In this week’s OSHA Roundup, learn what updates the agency has made to its maritime enforcement procedures and read a summary of last week’s major penalties for OSHA violations.

News

OSHA updates its directive on enforcement procedures for inspections at longshoring operations and at marine terminals.

Notable proposed fines

$185,900 to a New Hampshire foundry for lead exposure violations

$140,000 to a now-shuttered Pennsylvania poultry plant for citations related to alleged fall and lockout/tagout hazards, among others

$91,000 to a Massachusetts heavy equipment operator stemming from a March incident where a crane struck an overhead power line and injured a worker

$82,500 in response to a complaint and OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on process safety management (.pdf file) for allegations that workers were overexposed to formaldehyde at a New Jersey facility

$77,400 for alleged fall hazards found at three different worksites – including one where a worker died from a fall – overseen by a Connecticut contractor

Review counter

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – part of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget – reviews proposed regulations. The process is required for most rules before they can move forward, and typically takes 90 days.

Below is a count of how many days recent OSHA proposals have been under review, as of today.

• 553 days – Silica (proposed rule)
• 272 days – Modernizing OSHA’s reporting system for injuries and illnesses (proposed rule)
• 54 days – Electric power transmission and distribution; electrical protective equipment (final rule)

Happening this week

Aug. 23 – Final day to comment on a proposal for federal OSHA to partially take over enforcement in Hawaii

The opinions expressed in "Washington Wire" do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.