US Department of Labor investigation finds Chicago construction employer exposed workers to continued safety hazards, proposes $265K in penalties

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US Department of Labor investigation finds Chicago construction employer exposed workers to continued safety hazards, proposes $265K in penalties CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Calumet City-based residential construction and carpentry employer after two separate investigations into its continued failure to provide fall protection for workers. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated two worksites operated by Martin Araujo – doing business as Araujo Construction Corp. – and found that carpenters and general construction laborers were installing roof rafters and roof sheeting without fall protection, exposing them to falls of up to 25 feet. OSHA cited Araujo Construction with two willful violations for not providing fall protection, while working from heights during residential construction at the two worksites. OSHA also cited the employer with nine repeat safety violations for failing to provide head and eye protection, l...
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US Department of Labor begins rulemaking process to revise standards for occupational exposure to lead

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US Department of Labor begins rulemaking process to revise standards for occupational exposure to lead
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise its standards for occupational exposure to lead. Recent medical research on workplace lead exposure shows adverse health effects can occur in adults at lower blood lead levels than recognized previously in the medical removal levels specified in OSHA’s lead standards. The ANPRM seeks public input on modifying current OSHA lead standards for general industry and construction to reduce the triggers for medical removal protection and medical surveillance and prevent harmful health effects in workers exposed to lead more effectively. OSHA asks the public to comment on the following areas of the lead standards: Blood lead level triggers for medical removal protection. Medical surveillance provisions, including triggers and frequency of blood lead monitoring. Permissible exposure limit. Ancillary provisions for personal protective equipment, housekeeping, hygiene and training. The ANPRM will also gather comments on employers’ current practices that address workplace lead exposure and associated costs and other areas of interest. Read the Federal Register notice for submission instructions. Submit comments online by Aug. 29, 2022, on the federal e-Rulemaking portal and refer to Docket No. OSHA-2018-0004. Learn more about OSHA.

Published at June 27, 2022 at 05:00PM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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