Safe Workplace and Safety News

OSHA has cited BP North American Inc. and BP-Husky Refining LLC's refinery in Oregon, Ohio, with 42 alleged willful violations, including 39 on a per-instance basis, and 20 alleged serious violations for exposing workers to a variety of hazards including failure to provide adequate pressure relief for process units. Proposed penalties total $3,042,000.

"OSHA has found that BP often ignored or severely delayed fixing known hazards in its refineries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "There is no excuse for taking chances with people's lives. BP must fix the hazards now."

OSHA began its inspection at the refinery located near Toledo, Ohio, in September 2009 as part of the agency's Refinery National Emphasis Program and as a follow-up to a 2006 inspection and a 2007 settlement agreement between OSHA and BP at this location. Although the 2009 inspection found that BP had complied with the settlement agreement, OSHA found numerous violations at the plant not previously covered by the agreement.

The inspection revealed that workers were exposed to serious injury and death in the event of a release of flammable and explosive materials in the refinery because of numerous conditions constituting violations of OSHA's process safety management standard. OSHA has issued willful citations for numerous failures to provide adequate pressure relief for process units, failures to provide safeguards to prevent the hazardous accumulation of fuel in process heaters, and exposing workers to injury and death from collapse of or damage, in the event of a fire, to nine buildings in the refinery. Additional willful citations allege various other violations of OSHA's standard addressing process safety management. These citations carry proposed penalties totaling $2,940,000.

The serious citations address a variety of other hazards, including violations of other requirements of the process safety management standard. These carry proposed penalties totaling $102,000.

Since 1991, this refinery has been inspected 12 times. Nationally, BP Products North American has been inspected by OSHA 44 times at various sites and is facing pending cases in which 439 willful citations and failure-to-abate notices were issued to its Texas City Refinery as a result of a 2009 inspection. Proposed penalties in those pending cases total $87 million, the largest penalties by far ever proposed by OSHA. BP's Texas City Refinery experienced a devastating explosion and fire in 2005 that killed 15 workers and injured 170. A large portion of the penalties proposed for the Texas City Refinery results from OSHA's allegations that BP failed to fully live up to a settlement agreement entered into after the explosion. BP has contested the citations, notifications of failure-to-abate and the proposed penalties in those cases.

BP North American Inc. operates and jointly owns the refinery with Canadian-based Husky Energy Inc. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an information conference with the OSHA area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

The following provides a breakdown ofthe citations and proposed OSHA penalties:

Toledo Refinery Citations and Proposed Penalties

Forty-two willful citations with proposed penalties totaling $2,940,000 are proposed as follows:

1. Thirty-eight (38) per-instance, willful citations with penalties totaling $2,660,000 allege as follows:
   1. Twenty-six instances allege deficient pressure relief, a violation of 29 CFR parts 1910.119(d)(3) and 1910.119(j)(5), with total penalties of $1,820,000;
   2. Three instances allege the lack of flame-out protection on heaters and a furnace, a violation of 29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3), with total penalties of $210,000; and
   3. Nine instances allege facility-siting hazards, a violation of 29 CFR 1910.119(e)(5), with total penalties of $630,000.
2. Four willful citations with penalties totaling $280,000, allege as follows:
   1. Lack of pressure vessel information, a violation of 29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3), with a penalty of $70,000;
   2. Cross-connections between fire-emergency water supplies and process systems, a violation of 29 CFR parts 1910.119(d)(3) and 1910.119(e)(5), with a penalty of $70,000;
   3. Failure to conduct thickness measurements at designated test sites and as required at the flare header, a violation of 29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(ii), with a penalty of $70,000; and
   4. Failure to conduct thickness measurements in accordance with RAGAGEP, a violation of 29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iii), with a penalty of $70,000.

Twenty serious citations with total penalties of $102,000 allege the following failures: to support pipes properly; to maintain heat transfer information for refractory-lined vessels; to assure the accuracy of P&IDs, the maintenance of pressure vessel nameplates, and proper documentation of pressure relief design information; to document implementation of the vessel grounding program; to assure that car-sealing practices were used for intervening valves; to password protect safety instrumented systems; to assure that PHAs addressed combustion safeguards, pressure relief, and human factors, and reflected updated layer of protection analysis and safety integrity levels; to establish and to implement a written program for refinery valve car-seal procedures; to consult employees on the frequency of refresher training; to implement procedures for operating limits changes and other matters; to investigate contamination of the fire-water system; to include contributing factors and recommendations in accident investigation reports; to audit a statistically significant number of pressure vessels, piping and instrument controls during compliance audits; to assure that LOTO procedures were implemented during burner maintenance; to assure that LOTO devices were applied during service and maintenance; and to assure that electric lighting equipment was appropriate for hazardous atmosphere classifications.

Three other-than-serious citations with $0.00 penalties allege deficiencies in the preparation of the PSM employee participation plan and incident/accident investigation.

Labels: OSHA Citations, workplace fatalities

The 2009 data on the top ten violations of OSHA standards, as well as the top ten OSHA fines in 2009 is available in a new report from Graphic Products. Use this link to get your free copy: Top Ten OSHA Serious Violations.

But... what was the underlying cause?

A new study released today by VitalSmarts found that five threats to workers’ safety are commonly left undiscussed and lead to avoidable injury or fatalities.

The study, named Silent Danger: The Five Crucial Conversations that Drive Workplace Safety, surveyed more than 1,600 frontline workers, managers, and safety directors across 30 safety-conscious organizations in 2009.

According to the data, 93 percent of employees say their company is currently at risk and nearly half are aware of an injury or death caused by one of five avoidable workplace dangers. However, despite being aware of these five threats, only one in four employees speaks up and tries to correct unsafe conditions.

"Silent Danger shows the tragic secret behind most workplace injuries is that someone is aware of the threat well in advance, but is either unwilling or unable to speak up," said Joseph Grenny, co-founder of VitalSmarts and leading researcher of the study. "The greatest dangers to workplace safety are the norms, habits, and assumptions embedded in our corporate cultures that stifle employees’ ability to speak up and confront unsafe practices."

Each of the five threats to workplace safety outlined in Silent Danger was identified as being costly, common, and undiscussable. The five threats are:

* Get It Done: Unsafe practices that are justified by tight deadlines.
* Undiscussable Incompetence: Unsafe practices that stem from skill deficits that can’t be discussed.
* Just This Once: Unsafe practices that are justified as exceptions to the rule.
* This Is Overboard: Unsafe practices that bypass precautions considered excessive.
* Are You a Team Player? Unsafe practices that are justified for the good of the team, company, or customer.

However, not all employees remained silent bystanders when confronted with these and similar threats. A small minority, ranging from 25 to 28 percent, say they are able to speak up effectively in these crucial moments and address unsafe conditions. More than 82 percent of this vocal minority says that when they speak up, their actions result in a safer work environment for everyone.

Grenny says additional training, safety audits, and other tools, while important, will never be enough to create a truly safe environment.

"The reason we are seeing safety improvements begin to stall is not because the systems and policies we have implemented don’t work, it's because people don’t speak up and hold one another accountable," says Grenny. "Accidents in the workplace will not be prevented until senior leaders eradicate cultures of silence."

Grenny outlines recommendations senior leaders can follow for teaching their employees to speak up in crucial moments. One year after implementing Grenny’s recommendations, Pride International, an offshore drilling contractor, decreased its total incident rate by 55 percent and reported zero accidents that required employees to miss time on the job.

The full Silent Danger research results and recommendations for leaders are available for download at www.vitalsmarts.com/safety.

About the Silent Danger Study

In early 2009, VitalSmarts began identifying ways to improve workplace safety incidents that led to 4 million injuries and 5,600 deaths per year. The Silent Danger study began with interviews and focus groups with 130 people from eight organizations. Trends unveiled in the interviews were verified through a survey administered to 1,500 employees from 22 organizations to test the impact communication breakdowns had on workplace safety. Full results available at www.vitalsmarts.com/safety.

Labels: Free Safety Guides, workplace fatalities, workplace injuries, workplace safety

OSHA has fined the C.A. Franc construction company $539,000 following the investigation of a roofing worker who fell 40 feet to his death at a Washington worksite. The Valencia, Pa.-based roof installer – whose owner is Christopher A. Franc – was cited for 10 per instance willful citations for failing to protect workers from falls.

"Mr. Franc knowingly and willfully failed to protect his workers from falling to their death," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "Despite repeated requests from workers that he provide fall protection, on this step roof, Mr. Franc refused to provide readily available protection. We will not tolerate this type of blatant and egregious disregard for the health and safety of workers."

OSHA began its investigation immediately following the worker's death on Aug. 15, 2009, and found the C.A. Franc company had failed to provide any fall protection to its employees working on a pitched roof 40 feet off the ground. In addition, Mr. Franc failed to train a newly hired college student in hazards and the necessary safety measures for roofing work. As a result of the investigation, the company has been cited for 10 alleged per-instance willful violations, one for each employee working unprotected on the roof, with a proposed penalty of $490,000, and one additional alleged willful violation for failing to train the new employee, with a penalty of $49,000.

General contractor Hospitality Builders Inc. also has been cited with one willful violation and a proposed penalty of $70,000 for failing to ensure that C.A. Franc workers had fall protection.

"This fall fatality was one of five that occurred during a 15-day span in the Pittsburgh area," said John M. Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Philadelphia, Pa. "Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. Failure to provide employees with fall protection is unconscionable. We urge construction companies to take the necessary action to ensure their workers are protected."

OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health. Detailed information about fall hazards and safeguards is available on OSHA’s Web site at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/construction.html.

Labels: Construction / Installation, Construction Safety, fall protection, workplace fatalities

OSHA yesterday today issued proposed penalties against CES Environmental Services Inc. for willful and serious violations after an investigation into a fatal explosion at the company's Griggs Road facility in Houston. The proposed penalties total $1,477,500.

In July 2009, an employee cleaning a tank was killed in an explosion when an altered piece of equipment ignited flammable vapors inside the tank. The fatality was the third death in less than a year at this employer's facilities; two hydrogen sulfide exposure-related deaths at a related facility, Port Arthur Chemical & Environmental Services LLC (PACES), occurred in December 2008 and April 2009.

"Proper precaution prevents deaths," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Employers should take steps to eliminate hazards and provide a safe working environment for their workers. That is the law."

Based on the most recent investigation, OSHA has issued 15 willful citations with proposed penalties totaling $1,050,000, alleging that 15 pieces of electrical equipment were unsafe to use in the tank wash area due to the presence of flammable and combustible vapors. Two additional willful citations with proposed penalties totaling $125,000 have been issued. One alleges that CES failed to ventilate tanks in which employees were working, exposing the workers to toxic atmospheric hazards. The other alleges that CES stored flammable and reactive chemicals together, which posed fire and explosion hazards.

In addition, OSHA has issued 54 serious violations with proposed penalties totaling $302,500. These include allegations that CES failed to implement all aspects of the process safety management standard; provide proper respiratory protection, confined space rescue equipment and adequate fall protection; properly install and maintain boiler equipment; implement an emergency response plan, and adequate energy control procedures; train powered industrial truck operators; guard and to anchor machinery adequately; store compressed gas cylinders safely; and label hazardous chemicals.

A willful citation is characterized by an employer's intentional disregard of the standards or plain indifference to employee safety and health. A violation is characterized as serious when death or serious physical harm could result if an accident were to occur as the result of a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

OSHA previously cited PACES following the Dec.18, 2008 and the April 14, 2009, fatalities and proposed penalties of $16,600 and $207,800, respectively. Both of those fatalities occurred in Port Arthur, Texas. Those citations were contested and are being litigated before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. CES and PACES together employ 155 workers. CES has 15 business days from receipt of the latest citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent review commission.

Labels: OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines, workplace fatalities

Accidents don't take a break for the holiday. It's our job to be sure our employees, and their families, don't have heart-breaking Christmas.

Just in today's news for Massachusetts:

The Eagle-Tribune in North Andover, MA reports that one worker died and other was injured in fall from roof. They were repairing a roof on a residential home.

The Sun-Chronicle in Attleboro, MA reports an employee of a local trucking company was killed in an apparent accident when he was pinned between a forklift and cement pole.

Stay alert. Always be thinking. Don't take shortcuts. Don't assume. Be safe!

Labels: workplace fatalities

This time of year I wonder whether I should stay on the lighter side and "be happy." In past years I've used the last week of the year to focus on posts about new videos I've run into throughout the year. But... yes there is a but, I'm struck by the number of fatal accidents I'm reading about in today's news reports. I wonder if instead of just being happy for the holidays, there should be an extra emphasis on safety... just so we don't lose our focus, miss a detail and someone gets hurt or killed.

There's a line in the following story, dated December 22nd, that bothers me.

In an apparent freak accident, a construction worker was killed by slabs of granite in a New York City construction supply store.

The New York Post reports that the 47-year-old man was killed when a number of the heavy slabs used to make bathroom and kitchen countertops fell on him, with one striking him in the head.

What bothers me is that the story quotes David Perecman, a New York personal injury attorney, as saying: "There are so many ways and means people can be injured. Some, like this one practically defy categorization. However an injury accident is an injury accident and if the workplace is at fault, the family of the victim deserves rightful compensation for the death. Was it a fluke accident or was it due to a lack of safety regulations?"

Are there any "fluke" accidents? By that I mean, are there accidents that are just going to happen and nothing could have been done to prevent them? Maybe from an attorney's perspective there are fluke accidents, but from a safety point of view I don't think there are fluke accidents. I'll grant that there may be what are called acts of God (an unexpected high wind blows over a tree, for example), but that's the exception to the rule.

What do you think?

Labels: safety management, workplace fatalities, workplace injuries

OSHA has cited Northern Wind Inc., a New Bedford, Mass., seafood processor, for 23 alleged violations of workplace safety standards after a worker was killed on May 4 when he became caught in the moving parts of a large industrial ice-making machine that activated while he was performing maintenance work inside it.

OSHA found that the plant lacked specific steps and procedures to power down and lock out the ice machine's power source before employees entered it. The agency's investigation also found that workers were not trained to recognize and address the hazard of the machine operating without warning. In addition, the plant lacked a program and employee training for working in confined spaces, such as the ice machine, and ladders were not available to ensure safe entry and exit from the ice machine.

"This is exactly the type of grave accident that OSHA's hazardous energy control, or 'lockout/tagout' standard, is designed to prevent," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA's area director for southeastern Massachusetts. "For the safety of their workers, employers must always ensure that machinery is powered down and its power sources locked out before workers perform maintenance. Employers must also ensure that workers are properly trained for work in confined spaces."

Additionally, OSHA's inspection identified unmarked exit doors and a lack of emergency exit route lighting, no eyewash or drenching facilities for employees working with corrosive chemicals, a lack of material safety data sheets and chemical hazard communication training, unguarded open-sided floors, a missing safety latch on a hoisting hook and several electrical-related hazards.

All told, these conditions resulted in the issuance of 19 serious citations, with $62,800 in proposed fines. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known. The company also has been fined $4,000 for four other-than-serious hazards, including incomplete recording of injuries and illnesses. The combined penalties total $66,800.

Northern Wind Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Braintree Area Office; telephone 617-565-6924. Detailed information on hazardous energy control, including an interactive e-Tool, is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/index.html.

Labels: LOTO, OSHA Citations, workplace fatalities

OSHA has cited Loren Cook Co. of Springfield, MO with seven alleged willful and three alleged serious violations after Charles Knapp, 59, of Walnut Grove, MO was killed on May 13, 2009 when a piece of metal was ejected from a machine and hit him in the head.

"Loren Cook Co. willfully allowed its employees to work on dangerous equipment without safeguarding the machinery and exposed workers to debris ejected while operating manual spinning lathes," said acting Assistant Secretary for OSHA Jordan Barab. "It is imperative that employers take steps to eliminate hazards and provide a safe working environment."

Seven instance-by-instance willful citations at $70,000 each are proposed for failing to guard seven manual spinning lathes, with a total proposed willful penalty of $490,000. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

Three serious citations with penalties totaling $21,000 are proposed for a lack of adequate personal protective equipment for workers' faces, extremities and hands. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which an employer knew or should have known.

The proposed fines total $511,000.

Loren Cook manufactures industrial ventilation equipment and employs approximately 800 workers, with about 580 located at the Springfield site and the remainder at a North Carolina site.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Kansas City, MO., or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Labels: OSHA Citations, workplace fatalities

The following is the report from the Bureau Of Labor Statistics. The bad news in this report is that workplace fatalities among 16 & 17 year old workers increased.

A total of 5,071 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2008, down from a total of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported for 2007. While the 2008 results are preliminary, this figure represents the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program
was first conducted in 1992. Final results for 2008 will be released in April 2010.

Based on these preliminary counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. workers in 2008 was 3.6 fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 in 2007.

Key findings of the 2008 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

- Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector in 2008 declined by 20 percent from the updated 2007 total, twice the all-worker decline of 10 percent.
- Fatal workplace falls, which had risen to a series high in 2007, also declined by 20 percent in 2008.
- Workplace suicides were up 28 percent to a series high of 251 cases in 2008, but workplace homicides declined 18 percent in 2008.
- The number and rate of fatal work injuries among 16 to 17 year-old workers were higher in 2008.
- Fatal occupational injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers in 2008 were 17 percent lower than in 2007. Fatalities among non-Hispanic Black or African American workers were down 16 percent.
- The number of fatal workplace injuries in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations rose 6 percent in 2008 after declining in 2007.
- Transportation incidents, which accounted for approximately two-fifths of all the workplace fatalities in 2008, fell 13 percent from the previous series low of 2,351 cases reported in 2007.

In June of 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics introduced improved fatality rates for the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The new rates, based on hours worked as opposed to employment, are considered to be more accurate in measuring the risk of dying from an injury on the job. Further information on the rates is available at: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm. Hours-based rates for years 2006 through 2008 and employment-based rates for years 1992 through 2007 can be found at: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.

Economic factors likely played a role in the fatality decrease. Average hours worked at the national level fell by one percent in 2008, and some industries that have historically accounted for a significant share of worker fatalities, such as construction, experienced larger declines in employment or hours worked.

In addition to the impact of declining employment, another factor that should be considered when reviewing these preliminary results is how the economy may have impacted the government agencies that provide source documents used in the compilation of CFOI data. Budget constraints at some of these governmental agencies may have delayed the receipt and processing of the documents that are used by our State partners to classify and code CFOI cases.

The average net increase in CFOI cases as a result of updates over the past two years has been 153 cases, but the updated 2008 counts scheduled for release in April 2010 have the potential to be larger because of these delays.

Profile of 2008 fatal work injuries by type of incident

- Most types of transportation fatalities saw decreases in 2008 relative to 2007, including highway incidents (down 19 percent); railway incidents (down 31 percent); workers struck by vehicle or mobile equipment (down 7 percent); and nonhighway incidents such as tractor overturns (down 4 percent). Aircraft-related
fatalities were higher in 2008 (189 incidents in 2008, up from 174 incidents in 2007), as were water vehicle incidents.

- The 680 fatal falls in 2008 represent a 20 percent decline from the series high of 847 fatal falls in 2007. Fatal falls to a lower level, which accounted for 85 percent of all falls, were down 23 percent in 2008. Fatal falls from roofs were down 26 percent and falls from ladders decreased by 14 percent. The number of fatal falls on same level (to a floor or walkway or against an object) increased slightly in 2008.

- Workplace suicides rose from 196 cases in 2007 to 251 cases in 2008, an increase of 28 percent and the highest number ever reported by the fatality census. Suicides among protective service occupations rose from 14 in 2007 to 25 in 2008. Workplace homicides fell by 18 percent in 2008. Overall, the 2008 preliminary workplace homicide count (517 workplace homicides) represents a decline of 52 percent from the high of 1,080 homicides reported in 1994.

- The number of fatal work injuries involving fires and explosions was up 14 percent in 2008; fatalities involving contact with objects or equipment were also up slightly in 2008.

Labels: hazard identifcation, workplace fatalities

A thirteen story building in Shanhai, China tipped over on Saturday, remaining almost intact. One worker was killed. The initial investigation found the building tipped over after workers dug underneath it to put in an underground garage.

Read about it on Yahoo News' Asia News.

Labels: Construction / Installation, Construction Safety, workplace fatalities

The Bureau Of Labor Statistics reports a continuing decline in the rate of fatal work injuries.

The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries has produced comprehensive counts and rates of fatal work injuries since 1992. The census shows that the rate of fatal work injuries declined between 1992 and 2007, with much of the decline occurring during the first 10 years of the period.

(The latest data available is for 2007. Preliminary fatality data for 2008 will be released in August 2009.) A total of 5,657 workers were fatally injured on the job in 2007.



Differing Rates of Fatal Work Injuries by Age

While the overall rate of fatal work injuries was 3.8 per 100,000 workers in 2007, there were differences in fatality rates by age. Workers age 45 and older had above-average fatality rates while those younger than 45 had below-average rates. Differences were most notable among the youngest and oldest age groups. Fatality rates are expressed in terms of employed workers and not adjusted for hours worked.

Labor laws prohibit the youngest workers from being employed in many hazardous occupations; in addition, the youngest workers typically work part time. In contrast to younger workers, workers age 65 and over may be more likely to be employed in certain occupations with higher-than-average fatality rates. For example, farmers and ranchers have an above-average fatality rate, and in 2007 over 25 percent of farmers and ranchers were 65 and over, whereas 4 percent of all workers were 65 and over (both of these employment figures are from the Current Population Survey). Also, older workers may be less likely to survive a severe workplace injury.


The above information is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report on worker safety and health. read the complete report on the BLS web site.

Labels: Department Of Labor, workplace fatalities

With the goal of working together to provide expertise in developing information on prevention and recognition of workplace hazards and ways of communicating this information to employers and employees, the American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) Greater Baton Rouge Chapter and the OSHA Baton Rouge Area Office recently formed a formal alliance. The alliance aims to provide occupational safety, health and environmental professionals' access to additional training resources as they work to enhance employees' safety and health.

The alliance came about following a number of on-the-job deaths the OSHA Baton Rouge Area office investigated within the past three years which involved specific hazards. As such, the new alliance will target these hazards which include falls, combustible dusts, trenching/excavation, 'struck-by' object hazards associated with local petro-chemical and construction industries, and more.

The alliance training and education goals include working together to develop training and education programs for general and construction industries regarding fall hazards, combustible dust, trenching and excavation hazards, as well as struck-by object hazards and to communicate such information to employers and employees in those industries.

To raise awareness of workplace safety and health issues, another goal of the alliance, is to convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings on PPE, fall hazards, trenching/excavation, struck-by hazards, forklifts as well as community outreach to help build innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues. In the future, these events will be held locally at either OSHA's office in Baton Rouge or an ASSE chapter officer's place of business and will be posted on the ASSE Baton Rouge web site.

"Although we have long had a great working relationship with our local OSHA office, we felt that the alliance formally acknowledges our common goals and will allow us to pool our resources together to accomplish these goals--all aimed at enhancing workplace safety for all," said ASSE Greater Baton Rouge Chapter President Lance Roux, CSP. "We are excited about this milestone in our chapter’s history and look forward to working closely with our local OSHA office during the year ahead."

The two-year alliance agreement will be led by a team of representative from each organization who will meet three times per year to track and share information on activities and status of goals.

The ASSE Greater Baton Rouge (GBR) chapter's 250 members are safety leaders in local industry, small business, and public sectors. The GBR chapter provides professional development to members, safety education to the public, and safety recommendations to legislative bodies. For more information on the alliance or the GBR chapter visit http://gbr.asse.org.

Labels: ASSE, workplace fatalities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday that a total of 5,488 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2007, a decrease of 6 percent from the 5,840 fatal work injuries reported for 2006. While these results are considered preliminary, this figure represents the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 1992. Final results for 2007 will be released in April 2009.

Thirty States reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 2007 than in 2006, 19 States and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers, and one State was unchanged.

Based on these preliminary counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. workers in 2007 was 3.7 fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 per 100,000 workers in 2006, and the lowest annual fatality rate ever reported by the fatality census.

The four occupations with the highest fatality rates were:

• Fishers and related fishing workers with a fatality rate of 111.8 per 100,000 workers


• Logging workers (86.4)


• Aircraft pilots and flight engineers (66.7)


• Structural iron and steel workers (45.5)

Key findings of the 2007 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

• The number of fatal falls in 2007 rose to a series high of 835--a 39 percent increase since 1992 when the CFOI program was first conducted.


• Transportation incidents, which typically account for two-fifths of all workplace fatalities, fell to a series low of 2,234 cases in 2007.


• Workplace homicides rose 13 percent to 610 in 2007 after reaching a series low of 540 in 2006.


• The number of fatal workplace injuries among protective service occupations rose 19 percent in 2007 to 337, led by an increase in the number of police officers fatally injured on the job.


• Fatal occupational injuries incurred by non-Hispanic Black or African American workers were at the highest level since 1999, but fatal work injuries among Hispanic workers were lower by 8 percent in 2007.

More information is available on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics web site at: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm

Labels: employment, workplace fatalities

An article in today's San Fransisco Chronicle is titled "Worker crushed at South San Francisco asphalt plant". The article states:

"A worker at a South San Francisco asphalt plant was killed Wednesday when the machine he was repairing turned on and crushed him, authorities said today.

'It looks like an industrial accident, but we have to make sure all the T's are crossed and everything,' said South San Francisco police Sgt. Joni Lee."

What bothers me is the statement "it looks like an industrial accident." There is no such thing as an accident. If you read the article the cause of the "accident" is clear. Proper Lockout/Tagout procedures were not used prior to starting the work. I understand the police officer is looking at this from the perspective of whether or not a police investigation is needed. But still, this is an "accident" that could easily have been prevented. When it comes to safety, there is no such thing as an accident.

Labels: workplace fatalities, workplace safety

News from Australia concerns the dangers of high pressure water lances. The Illawarra Mercury News reports on the death of a worker using a high pressure water lance and the supsequent union ban on the use of similar equipment. The article reports:

"Mr Kolomaka, 39, died after he was hit in the chest by an ultra high-pressure stream of water while cleaning a catchment sump at BlueScope's Springhill site last Thursday.

Wollongong Police Inspector Mark Lavers said Mr Kolomaka lost control of the hose while breaking up sediment at the bottom of a large pit in an area known as the 21 Dump.

'His colleague was standing 5m to 7m behind him controlling the water flow by a foot-activated pedal,' Insp Lavers said."

Do you see anything wrong with what happened as described above? Use this link to read the entire article.

Labels: Construction Safety, Industrial Safety, workplace fatalities, workplace safety

The following is a press release from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 7-11)

Washington, D.C. — In 2006, 1,010 people were killed in roadway work zone crashes. According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, more than 1,000 people are killed and 45,000 injured annually in roadway construction zones accidents. The facility released the statistics today as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is aimed at drawing greater public attention to this serious—and often overlooked—public health issue.

A newly redesigned and comprehensive state-of-the-art website contains a wealth of information dedicated to improving safety in these sites for both motorists and workers. Transportation design, construction and safety executives, public officials, the news media and general public are encouraged to check out www.workzonesafety.org to find:

• “Best practice,” information
• Accident and crash data
• Key safety engineer contact information
• Laws and regulations
• Public education campaigns
• Training and conferences
• Research and publications
• Spanish language material

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) designed the Internet site under a contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

ARTBA-TDF has another unique program aimed at putting a “public face” on the safety risks associated with road construction zones. Established in 1999 with a generous contribution from brothers Jack and Stan Lanford, two Virginia highway contractors and past ARTBA chairmen, the “Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship” provides post-high school financial assistance to the children of highway workers who have been killed or permanently disabled on the job.

More than 50 scholarships have been given to worthy students from around the country. The program is the ARTBA Foundation’s modest way of giving something back to the families who lost loved ones in work zone accidents.

Check out this special video to learn more about how you can help support the scholarship.

For further information about any of ARTBA’s safety and training programs, contact Brad Sant at 202-289-4434.

Labels: Construction Safety, workplace fatalities

As I read the news across the internet a topic I have not covered here has been what appears to be a growing discontent with OSHA's enforcement activities, or perceived lack of enforcement activities. This has seemed to me to be more of a political issue than a safety issue. I've wondered whether the type and the tone of attacks on OSHA will change after this November's election.

However, an article in yesterday's Las Vegas Sun, called "OSHA Goes Easy", highlights a growing problem for OSHA, and for safety professionals. I suggest reading the article and all of the comments added by Las Vega Sun readers. There is also a video included as a part of the article. The caption for the video reads:

"For family members featured in this video, the light response from government authorities has compounded the mourning process. Others wonder: Is safety sacrificed in the rush to build? CityCenter developer MGM Mirage says no. 'We’re very concerned about safety in everything we do, whether it’s a room remodel or something as enormous and complex as CityCenter,' MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said. 'For the number of people on the site and the amount of activity going on, we can be very proud of the fact that we have a very safe environment in which to work.'"

I find Mr. Feldman's statement to be disturbing. It as though he is saying that if you have a large number of people on a job site, then some accidents and even a death are acceptable. Hopefully that is not what he meant.

But what about OSHA's finding and reduction of the fine? What most of the public does not understand is that the level of an OSHA fine is not intended to provide punishment for a death, it is intended to reflect the seriousness of the hazard and how the company has responded both in the past and present. But, as this article shows, that's not what the public sees.

What do you think? Has OSHA's focus on programs such as VPP been a good thing or should they be putting more emphasis on enforcement and imposing fines? Please feel free to add your comments here.

Labels: Construction Safety, OSHA Fines, politics, workplace fatalities

"In the roofing industry, opportunities for crisis—in the form of employee injuries or fatalities—present themselves more often than in most other industries. According to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics Data, 100 roofing workers were killed in occupation-related incidents during 2006, 80 from falls alone."

The above is the opening paragraph from an article from Professional Roofing Magazine by Ashley St. John, that is called "Roofing contractors share how they handled job-site fatalities." The article describes two fatal accidents and how managers responded.

The last third of the article is dedicated to describing how to create a crisis-management plan for your company. The article states:

"As is evidenced by Baxter's and Gooding's accounts, confronting a severe injury or fatality can be one of the most stressful situations you ever will encounter. Having a written crisis-management plan already in place is key to helping you face the pressures presented during this chaotic time."

The article then presents a summary of the National Roofing Contractors Association recommendations. These are recommendations I think apply in any industry.

Labels: Construction / Installation, Construction Safety, fall protection, workplace fatalities

What would we read if we looked at news about workplace accidents published in the last few days? Here are a few links to news stories published in the past two days.

Feds investigate DeLand industrial accident: "An accident at a manufacturing plant that left a worker without a leg is under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration, an agency official said Wednesday."

Hastings man dies in AGP plant accident: "A Hastings man is dead after an early morning accident at the AGP plant east of town. The Adams County Attorney's Office says the man is 36–year–old Robert Grant Ervie, an employee at AGP."

Nevada OSHA Probing Death At Cosmopolitan Site On Las Vegas Strip: "Nevada state Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating after a construction worker found dead at a construction site on the Las Vegas Strip. Workers at the Cosmopolitan tower construction site reported finding Taylor's body about 8:30 p.m. Monday."

Worker's Hand Caught In Industrial Press: "A worker was hospitalized with trauma after his hand became trapped in a machine Wednesday morning in the West Side's Garfield Park neighborhood."

Worker Killed In Construction Accident At Trump Building In SoHo: "A construction worker was killed Monday afternoon when portions of a scaffold collapsed at the construction site of the Trump SoHo building at Varick and Spring Streets."

Some particularly sad news comes from today's issue of the Air Force Times about the death of a young child resulting from "workplace complacency." - Toddler death at Tyndall ruled an accident.

Labels: workplace fatalities, workplace safety

Occupational Hazards Magazine's #4 top story of 2007 is: Congressman Launches Workplace Fatality Map.

I read the above title and did not have a clue as to what the story was about. The first paragraph explains:

"Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chose to honor America's workers on Labor Day by launching an interactive online map that tracks the location, employer, date, cause of death and name of every worker killed on the job."

What they have done is used Google Maps and marked the location of about about 10% of the worker deaths that have occurred in 2007. The article reports: "The dots that appear on the map represent the victims that have died while working on the job within their state. When viewers click on the dots, an information box will appear showing the name of the victim, the company and industry they worked for, the date of the incident and the cause of their death. The map also shows where the incident took place."


It is a sobering reminder of the need to improve workplace safety.

Labels: workplace fatalities