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Safety/Health

Employer’s decision to lock doors on night shift leads to $62,000 fine

11/04/2011
OSHA standards require that employees be able to open an exit route door from inside at all times, without keys, tools or special knowledge. Last month OSHA slapped a supermarket with more than $62,000 in fines for locking all five exit doors during the night shift.

No exit in Brooklyn: Locked doors mean OSHA fine

11/01/2011
Fine Fare Supermarkets faces $62,000 in fines after OSHA inspectors found that all five emergency exits at a store in Brooklyn were kept locked during the night shift. OSHA standards require employees to be able to open an exit route door from inside at all times, without keys, tools or special knowledge.

OSHA issues new rules on investigating workplace violence

10/31/2011
OSHA has issued en­­force­­ment instructions regarding incidents of workplace violence. Officials will use the directive to decide whether allegations of workplace violence warrant an investigation. It also details methods employers can use to minimize the possibility of workplace violence.

Judge says injured whistle-blower got railroaded

10/31/2011
An administrative law judge has ruled that Norfolk Southern Rail­way must pay a former employee $122,199 in compensatory and punitive damages after it violated the worker’s rights under whistle-blower provisions of the Federal Railway Safety Act.

OSHA slaps $158,400 fine on Roselle plumbing contractor

10/26/2011
OSHA has cited A-Absolute Construction, based in Roselle, for numerous violations at a Parsippany worksite. OSHA has had its eye on A-Absolute since 2008 when a trench collapse trapped a worker.

Be prepared to show you used due diligence to prevent on-the-job subcontractor injuries

10/25/2011
Here’s an important note for companies that use subcontractors to carry out work. The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health can cite your company for on-the-job injuries if it appears you were a controlling employer.

OSHA site helps prevent work-related hearing loss

10/03/2011
OSHA has launched a new Occupational Noise Exposure page on its website that provides tips and tools to prevent noise-related hearing loss.

No miner tracking, no mining

09/28/2011
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has been granted an injunction preventing the Buck Mountain Slope Mine in Lykens from operating until it installs a wireless tracking and communications system in the mine.

Tremont mine achieves dubious first, will pay $900k

09/28/2011
The R&D Coal Co. has become the first company to be cited for a flagrant safety violation under the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. On Oct. 23, 2006, methane detonated in a tunnel at the Tremont Township mine, killing Dale Reightler.

OSHA squeezes fines from Dick’s in trash bin case

09/28/2011
In baseball, a “squeeze play” is a risky gamble. According to OSHA, Pittsburgh-based Dick’s Sporting Goods almost gave a whole new meaning to the phrase.