Occupational Safety and Health Administration QuickTakes Survey

June 16, 2014 · Volume 13, Issue 12

A twice monthly e-news product with information about workplace safety and health.

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#StandDown4Safety
#HazID
#SaveLives

In this issue
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National safety stand-down
reaches 1M workers

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PAPERWORK
REDUCTION
ACT
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Interagency report released on
improving chemical facility safety
and security
New interactive training tool
highlights hazard identification
Recent tree care worker fatalities,
vital safety precautions described
in new hazard bulletin
Wisconsin pharmaceutical
manufacturing facility fined
$449,680 for failing to protect
workers from dangerous
chemicals, other hazards
Texas-based cement mixer
manufacturer cited for 35
workplace safety and health
violations
Dollar Tree fined $217,000 for
putting Montana workers at risk

National safety stand-down reaches 1M
workers

Missouri construction company
cited after worker severely injured
in unprotected trench fall
Court of appeals rules in favor of
OSHA following worker’s
excavation death
OSHA's free On-site Consultation
Program helps Wis. company

OSHA and partners from industry, labor, academia and
community organizations reached more than one million
workers and 25,000 businesses last week during the
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in
Construction. From June 2 to 6, businesses paused their
workday to focus on preventing falls in the workplace, the
number one cause of death in the construction industry.
Clark Construction Group LLC hosted several events during
the stand-down week, including a safety demonstration
with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health Dr. David Michaels at the African American
History Museum construction site in Washington, D.C. The
United States Air Force also hosted stand-downs at bases worldwide, involving 650,000
workers. In Florida, NASCAR race car driver Greg Biffle demonstrated fall protection
equipment with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
Jordan Barab at the Daytona International Speedway, which is currently under
construction.
Workers and employers who participated in a safety stand-down can print their official
certificate of participation from OSHA, which will be available through the end of July.
View pictures on the Department of Labor Flickr page and read the latest blogs for more
information on preventing falls: Stopping Falls Saves Lives and 1 Million Workers
Standing Down for Safety.
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Interagency report released on improving chemical facility safety
and security
On June 6, the Department of Homeland Security, the
Environmental Protection Agency, OSHA and other federal
partners issued a status report on Executive Order 13650
- Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security. The
status report incorporates feedback from industry, state
and local governments, and community stakeholders
across the country and provides detailed information on
the continued government coordination and collaboration
to further reduce risks to chemical facility workers and
operators, communities and responders.
President Obama issued the executive order on Aug. 1, 2013 in the wake of the
devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas in April 2013. For more
information, read the status report and blog.

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New interactive training tool highlights hazard identification
OSHA has announced a new
interactive webtool that will help
small businesses identify and
correct hazards in the workplace.
The tool allows employers and
workers to explore how to identify
workplace
hazards
in
the
manufacturing and construction
industries and address them with
practical and effective solutions.
"Hazard identification is a critical
part of creating an injury and
illness prevention program that will keep workers safe and healthy on the job," said
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "This
new tool not only educates employers about how to take control of their workplaces and
protect workers, it also demonstrates that following well-established safety practices is
also good for the bottom line."
For more information see the press release, blog and trailer. The hazard identification
training tool can be found on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov/hazfinder.
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Recent tree care worker fatalities,
described in new hazard bulletin

vital

safety

precautions

The tree care industry can be very hazardous, exposing workers to falls and falling
objects, as well as transportation, electrocution and crushing hazards. A new OSHA
hazard bulletin on tree care work is the first in a series of guidance materials for
employers about the dangers to workers.
The bulletin describes two recent fatal incidents involving tree trimmers, identifying the
hazards that contributed to their deaths and informing employers of necessary safety
measures. In one incident, a tree care worker on the ground was struck and killed by a
falling tree limb because his employer had not educated him about staying out of the
drop zone. In another incident, a worker fell 65 feet when the trunk of the tree he was
working on snapped in half. To learn more about tree care worker safety, read the news
release or visit OSHA's Tree Care Industry Web page.
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Wisconsin pharmaceutical manufacturing facility fined $449,680

for failing to protect workers from dangerous chemicals, other
hazards
Fontarome Chemical Inc. has been cited for 23 safety and health violations—including
seven willful, one repeat and 15 serious—many involving the failure to manage highly
hazardous chemical processes. The citations carry proposed penalties of $449,680.
"It is clear that Fontarome Chemical continued to fail in its obligation to create a safe
working environment for employees managing highly hazardous chemicals," said Chris
Zortman, OSHA's area director in Milwaukee. "OSHA is committed to ensuring conditions
are improved at the plant and that all cited safety violations have been corrected by the
current company management."
The five willful process safety management violations include failing to establish safe
operating procedures, develop safety information for equipment, correct problems and
perform safety tests and inspections. Two additional willful violations involve failing to
provide specific procedures to protect workers from dangerous machines during
maintenance, to provide ventilation for emissions, and to remove and replace temporary
wiring installed during the fire restoration project. Due to the nature and severity of the
violations, the company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program,
which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. For
more information and to view the citations, read the press release.
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Texas-based cement mixer manufacturer cited for 35 workplace
safety and health violations
Continental Manufacturing Co. Inc., doing business as Continental Mixer, has been cited
by OSHA for 35 serious and repeat safety and health violations. OSHA’s inspection began
in response to a complaint at the employer’s Houston facility. Proposed penalties total
$286,200.
"By failing to identify and correct these numerous safety and health violations,
Continental Mixer has exposed its workers to needless and unnecessary hazards,
jeopardizing employees' safety," said Mark Briggs, OSHA’s area director in the Houston
South Area Office.
Violations included failing to implement lockout/tagout to protect workers who service or
maintain machines and failing to protect workers’ hearing by maintaining occupational
noise exposure limits. Due to the repeat violations and the nature of the hazards, OSHA
has placed Continental Manufacturing in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program. Read
the news release for more information.
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Dollar Tree fined $217,000 for putting Montana workers at risk
National discount chain Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has been cited by OSHA for repeatedly and

willfully exposing workers to safety hazards and issued $217,000 in proposed penalties.
OSHA began its inspection in November 2013 after receiving a complaint about
dangerous conditions at a store located in Missoula, Mont.
"This employer's extensive history of ignoring basic safety standards establishes a clear
pattern of intentional and complete disregard for employee safety," said Jeff Funke,
OSHA's area director in Billings. "Employers have an obligation to keep their workers
safe, and Dollar Tree keeps failing to do that."
OSHA issued the company willful violations for failing to keep exit routes free and
unobstructed, exposing workers to struck-by hazards by storing materials in unsecured
and unstable ways, and using space around electrical equipment for storage. A repeat
violation was issued for failing to handle and store compressed helium gas cylinders
securely. Read the news release for more information.
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Missouri construction company cited after worker severely injured
in unprotected trench fall
Gershenson Construction Co. Inc. has been cited by OSHA after a worker suffered a
broken vertebra when he was struck by a partially suspended load of sewer pipe and
knocked to the bottom of an unprotected 13-foot-deep trench. OSHA has cited the
company for 11 safety violations, including one willful and 10 serious, for failing to protect
workers from struck-by and trench cave-in hazards. Proposed penalties total $110,400.
"Failing to protect workers from struck-by hazards and allowing employees to work in a
trench without protective systems is inexcusable and will not be tolerated," said Larry
Davidson, OSHA's acting area director in St. Louis. "Being struck by vehicles and other
objects is a leading cause of construction-related injuries and deaths. Gershenson
Construction has a responsibility to protect workers from known hazards in the
construction industry."
Other serious violations included lack of head protection and employee training, use of
damage rigging equipment and allowing an excavator to operate within 10 feet of
energized, overhead power lines. See the news release for more details.
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Court of appeals rules in favor of OSHA following worker’s
excavation death
Following the excavation death of a worker in Quincy, Fla., a United States court of
appeals has ruled that his employer, Roberts Sand Co., could have prevented the fatal
collapse by sloping the walls of a 23-foot-high clay pit. In August 2011, the employee was
working alone at the site, using an excavator to scrape down clay from the wall of the pit
when the wall collapsed on top of the excavator, killing him. Following an inspection,
OSHA issued a general duty clause violation to the employer for failing to protect workers

from recognized hazards. In a June 9, 2014 decision, the appeals court upheld OSHA's
citations, finding that sloping the pit walls was a feasible abatement method that an
expert in the industry should have taken into account when crafting a safety program.
To learn more about excavation safety, visit OSHA's Trenching and Excavation Web page.
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OSHA's free On-site Consultation Program helps Wis. company
achieve excellence in workplace safety and health
Edstrom Industries Inc., a
Wisconsin-based
company
that
designs
and
manufactures
automated
animal water systems and
related products, reached out
to
OSHA's
free
On-site
Consultation
Program
for
help improving workplace
safety and health. Over
several visits, consultants
identified
and
helped
Edstrom abate acid mist, air
quality, chemical exposure,
lead dust, machine guarding,
noise,
animal
handling,
electrical and other hazards.
Edstrom's dedication to protecting workers was rewarded in 2004, when it became the
second company in Wisconsin to be accepted into OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement
Recognition Program. Acceptance into SHARP is an attainment of status that singles out
the company among its business peers as a model for worksite safety and health. The
company has continually maintained this standing, earning their fifth SHARP
recertification in 2013. For more information, see the story on Erdstrom Industries'
success.
On-site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in
penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with small
business employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with
OSHA standards, and assist in establishing injury and illness prevention programs. To
request a free consultation, visit OSHA's On-Site Consultation page or call 800-321-OSHA
(6742) to find an office in your area.
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Compliance officers get hands-on training to learn how cranes are

erected, dismantled and operated
Compliance officers from
OSHA Area Offices in Illinois,
Indiana,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Ohio
and
Wisconsin
recently
went
through
three
days
of
hands-on
training
to
enhance their knowledge of
crane
operation
in
construction. The training
was
provided
by
the
International
Union
of
Operating Engineers Local
150
at
the
union's
apprenticeship
and
skill
improvement training site in
Wilmington, Ill. Compliance
officers participated in both
classroom courses and field
Region 5 OSHA inspectors receive crane operation training from
exercises to identify various
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. Region 5
types of equipment and
and Local 150 have had an alliance since 2008.
increase their understanding
of how cranes are erected,
dismantled and operated. The OSHA staff also had the valuable experience of getting to
operate tower and mobile cranes under the direction of the training site instructors.
To learn more about crane safety, visit OSHA’s Web page on Crane, Derrick and Hoist
Safety.
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Dr. Michaels to speak at oil and gas safety and health conference
The 2014 OSHA Oil and Gas Safety and
Health Conference will take place on Dec. 2
and 3 in Houston. This semiannual
conference gathers key management and
executive decision makers to help industry
leaders and OSHA work together to
improve
safety
performance
through
cooperation,
best
practices,
sharing
knowledge, and building relationships.
Assistant
Secretary
of
Labor
for
Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David
Michaels and Director of the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health Dr. John Howard will join a roster of keynote speakers, panelists and educators
headlining two days of more than 70 breakout sessions reflecting the conference theme:
Exploration and Production. For more information and to register, visit the conference
website.

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OSHA to convene small business review panel on infectious
diseases
On Wednesday June 4, OSHA announced that it will
convene a Small Business Advocacy Review panel to
choose representatives of small entities who will provide
their perspectives on a possible Infectious Diseases
standard. The SBAR panel will identify small business
representatives potentially affected in order to obtain their
advice and recommendations about the potential impacts
of the Infectious Diseases rule. The panel's written report
will be made publicly available.
OSHA is considering the need for a standard to ensure that
employers establish comprehensive controls to protect
workers from hazardous exposures to infectious diseases
on the job. The rule is intended to cover a wide range of healthcare and related
workplaces including: hospitals; ambulatory care centers; long-term and home health
care facilities; laboratories, and medical waste handling facilities. Representatives of small
entities, including small businesses, not-for-profit entities, and local governments
involved in workplaces such as those listed above who are interested in participating
should contact Charles McCormick by e-mail ([email protected]) or by phone
(202-693-1740).
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Stakeholder meeting scheduled to consider proposed standard to
protect emergency responders

OSHA has scheduled an informal stakeholder meeting
to gather information as it considers developing a
proposed standard for emergency response and preparedness. The meeting will be held
July 30 in Washington, D.C.
Picture by G. Ellman.

OSHA issued a Request for Information on Sept 11, 2007, seeking comments from the
public to evaluate what action, if any, the agency should take to further address
emergency response and preparedness. Recent events, including the West, Texas,
explosion that killed several emergency responders, and additional information gathered
in response to the RFI show that responder health and safety is an ongoing concern. For
more information, see the news release and Federal Register notice. The registration
deadline is July 2, 2014.
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NIOSH issues progress report on Prevention through Design
initiative
In 2007, NIOSH launched its national Prevention through
Design initiative with the goal of “designing out” or
eliminating occupational hazards to protect workers from
various industries. PtD involves anticipating hazards and
changing the design of facilities, work methods and
operations, processes, equipment and tools to mitigate
hazards that could cause illnesses or injuries.
Together with partners from government, academia,
industry and labor, NIOSH has released a new report, The
State of the National Initiative on Prevention through
Design, on the significant progress made in minimizing
worker risks through research, practice, education and
policy.
To
read
the
report,
visit
www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2014-123. For more information
on the Prevention through Design initiative, visit
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ptd/.
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New educational resource aims to help reduce injuries among
workers in the nursing home and residential care industries;
additional resources available since May

OSHA
has
developed
Safe
Patient
Handling:
Preventing
Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nursing Homes (PDF*), a new brochure
that addresses the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among
nursing home and residential care workers and explains the benefits
of implementing safe patient handling programs. To learn more, read
the press release.
Also now available online — in English and Spanish — is a new
QuickCardTM, If You Work Around Lead, Don't Take it Home! This
reference card explains the importance of protecting workers and
their families from lead poisoning hazards by preventing workers
from bringing this toxic metal home on their clothes, shoes, skin, hair
and hands.
In addition, OSHA's Fall Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Guide for Employers (*PDF)
is now available in Spanish in PDF format as well as in EPUB and MOBI formats to help
protect workers in construction from on-the-job hazards.
For workers in the electric power industries, OSHA has posted a fact sheet to help
employers and workers understand the Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and
Distribution and Electrical Protective Equipment Final Rule.
Also now available in EPUB and MOBI formats is OSHA's Stay Healthy and Safe While
Giving Manicures and Pedicures: A Guide for Nail Salon Workers – in English, Korean,
Spanish and Vietnamese.
To order quantities of these or any other OSHA materials, visit OSHA's Publications Web
page or call the Office of Communications at (202) 693-1999.
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Recent tree care worker fatalities,
described in new hazard bulletin

vital

safety

precautions

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