US Department of Labor issues 7 letters of interpretation addressing workplace safety, health requirements

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US Department of Labor issues 7 letters of interpretation addressing workplace safety, health requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today that it has issued seven letters of interpretation to ensure the consistent and transparent application of federal workplace safety and health standards.As part of the Trump Administration’s broader emphasis on compliance assistance, OSHA’s letters of interpretation provide official explanations of the agency’s requirements and how they apply to specific workplace situations and hazardous conditions posed by employers, employees, or other parties.“From construction to engineering, OSHA is providing decisive guidance after gathering feedback from employers, demonstrating our opinion letter program has already been effective,” said Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. “This effort is a key component of the Trump Administration’s comprehensive strategy to educate the public ...
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US Department of Labor cites 2 contractors after electrician preparing job bid suffers fatal fall at Caterpillar’s Mapleton foundry

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US Department of Labor cites 2 contractors after electrician preparing job bid suffers fatal fall at Caterpillar’s Mapleton foundry
PEORIA, IL – Federal workplace safety inspectors investigating the fatal fall of a 50-year-old journeyman electrician at Caterpillar’s Mapleton foundry have determined that the lead contractor and a nested Caterpillar electrical contractor exposed workers to fall hazards. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned project lead contractor Illinois Crane Inc. of Peoria asked Tegco Inc. – doing business as Schaefer Electric of Peoria – to provide a bid to move an electrical junction box as part of a skip hoist construction project. While the electrician and the general foreman for Illinois Crane evaluated the proposed work on Dec. 23, 2021, the electrician fell 24 feet through a floor hole and suffered a fatal injury. OSHA determined employees were not protected from falls as required by law. OSHA cited Illinois Crane with one willful violation for failing to protect employees on walking/working surfaces more than 6 feet above the lower level from falling through holes. Inspectors found the company did not ensure the use of personal fall arrest systems, adequate floor hole covers or guardrail systems. OSHA proposed penalties of $87,016. OSHA also cited Schaefer Electric for a serious violation because it failed to inspect job sites and evaluate for hazards, and train workers to recognize fall hazards or take appropriate safety precautions to minimize danger. The agency proposed $10,151 in penalties. “Our investigation found that the use of required fall protection could have prevented this tragedy,” explained OSHA Area Director Barry Salerno in Peoria. “Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry, and too often employees work at heights greater than 6 feet without fall safety equipment. Employers are legally obligated to follow safety standards and protect workers.” In its 2020 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2020, 24 workers died in Illinois as a result of falls, slips and trips . A total of 135 worker deaths were reported in Illinois in 2020.  Learn more about fall protection. Both companies have 15 business days from receipt of citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Learn more about OSHA.

Published at June 26, 2022 at 05:00PM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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