Safe Workplace and Safety News

OSHA has cited Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. of Pennsauken with $195,000 in proposed penalties for alleged workplace safety and health violations.

OSHA initiated its investigation on April 1 in response to a complaint alleging that employees were exposed to hazards when clearing jams on the machine used to stack and transport pallets. As a result of the investigation, OSHA issued three willful citations.

The willful violations include the company's failure to provide training on lockout/tagout procedures, which prevent the inadvertent start-up of machinery or the release of hazardous energy, failure to apply lockout/tagout procedures when machines were being serviced and failure to properly guard machinery. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for the law.

"The machine hazards identified at this facility pose a serious safety threat to employees if left unabated," said Gary Roskoski, director of OSHA's Marlton, N.J., area office. "A proven way of ensuring future abatement of all serious hazards, compliance with OSHA regulations and the prevention of employee injury, illness and death is for Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. in Pennsauken to establish an effective safety and health management system."

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Marlton Area Office; telephone 856-396-2594.

Labels: LOTO, OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines

OSHA Investigation followed amputation of employee's hand caught in unguarded rotating valve

Mantrose-Haeuser Co. Inc., an Attleboro, Mass., manufacturer of industrial and pharmaceutical food coatings, faces $192,000 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The company was cited for a total of 29 alleged repeat, willful and serious violations of safety and health standards at its 113 Olive St. plant following a July 17, 2007, incident in which an employee lost his hand when it became caught in an unguarded rotating valve of a dust collection hopper.

Because the plant was cited for a similar hazard in April 2005, this lack of machine guarding resulted in OSHA issuing the company a repeat citation with a proposed fine of $35,000. Two other repeat citations, carrying $25,000 in fines, were issued for unguarded work platforms and an emergency exit door that could not be opened. A repeat citation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for a substantially similar hazard and that citation has become final.

OSHA's inspection also found that the plant had not developed and implemented required procedures to shut down machines and lock out their power sources to prevent their unintended startup. This situation resulted in the issuance of one willful citation carrying a proposed fine of $70,000. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

Additionally, 25 serious citations, with $62,000 in fines, were issued for hazards involving blocked, obstructed and unmarked emergency exit doors and routes; lack of lockout/tagout devices and training; trip and fall hazards; fire extinguishers not being readily available; deficiencies in respirator training and fitting; confined space hazards; a defective powered pallet jack; unlabeled containers of chemicals; unapproved containers for flammable liquid; and lack of written procedures, training and other elements of the plant's process safety management program. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

"The number of citations reflects the wide array of hazards found during our inspection as well as the employer's knowledge of the lockout hazard and the recurrence of conditions cited during an earlier OSHA inspection," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA's area director in Braintree. "As demonstrated in this case, continued failure to adhere to safety and health standards exposes employees to serious injuries and potentially fatal fire, chemical, mechanical, fall, confined space and machine guarding hazards."

Fine To Be Challenged By Mantrose-Haeuser Co.

In a press release from Mantrose-Haeuser Co. they stated that they intend to challenge the citations. "The safety and well-being of our employees is, and has been our top priority, and we are committed to doing whatever we can to prevent accident or injury," said Brian Terando, plant manager. "We have been meeting and fully cooperating with OSHA throughout its review of our operations. However, we respectfully disagree with the nature of some of its findings. There is no basis on which to characterize any actions as either 'willful' or 'repeat.'"

"The company took immediate corrective actions following the accident to improve the safety of the dust-collection process, including installing additional protection, implementing new operational procedures and updating our training programs," said Terando. "We continuously evaluate our operations to identify and implement practices to improve employee health and safety throughout the plant."

Labels: LOTO, OSHA Citations

In January 2004 an employee of Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging Inc., died when a paper cutter was not locked out and was subsequently started up.

Occupational Health and Safety Magazine reports that Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging Inc. (Longview, Washington), the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WSDLI) and the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Union, Local 153 have reached a settlement ending a three year appeals process.

The settlement involves, among other things, Longview Fibre being accepted into the VPP. Read about the settlement here.

Labels: LOTO, VPP

LockOut / Tagout is an important part of your safety program. This February 22nd press releases annouces an OSHA citation and fine that is, in part, the result of failure to enforce lockout / tagout proceedures.

OSHA Press Release

OSHA Proposes $155,000 in Penalties
Federal Action Follows August 2006 Fatality

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $155,000 in fines against Insulfoam-Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, for alleged repeat, willful and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards following the death of an employee in August 2006.

OSHA opened an inspection after receiving notification that an employee had died after being caught in and crushed by moving machinery that was not properly guarded. Two willful citations were issued alleging the company allowed the practice of by-passing interlock guards and failed to enforce lockout/tagout procedures. A serious violation alleged the lack of an annual lockout audit, and one repeat violation was issued for the lack of lockout/tagout training for employees.

"The tragedy of serious injuries and fatalities resulting from failing to prevent unintended movement of dangerous machinery is made worse by the fact that such hazards are entirely preventable," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA area director in Columbus.

OSHA had conducted two previous inspections since May 2003 resulting in serious violations of OSHA standards covering lockout/tagout issues, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks and blood borne pathogen regulations.

Labels: LOTO, OSHA Citations

Another OSHA citation, that involves Lockout/Tagout is in the news. In this case employees were allowed to service and repair machinery that was energized.


OSHA Press Release - Tuesday, November 21, 2006

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA Cites Magee, Miss., Water Bottling Company following Investigation of Fatal Accident. OSHA is proposing penalties totaling more than $164,000

JACKSON, Miss. -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Mountain Pure MS and proposed penalties totaling $164,150 following the investigation of a fatal May 24 accident at the company's Magee, Miss., facility.

"This tragic accident could have been prevented if OSHA regulations and equipment manufacturer's instructions had been followed," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's Jackson area director. "Significant penalties are proposed when employers are aware of unsafe conditions and fail to abate them."

OSHA's investigation revealed that employees were routinely allowed to operate unguarded machinery and to service and repair equipment while machinery was energized. The fatality occurred when a worker was caught in an unguarded palletizer, part of a conveyor system used to move pallets.

The company received two willful citations directly related to the fatal accident, each with a proposed penalty of $49,000. Cited items were failure to train employees and develop energy control procedures that rendered machinery inoperable during repair, maintenance or servicing, and failure to install machine guards on moving parts of equipment. OSHA issues a willful citation when an employer has shown an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

The drinking water bottler also received 28 serious citations, with penalties totaling $66,150 for safety and health hazards. Alleged violations include lack of eye wash stations and personal protective equipment for employees working with corrosive materials; exposing workers to ozone well above the permissible levels; failing to train and certify forklift operators; improper use of a rough terrain forklift; lack of a hearing conservation program; lack of proper electrical equipment; improperly stored chemicals; and lack of machine guarding on other equipment not involved in the accident. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The worksite was inspected by staff from the OSHA's area office in Jackson located at 3780 I-55 North, Suite 210; phone: (601) 965-4606.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information about trenching safety and other safe work practices, visit www.osha.gov.

Labels: Industrial Safety, LOTO, OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines, workplace safety

Volks Constructors has been cited by OSHA for, among other safety violations, not having proper RTK labeling and for lack of energy control procedures (Lockout/Tagout procedures). The following is the press release from OSHA:

Press Release - Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Cites Volks Constructors in Baton Rouge for Job Safety and Health Violations

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A Baton Rouge, La., industrial vessel, pipe and steel fabrication company's alleged failure to maintain accurate injury and illness records and protect employees from occupational hazards has resulted in proposed penalties totaling $47,600 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

AKM, LLC, doing business as Volks Constructors, was cited for the alleged violations following an inspection that began May 10, under a national emphasis program by OSHA aimed at preventing work-related amputations. Volks Constructors employs approximately 350 workers.

"Worker injury and illness records are vital for identifying injury trends," said Greg Honaker, OSHA's area director in Baton Rouge.

Sixteen serious citations were issued for potential atmospheric hazards in confined spaces, lack of energy control procedures to protect against electrical and amputation hazards, no eye wash station available while working with corrosives, no machine guarding to protect against amputation hazards and lack of guarding for chains, sprockets, belts and pulleys. A serious citation is issued for violations that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees due to hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

Seventeen other-than-serious citations were issued for failing to complete "OSHA 301 Logs" used for a first report of injury; failing to record 102 injuries and illness on the "OSHA 300 Logs"; company executives certifying OSHA 300 Logs that were neither correct nor complete; and failing to provide the OSHA 300 and 301 Logs upon request. Additional violations included lack of rating capacity for alloy steel chains/synthetic web slings, restricted work space in front of electrical equipment, use of hazardous chemicals from unmarked containers and lack of material safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals. An other-than-serious violation is a condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety or health of the employees.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Baton Rouge area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Labels: LOTO, OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines, rtk labels, safety labeling

A new section on our web site features information about lockout / tagout, including descriptions and information about Master Lock Safety Series lockout devices.

Master Lock has a complete line of Safety Lockout devices, as well as a full range of safety padlocks. Their innovative designs include cable lockouts, gate valve, ball valve, circuit breaker, plug covers and more.

The Master Lock Safety Series of products and services are designed to help you successfully develop and implement the best possible lockout/tagout system for your facility. The goal is for your facility to meet or surpass OSHA’s LO/TO requirements. While it’s important to satisfy regulations, preventing accidents and protecting your employees is critical. You can rely on the Safety Series lockout and tagout products.

You'll find the new section on our web site at: http://www.safe-workplace.com/lockout/index.html

Labels: Industrial Safety, LOTO

Yesterday we started to add lockout/tagout information to the Safe Workplace web site, and this morning I noticed this press release from OSHA. Among other citations, VTCU Corp. was issued a serious* citation for inadequate lockout/tagout procedures. Lockout/tagout is important. A recent study revealed that 20% of workplace fatalities are caused by lack of or inadequate lockout/tagout. Use the link above to visit our pages about lockout/tagout and to learn more about Master Lock Safety Series lockout/tagout products.

*An OSHA serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition about which the employer knew or should have known.

OSHA Region 10 News Release
Date: November 13, 2006

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Again Cites VTCU Corp. in Pocatello for Alleged Safety Violations
SEATTLE -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations against VTCU Corp., a manufacturer and renovator of electrical transformers, for alleged safety violations found during inspections at the company's Pocatello, Idaho, facility. The failure to abate, repeat, serious and other-than-serious citations carry proposed penalties totaling $211,200.

The inspections were initiated following complaints OSHA received and as follow-up to an inspection OSHA conducted in 2005 that found numerous violations resulting in citations issued to VTCU Corp.

The failure to abate citation alleges that inadequate load testing of cranes, for which the corporation was originally cited in 2005, had not been corrected. The repeat citations allege violations related to deficiencies in information and training on hazardous materials, walkways, combustible waste, personal protective equipment, cranes, slings and electrical hazards.

The serious citations were issued for inadequate lockout/tagout procedures to render machinery inoperable during maintenance and repair, as well as insufficient emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and housekeeping, and hazards associated with flammable liquids, confined space entry, personal protective equipment, cranes, hoisting units, electrical, slings, machine guarding and welding.

The other-than-serious citation alleges violations of standards for fire extinguishers and sanitation.

VTCU Corp. has 15 working days following receipt of the citations to contest the violations or request a meeting with OSHA to discuss the violation notices, including methods of correction, length of abatement periods and proposed penalties.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Labels: Industrial Safety, LOTO, OSHA Fines

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has a comprehensive web page of lockout / blockout information. It is titled "Lockout/Blockout Methods & Sample Procedures" and is available in both english and spanish.

The page begins with an introductory section that, using actual examples of accidents, shows how people can be injured or killed in unexpected ways, when proper lockout/block procedures are not followed. It then goes on to cover the following topics, including providing specific examples of forms and procedures:

Equipment Survey:
Identifying & Labeling the Energy Disconnecting Means
Methods of Locking Out Controls

Lockout Procedure Requirement
Locks, Blocks, & Accident Prevention Tags
Written Standard Operating Procedure

Testing Equipment During Lockout
Restoring Equipment to Service
Sample Safety Permit
Sample Lockout Procedure

Lockout/Blockout Applicable Safety Orders

Labels: Industrial Safety, LOTO

The CDC has placed the lockout / tagout procedures developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers online. They are available free for anyone to use as a reference. If you are developing lockout / tagout procedures for your facility this is a good resource to use as a starting point... or even directly copy.

The procedures are in section 12 of the procedures manual in a section titled: Control of Hazardous Enery (Lockout/Tagout). Use this link: http:///www.cdec.gov/eLCOSH/docs/d0100/d000100/pdfs/SECTION12-V2-final.pdf

Labels: LOTO

Looking at the top ten most-violated OSHA standards, based on OSHA citations issued from October 2004 through August 2005, lockout/tagout was the fifth most-cited offense.

An article in the July issue of EC&M magazine, titled "Tag — You're Out!", addresses this issue. This short article features a quiz to help you evaluate your lock out/tag out knowledge.

Read the article at: EC&M Magazine

Labels: LOTO