September 2019 OSHA Quicktakes
Safe + Sound Week
OSHA kicks off Safe + Sound Week on August 12, joining businesses and organizations nationwide to recognize the importance and successes of workplace safety and health programs.
“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will join businesses and organizations nationwide to recognize the importance and successes of workplace safety and health programs during Safe + Sound Week, August 12-18, 2019.
The week-long event encourages employers to implement workplace safety initiatives, and highlight workers’ contributions to improving safety. Businesses that incorporate safety and health programs can help prevent injuries and illnesses, reduce workers’ compensation costs, and improve productivity.”
Court Ruling
A construction company and its president were found to be in contempt of court after failing to pay $412,000 in penalties.
“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has found Altor Inc. – a construction company based in Washington Township, New Jersey and its president Vasilio Saites in contempt of court for failing to pay $412,000 in penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has cited Altor for numerous safety violations, including multiple willful violations of OSHA’s fall protection standards. The court previously ordered Altor and Saites to pay the fine after the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) affirmed the violations.”
Leading Indicators
A new webpage shows how businesses can improve safety and health programs by tracking workplace conditions and events to prevent injuries or illnesses before they occur.
Silica Standard
Occupational Safety and Health Administration is requesting information from the public on additional engineering and work practice control measures to protect construction workers from silica exposure.
“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information and comment on Table 1 of the agency’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction. OSHA seeks information on additional engineering and work practice control methods to effectively limit exposure to silica for the equipment and tasks currently listed on Table 1. The agency is also requesting information about other construction equipment and tasks that generate silica that it should consider adding to Table 1, along with information about their associated engineering and work practice control methods.
In addition, OSHA is seeking comments about whether to revise paragraph (a)(3) of the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for General Industry to broaden the circumstances under which general industry and maritime employers would be permitted to comply with Table 1 of the silica standard for construction.”
Global Cold Chain Alliance Renews Commitment to Worker Safety
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Global Cold Chain Alliance will continue working together to protect workers from hazardous chemicals.
“The U.S Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed the national Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) to continue working together to protect workers from exposure to hazardous chemical releases from ammonia refrigeration systems. The alliance will also focus on improving process safety management programs for these systems.
Alliance goals under the five-year renewal agreement include developing information on workplace hazards related to ammonia refrigeration, emergency preparedness and response, and best practices for protecting workers’ safety while performing ammonia refrigeration operations.”
Chemical Safety
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently released a chemical management strategy that can quickly and accurately assign chemicals into categories to protect workers on the job.
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