Archive for August, 2011

2 Mines May Be Considered Pattern Offenders

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
The Mine Safety and Health Administration cited Inman Energy’s Randolph Mine and Independence Coal Co.’s Justice No. 1 Mine. Both Boone County operations were owned by Massey Energy ( MEE – news – people ) and now belong to Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources Inc.
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MSHA says neither got a potential pattern violator notice during a screening round in November, but both were since audited.
An administrative law judge ordered Alpha to supply records for five mines, including Randolph and Justice. The audit showed those two mines had failed to report or inaccurately reported 24 injuries.
MSHA also said that since June 23, it has been fining St. Louis-based Peabody Energy ( BTU – news – people ) $4,000 for failing to provide information needed to audit its Air Quality No. 1 Mine in Knox County, Ind. Those fines will continue to accrue until the data is presented, the agency said.
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In all, 39 mines were subjected to MSHA auditing. Maple Coal Co., which underreported injuries at its Maple Eagle No. 1 Mine, was subsequently moved to potential pattern violator status. Maple Coal is owned by Western Coal of British Columbia.

MSHA has recently warned two West Virginian mines that they run the risk of being labeled pattern offenders for failing to report various accidents that have occurred on their sites.

From Forbes:

The Mine Safety and Health Administration cited Inman Energy’s Randolph Mine and Independence Coal Co.’s Justice No. 1 Mine. Both Boone County operations were owned by Massey Energy ( MEE – news – people ) and now belong to Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources Inc.

MSHA says neither got a potential pattern violator notice during a screening round in November, but both were since audited.

An administrative law judge ordered Alpha to supply records for five mines, including Randolph and Justice. The audit showed those two mines had failed to report or inaccurately reported 24 injuries.

MSHA also said that since June 23, it has been fining St. Louis-based Peabody Energy ( BTU – news – people ) $4,000 for failing to provide information needed to audit its Air Quality No. 1 Mine in Knox County, Ind. Those fines will continue to accrue until the data is presented, the agency said.

In all, 39 mines were subjected to MSHA auditing. Maple Coal Co., which underreported injuries at its Maple Eagle No. 1 Mine, was subsequently moved to potential pattern violator status. Maple Coal is owned by Western Coal of British Columbia.

Submitted by Andrew Fatato

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Posted in Health and Safety, MSHA | No Comments »

OH&S to Host Web Event on Wed.

Monday, August 29th, 2011

downloadOnline and print publication Occupational Health & Safety is set to host a virtual conference on Wed. 8/31 from 9 am – 5 pm. They just released the five key topics to be discussed by industry experts, which include sleep apnea, gas detection problems, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA safety measurement system, crane safety mistakes, and the elimination of slips and falls. Registration is free, and experts will be taking questions from conference attendees.

From OH&S:

The five topics on which the OH&S Aug. 31 virtual event is focused are pulled straight from today’s headlines. Beginning with the sleep apnea keynote presentation at 9:30 a.m. CDT, the event’s live webinars address how to solve gas detection problems, master the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA safety measurement system, prevent costly crane safety mistakes, and eliminate slips and falls.

Presenters will share their expertise on these topics and offer solutions. They will take questions from the audience and have been invited to visit the Lounge during the event to chat with attendees. Fifteen companies are exhibiting in the Expo Hall, including the two companies where the CSA and gas detection webinar presenters work, giving attendees an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about those and the other exhibitors’ offerings.

Planning on attending? Share your experiences with us after the event!

Submitted by Patrick McQueen

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Posted in Health and Safety | No Comments »

Be Prepared for Hurricane Irene

Friday, August 26th, 2011

imagesWith Hurricane Irene preparing to batter the east coast and with similar storms a possibility before the end of hurricane season, it’s an important time to review the National Hurricane Center’s guidelines for hurricane preparedness. Several videos have been posted on their site, each covering a different threat.

From the NHC, those threats include:

-Storm surge

-Wind damage

-Inland flooding

-Lack of teamwork

-Lack of plan

Help to minimize the damage cause by Irene by familiarizing yourself with the PSA series and developing a plan with your family.

Submitted by Patrick McQueen

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Posted in Environment, Health and Safety | No Comments »

Clean Air Rights For the Poor

Friday, August 26th, 2011

Civil rights and environmental concerns are starting to mix, according the NAACP, with poor people and minorities more often subjected to dangerous environmental concerns.

From The Pueblo Chieftain:

In the view of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the environment is a serious issue and it’s started a campaign to raise awareness through its chapters around the country.

That was the focus of the quarterly state conference of the NAACP chapters in Pueblo on Saturday.

“Clean air is a civil right and I feel very strongly about that,” said Beatrice Madison, state NAACP president for the past 15 years.  “All the environment evils that are going through our communities,   a   lot   are   going through African-American, minority and poor communities.”

About 50 people from Colorado’s four chapters gathered to hear Jacqui Patterson, NAACP director of Environmental and Climate Justice Program and Gillian Bowser, a research scientist from Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Laboratory.

Read more.

Submitted by Andrew Fatato

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Posted in Environment | No Comments »

2011 USW Convention Wraps Up, Full Coverage Online

Friday, August 19th, 2011

This year’s edition of the USW International Convention has drawn to a close, but if you missed any of the action from Las Vegas, fear not! You can check out many of the highlights from the convention at its online home.

These highlights include coverage of speeches from:

-USW President Leo Gerard

-Actor Danny Glover

-Columnist Bob Herbert

-Rep. Nancy Pelosi

-And many more!

It sure was an exciting week for all involved, so be sure to relive the week and engage with the USW’s groundbreaking new media tools at USW.org.

Submitted by Patrick McQueen

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OSHA Releases Heat-Related Mobile App

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
“Summer heat presents a serious issue that affects some of the most vulnerable workers in our country, and education is crucial to keeping them safe,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Heat-related illnesses are preventable. This new app is just one way the Labor Department is getting that message out.”
The app, available in English and Spanish, combines heat index data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the user’s location to determine necessary protective measures. Based on the risk level of the heat index, the app provides users with information about precautions they make take such as drinking fluids, taking rest breaks and adjusting work operations. Users also can review the signs and symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, and learn about first aid steps to take in an emergency. Information for supervisors is also available through the app on how to gradually build up the workload for new workers as well as how to train employees on heat illness signs and symptoms. Additionally, users can contact OSHA directly through the app.

OSHA, in an effort to help workers stay safe in the hot days of summer, has released a mobile phone application meant to help workers understand the dangers of working in extreme heat and how to protect themselves from it’s potential ill-effects.

From OSHA:

“Summer heat presents a serious issue that affects some of the most vulnerable workers in our country, and education is crucial to keeping them safe,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Heat-related illnesses are preventable. This new app is just one way the Labor Department is getting that message out.”

The app, available in English and Spanish, combines heat index data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the user’s location to determine necessary protective measures. Based on the risk level of the heat index, the app provides users with information about precautions they make take such as drinking fluids, taking rest breaks and adjusting work operations. Users also can review the signs and symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, and learn about first aid steps to take in an emergency. Information for supervisors is also available through the app on how to gradually build up the workload for new workers as well as how to train employees on heat illness signs and symptoms. Additionally, users can contact OSHA directly through the app.

Read more.

Submitted by Andrew Fatato

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Posted in OSHA | No Comments »

MSHA Releases New Tools for Miners

Friday, August 12th, 2011

MSHA has put together a list of rules and responsibilities for miners to help them better protect themselves from dangers in the workplace.

From MSHA:

The Web-based tools include the full text of A Guide to Miners’ Rights and Responsibilities, links to additional information on miners’ rights, an electronic form for filing an anonymous hazard complaint, a discrimination complaint packet, and black lung benefits and resources. A compendium of online videos addresses miners’ concerns about unsafe conditions at the workplace, hiring decisions, how to refuse unsafe work, the role of supervisors, the role of miners’ representatives who travel with federal inspectors, and knowing your rights and responsibilities.
To access the tools, visit MSHA’s website at http://www.msha.gov and select the “Miners’ Rights and Responsibilities” link in the top left corner. The entire training package also is available in CD and DVD formats by submitting a request online; by phone at 304-256-3257; by fax to 304-256-3368; by email to MSHADistributionCenter@dol.gov; or by regular mail to the National Mine Health and Safety Academy Distribution Center, 1301 Airport Road, Beaver, W.Va. 25813-9426.
“All miners, including supervisors and contractors, have the right to identify hazardous conditions and refuse unsafe work without fear of discrimination or retaliation,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Ensuring that miners understand their rights has been a priority of mine since well before I was appointed to this job in 2009. We hope these tools will help give miners the confidence to exercise those rights.”

The Web-based tools include the full text of A Guide to Miners’ Rights and Responsibilities, links to additional information on miners’ rights, an electronic form for filing an anonymous hazard complaint, a discrimination complaint packet, and black lung benefits and resources. A compendium of online videos addresses miners’ concerns about unsafe conditions at the workplace, hiring decisions, how to refuse unsafe work, the role of supervisors, the role of miners’ representatives who travel with federal inspectors, and knowing your rights and responsibilities.

“All miners, including supervisors and contractors, have the right to identify hazardous conditions and refuse unsafe work without fear of discrimination or retaliation,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Ensuring that miners understand their rights has been a priority of mine since well before I was appointed to this job in 2009. We hope these tools will help give miners the confidence to exercise those rights.”

Read more.

Submitted by Andrew Fatato

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Posted in Health and Safety, MSHA | No Comments »

OSHA Lists the Most Severe Violators of Safety Regulations

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

osha-logosvg1OSHA recently published a 4-page PDF that lists the 147 most serious violators of federal safety violations, with many of the companies making the list after violations following preventable worker deaths. The Pump Handle has arranged the information into a useful spreadsheet so employers are sorted by state.

From the Pump Handle:

Getting the SVEP label is not easy.

First, a workplace has to be the subject of a federal or State OSHA inspection. In any given year, less than 1% of worksites will have a vist from a government safety inspector. Second, the employer has to receive citations with violations classified as “willful,” “repeat,” or “failure-to-abate” (W/R/FTA). The vast majority of violations, however, are classified as “serious,” with only about 4% in the W/R/FTA category.

As I wrote when SVEP was announced last year, an employer wouldn’t receive the “severe violator” label because of willful infractions in the past. OSHA is using the SVEP to identify recalcitrant employers for possible future inspections.

Submitted by Patrick McQueen

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Posted in Health and Safety, OSHA | 2 Comments »

Another Preventable Death as Worker Dies in Steel Structure Collapse

Friday, August 5th, 2011

Photo courtesy of San Marcos Daily Record.

One man is dead and another injured following the collapse of an in-construction steel structure in San Marcos, TX earlier this week. The two men were employed by Jetka Steel Erectors on behalf of Thermon Manufacturing. The fatality could have been prevented, as Jetka had been cited for four safety violations by OSHA just three months prior.

From ProPublica:

Less than 90 days earlier, OSHA cited the men’s employer for four serious violations of safety standards and proposed a $12,000 penalty. The violations included failing to provide adequate fall protection with the inspector noting:

“Each employee engaged in a steel erection activity who was on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet (4.6 m) above a lower level was not protected from fall hazards by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems or fall restraints systems.”

The inspector also indicated that Jetka’s employees had not received appropriate training with respect to fall hazards and methods to prevent injuries associated with them.

For additional information on the accident, click here, and click here to read the official penalties handed out by OSHA prior to the accident.

Submitted by Patrick McQueen

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Posted in Health and Safety | No Comments »

OSHA Further Protecting Whistleblowers

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

OSHA has recently taken measures to increase it’s ability to protect whistle-blowers from companies trying to retaliate against them for exposing dangers in the workplace.

From OSHA:

“The ability of workers to speak out and exercise their legal rights without fear of retaliation is crucial to many of the legal protections and safeguards that all Americans value,” said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. “The new measures will significantly strengthen OSHA’s enforcement of the 21 whistleblower laws that Congress charged OSHA with administering.”

The Government Accountability Office audited OSHA’s whistleblower program in 2009 and 2010, highlighting challenges related to transparency and accountability, training for investigators and managers, and the internal communications and audit program. OSHA also conducted an internal review that examined national and regional program structures, operational procedures, investigative processes, budget, equipment and personnel issues.

“OSHA is committed to correcting the issues brought to light by the GAO report and our own review,” said Dr. Michaels.

Read more.

Submitted by Andrew Fatato

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Posted in Health and Safety, OSHA | No Comments »