards, Requirements, Training The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for enforcing laws to ensure employers provide a safe work environment for employees.  OSHA requires employers to provide a safe and healthful work place to all of their employees.  In order to meet this requirement, the following…