OSHA Recordkeeping: Are Employers Under-Reporting or Not???
For at least the last 20 years, there has been much criticism and debate over the accuracy, or lack thereof, of the injury and illness data reported annually by the Bureau of Labor Stastistics (BLS). According to BLS data, there has been a significant and steady decline in the injury/illness rates as demonstrated by the 8.9 cases per 100 full-time employees (FTE) in 1992 down to an all-time low rate of 3.9 cases per 100 FTE in 2008. This represents a 56% decline in the record
Department of Labor Releases (OSHA) Fatality Data for 2009
There is some good news indeed… at least on a preliminary reporting basis. The Department of Labor released the 2009 workplace fatality data yesterday. According to the press release, the number of workplace fatalities declined from 5,214 in 2008 to 4,340 in 2009. The data will be revised (virtually always upward) in the coming months. For now, this amounts to a drop of 874 fatalities, or 16.7%, from the prior year. Good news indeed. The report went on to say that the weaken
Another Mega-Verdict ($30 Million) in Diacetyl / DAPORS / Popcorn Lung Case
It was reported in the Joplin Globe today that a jury in the Chicago area has awarded a $30 million verdict to a worker who was exposed to Diacetyl and developed Bronchiolitis Obliterans (also known as Popcorn Lung). This is an irreversible lung disease which can lead to an organ transplant in extreme cases. Prometrix Consulting, with a staff of former OSHA officials, is offering expert consulting and training services to help employers comply with complex workplace safety an
In Honor of the NFL Season Getting Started…. OSHA and the NFL?
With this being the first real weekend of the NFL season, albeit the preseason, a trivia-like thought came to mind which made me think that the might be interesting to fellow sports fans. That is, do professional football players (or any professional athlete for that matter) fall under the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration? The short answer is yes. But it does get far more complicated than just that simple answer. Which means that in actual pra
OSHA Publishes RFI on Data Collection and Employer Practices
OSHA publishes Request for Information in the Federal Register (Link to the Federal Register Notice) to solicit input on data collection regarding workplace safety and health practices and incident data. Summary: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting public comments concerning the collection of information about the safety and health practices of private sector establishments in agriculture (with 10 or more workers) and non-agriculture industr
This OSHA Citation is an Example of Why Employers Need Safety and Health Compliance Assistance!
According to the OSHA press release from yesterday, the inspection was initiated as a result of the Site Specific Targeting (SST) program. This implies that it was a programmed inspection and not a referral, complaint, or other unprogrammed type inspection. The 24 violations included (quoted from the press release)… “… lack of employee participation in and training of system operators; failure to compile process safety information and to conduct process hazard analyses; lack
Overview of Safe Work Practices and Administrative Controls for Diacetyl (DAPORS)
Food flavoring manufacturers and users that have Diacetyl / DAPORS on their premises will benefit from understanding the role of safe work practices and administrative controls. These round out the other protective methodologies to help ensure compliance against OSHA’s NEP on Food Flavorings and overall enhanced workplace safety and health performance. Safe Work Practice Controls: Think of these controls as fine tuning once engineering and respiratory protection and personal
Medical Surveillance as Part of Safety & Health Program, Especially for Diacetyl / DAPORS
Although this post is in context of Diacetyl/ DAPORS /Popcorn Lung, it is important to remember that an appropriate medical surveillance program plays an important part in ensuring employee protections in other circumstances as well. The specifics of the medical surveillance program will depend on the particular issues encountered at a given facility. In the case of food flavoring manufacturers, for example, monitoring employees for certain health conditions such as what wil
Food Flavoring Diacetyl - Is Your Company At Risk of OSHA Enforcement?
DIACETYL (DAPORS) …. ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES OR COMPANY AT RISK? As the Diacetyl exposure case in Jasper, Missouri illustrated, risks may not always be immediately apparent. Sometimes a previously unknown hazard emerges into a major concern for both workers and employers. Just because it was previously unknown does not mean that it does not pose serious risk of injury to workers or litigation costs to employers. Diacetyl and its link to popcorn lung is one such example. Diacetyl
OSHA Introduces New World of Enforcement Pain
OSHA is continuing to follow through on its pledge to demonstrate that there is a “new sheriff in town”. The Agency has implemented new administrative policies which dictates how penalties will be assessed in order to increase the net penalty amount to the employer. Obviously, the Agency is still limited to $7,000 (Serious) and $70,000 (Willful) per the OSH Act – though these caps would also increase should the new legislation PAWA (HR2067) or MSHA2010 (HR5663) become enacted
