Occupational Safety & Health Reporter℠

Latest Stories

AmEx to Eliminate Vaccine Requirement for Offices in November

American Express Co. is ending a requirement that employees need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter offices as virus cases decline globally.

Fatal Trench Collapse in Missouri Leads to OSHA Safety Citation

Brown Construction Co. Inc. has been cited for four serious violations and proposed penalties of $58,008 by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a fatal Dudley, Mo., trench collapse, according to the agency Wednesday.

Amazon Sues Washington Safety Regulator Over Warehouse Fines (2)

Amazon.com Inc. is suing the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, escalating a clash over fines the regulator issued regarding safety practices in the company’s warehouses.

Tyson Workers Get Covid Safety Case Revived by Fifth Circuit

A federal appeals court panel reinstated allegations by Tyson Foods Inc. workers that the company negligently exposed them to Covid-19, finding the meatpacking giant never acted under government control to keep its factories open.

Walmart Loses Court Appeal of OSHA Warehouse Storage Citation

Walmart Inc. failed to convince a federal appeals court panel that an OSHA citation against the retailer must be vacated.

California’s New Anti-Bias Laws Put Companies on Alert for Suits

Among the slew of new laws in California, many give companies more responsibilities around preventing workplace bias, such as measures expanding pay transparency and prohibiting discrimination over off-the-clock cannabis use.

Covid-19 Vaccine: Can Your Employer Make You Take It?

As employers are making plans to return to their workplaces. How quickly they succeed will likely depend on how many of their employees get vaccinated.

Up Next

Featured States

California

California’s New Anti-Bias Laws Put Companies on Alert for Suits

New Jersey Governor Proposes Narrowing Temporary Worker Pay Bill

OSHA’s Covid Rule Takes Priority Over Heat, Workplace Violence

Oregon

What’s a Fair Fine for a Safety Violation? OSHA, States Disagree

Oregon Worker Heat, Wildfire Smoke Rules Challenged in Lawsuit

Virginia Could Kill Its First-in-U.S. Workplace Covid-19 Measure

Washington

Amazon Sues Washington Safety Regulator Over Warehouse Fines (2)

Naval Contractor Wrongly Fired Guard Over Complaint, NLRB Rules

Washington State Covid Requirements Clear OSHA Preemption Suit

Michigan

EPA Says It’s Looking Into Air Quality Concerns at Michigan Lab

EPA Workers at Michigan Lab File Air Quality Safety Grievance

Permanent Health-Care Covid Standard Hearing Date Set by OSHA (1)

Review Commission

Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc., Newark, NJ

Employer contests a four-item serious citation in 11 parts and $53,976 fine. The serious citation includes the alleged violation of 29.C.F.R. 1910.134(c)(1), for failure to establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures; 29.C.F.R. 1910.134(e)(1), for failure to provide a medical evaluation to determine an employee’s ability to use a respirator before the employee was required to use the respirator in the workplace; and 29.C.F.R. 1910.134(f)(2), for failure to ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting face-piece respirator was fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator. (20-0329)

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Framing Specialist Inc., Cliffside Park, NJ

Employer contests a three-item serious citation and $6,998 fine and a repeat citation and $8,906 fine. The serious citation includes the alleged violation of 29.C.F.R. 1926.102(a)(1), for failure to ensure that eye and face protective equipment was used when machines or operations presented potential eye or face injury; 29.C.F.R. 1926.1053(b)(1), for failure to secure portable ladders used to access an upper landing surface against displacement; and 29.C.F.R. 1926.1053(b)(13), for failure to ensure that the top step of a stepladder was not used as a step. (20-0330)

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PetSmart, Inc., Horseheads, NY

Employer contests a two-item serious citation and $12,337 fine and a two-item other-than-serious citation with no fine. The serious citation includes the alleged violation of 29.C.F.R. 1910.36(d)(1), for failure to ensure that employees were able to open exit route doors from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge; and 29.C.F.R. 1910.178(l)(4)(iii), for failure to conduct an evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator performance at least once every three years. The other-than-serious citation includes the alleged violation of 29.C.F.R. 1910.157(e)(3), for failure to perform annual maintenance checks on fire extinguishers. (20-0317)