|
December 8, 2015 - Additonal OSHA Fines For Case Farms
More Than 1.87M in Penalties For 2015
|
December 8. 2015
Canton, OH
Federal inspections of Case Farms' processing facilities in Ohio have resulted in an additional $462,000 in penalties for deficiencies in ammonia refrigeration systems at two of the company's Ohio facilities.
The leading supplier of fast food and supermarket chicken has racked up more than $1.87 million in fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration this year for exposing workers to multiple safety and health violations.
OSHA cited the company for 11 repeated, four serious and two other-than-serious violations on Dec. 1 at Case Farms' Winesburg plant. Proposed penalties total $308,000. The company's Canton facility faces an additional $154,000 in penalties after OSHA cited it for five repeated and three serious violations on Dec. 1. "Case Farms needs to protect its workers. Period," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "The company has a 25-year track record of failing to comply with federal workplace safety standards. OSHA will remain vigilant until the company keeps its workers safe by making needed improvements to equipment, procedures and training."
OSHA cited Case Farms in 2011 for many of the same violations. The agency's follow-up inspection found 16 repeated and five serious violations of process safety management procedures for ammonia refrigeration systems used in Canton and Winesburg. Inspectors found the company lacked clear, written operating procedures, failed to test and inspect systems and did not provide adequate training for workers.
Case Farms has more than 10,000 pounds of ammonia in its refrigeration system at each plant. Exposure to ammonia can cause serious respiratory illness, and the accidental release of ammonia from pressurized pipes and vessels may have catastrophic consequences.
OSHA also determined that the company failed to do the following:
- Perform annual blood borne pathogen refresher training.
- Provide hepatitis B vaccine for workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
- Store gas cylindersproperly.
In 2013, Case Farms arranged to address safety violations in a settlement agreement with OSHA after an inspection found workers exposed to dangerous machineryand other hazards at its Winesburg plant. However, follow-up inspections led to the issuance of citations on May 28, 2015, and most recently on Aug. 13, 2015.
In August 2015, OSHA placed Case Farms in the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Programafter it assessed $861,500 in penalties following inspectionsat the company's Winesburg facility.
|
|
|
|
Fire Codes And Standards Free Online
|
The National Fire Protection has made its codes and standards available online to the public for free as part of it's commitment to enhancing public safety.
Online access to NFPA's consensus documents places important safety information on the desktops of traditional users, as well as others who have a keen interest.
NFPA is proud to have been the first organization to provide free public access to privately developed codes and standards, and are pleased to see other organizations following our lead. There are some who argue that we should do more and immediately make all of our documents available online without any restrictions.
It is essential that NFPA maintain copyright and the ability to charge for the codes and standards. Most of the money NFPA needs to fund our process and other vital mission activities comes from the sale of codes. We also derive funding from the sale of related products and services.
|
|
|
Flash Victim Survives But Clearly Will Need A Change In Wardrobe
|
|
|
|
Read The Article That Has Electrical Contractors Talking...
Simple Steps To Get Into The Lucrative Arc Flash Market
|
Published By Electrical Products & Solutions
October 2015
Written By Bryan Rupert
This article by Bryan Rupert, featured in the October issue of Electrical Products and Solutions is a simple guide with step by step instructions to get you in the Arc Flash market. Here you will learn the process as well as gain insight on how to price this type of work. Don't be the last in your area to get into this very lucrative market. Click Here To Read More
|
|
|
Businesses Facing Higher OSHA Fines Under New Law
|
December 7, 2015
The Business Journal
A new law gives the federal government the power to impose harsher fines on businesses that violate workplace safety laws, but the financial impact won't be known until next summer.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be able to increase the penalties it imposes - the first increase of its kind in many years - because of a provision that was included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. The Republican-controlled Congress approved the two-year budget bill in the waning days of October, just before the federal fiscal year ended. President Barack Obama a Democrat, signed the legislation Nov. 2.
The Obama administration has argued for the past several years that one of the biggest obstacles to OSHA's enforcement of workplace safety laws is the low level of civil penalties that are allowed.
The civil penalties were limited to $7,000 for serious violations, such as hazards that could cause death or serious bodily injury, and $70,000 for willful and repeat violations. The actual penalties paid are often less because businesses can challenge the fines and negotiate a settlement.
By contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency can impose a penalty of $270,000 for violations of the Clean Air Act and $1 million for attempting to tamper with a public water system.
"OSHA's current penalties are clearly not strong enough to provide adequate incentives, and some employers see them as simply the 'cost of doing business," the agency said in a prepared statement.
"The maximum civil penalty OSHA may impose when a hard-working man or woman is killed on the job - even when the death is caused by a willful violation of an OSHA requirement - is $70,000," the agency said.
The big question now is how much the new penalties will be increased.
|
|
|
|
Download FlashTrack Process Comparison - See For Yourself
|
The world's best arc flash data collection software just got better.
Not only is it easy to collect your data, but now you can view it virtually anywhere on any connected device.
Imagine the possibilities!Facility Results has launched a new website dedicated to providing full documentation, tutorials and knowledge base for FlashTrack.
This website is designed for the user to "meet" FlashTrack.
|
|
|
|
|
NECA 2015 San Francisco - Thank You For A Great Trade Show
|
We met with hundreds of Electrical Contractors who were eager to learn how FlashTrack could save them time and money. To be more precise, they learned how conducting arc flash analysis for their clients can be extremely profitable when using the correct tool - FlashTrack.
Here is just a sampling of the feedback we received...
- "This is the most impressive product at this show."
- "I came to this show to find THE PRODUCT to help me with the jobs I have lined up. This is it!"
- "We use another firm to do arc flash analysis for us. We could have been making a lot more money all along."
- "Do you really need to share this software to other Electrical Contractors from my area? I want to be the only one!"
- "This is exactly what we have been looking for!"
- "Please scan my card and call me next week. I really need this software."
- "I can't believe it is so easy to use. Almost no training needed."
If you didn't have the opportunity to attend NECA 2015, you can still learn how FlashTrack
will benefit you and your business. Contact us at 888-762-0090 or email us at info@FacilityResults.com, and we'll be happy to share the information you missed.
|
|
|
|
On-Site Training Is What We Do
|
At Facility Results, we recognize that to remain profitable, contractors and employees need to be working. That's why we offer practical, targeted training programs that capitalize on every minute spent in the classroom.  Our students have been quoted
as saying... "That was a real eye opener. Every one of our new employees should take this training!"
Managers that arranged the training have told us...
"My staff personally thanked me for having this training for them."
Call Facility Results 888-762-0090 Satisfaction Guaranteed!
|
|
|
|
