OSHA and the Airline Ground Safety Panel Renew Alliance

For those who think that worksite safety applies only to construction and other inherently dangerous industries need to think again. Safeguarding the health and physical welfare of workers in their workplaces cuts across all industries—whether they are hazardous by nature or not.

One outwardly safe work community, the ground support at airports, in fact, sought recently to strengthen its work safety partnership with the federal worksite-safety watchdog. The community, through the Airline Ground Safety Panel, renewed its alliance with OSHA to enable it to deal better with the dangers that can arise from the operation of aviation ground-support equipment such as aircraft tugs and tow tractors, and the injuries that might result from these hazards.

The Airline Ground Safety Panel, a labor-and-industry partnership, represents some 350,000 workers from 11 airline companies and three labor unions. The membership total makes up about 85 percent of the whole industry.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels said the alliance with the Airline Ground Safety Panel will continue to concentrate on preventing mishaps such as slips, falls, and being struck by moving objects that can result in worker injuries. The alliance with OSHA will further the outreach training program for both employers and employees on preventing worksite injuries.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 mandates that employers are responsible for safeguarding the safety and health of their workers at the worksite. For its part, OSHA is tasked with ensuring that these conditions are met by developing and enforcing standards, and by providing education, training, and assistance to all stakeholders.

The alliance between OSHA and the panel is formally under OSHA’s Alliance Program, an initiative where OSHA partners with business and educational organizations, trade and professional groups, community- and faith-based entities to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Each alliance, according to OSHA, develops tools to help the organization comply with OSHA safety protocols and resources to orient employers and employees on their responsibilities as well as their rights. OSHA emphasized that Alliance Program participants are neither exempted from OSHA inspections nor entitled to any enforcement considerations.

In particular, the alliance with the Airline Ground Safety Panel aims to produce fact sheets on ways to prevent mishaps associated with the operation of airport ground-safety equipment. In addition, the alliance will carry out studies on how to enhance ground-personnel safety, tackle hazard communications, and address issues related to the United Nations-sponsored Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

The renewal of the alliance, which will run for another two years, was welcomed by the three labor unions in the panel, the Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), the Transport Workers Union of America (AFL-CIO), and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Besides the labor unions, Airlines for America, a panel participant representing the airline industry, also praised the alliance, saying that the airlines are enthusiastic about being a part of the voluntary program with OSHA and the labor unions to boost safety awareness among airline employees.

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Burn Hazards Result in OSHA Fines

For failing to provide the simple matter of personal protective equipment, Miniature Precision Components Inc. is looking at a proposed fine by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of $55,000.

The penalty came in the wake of an OSHA investigation at the company’s Richland Center facility which found that employees working mold machines were exposed to very hot temperatures without adequate personal protective equipment.

The importance of OSHA training such as OSHAcampus 30 and 10 hour training, and 40 Hour HAZWOPER training cannot be overemphasized in maintaining a safe work environment. Unfortunately, many employers still fail to implement the safety standards at their worksites and ultimately endanger the health and safety of their employees.

"Failing to protect employees from burns while they are working with materials manufactured at high temperatures shows a disregard for their safety," pointed out Kim Stille, OSHA area director in Madison. Wisconsin. "Employers have a responsibility to be aware of the hazards that exist in their workplace and ensure that work environments are healthful and safe."

Miniature Precision Components' corporate headquarters is located in Walworth. The company's Richland Center facility had been inspected by OSHA five times since 1999, resulting in 11 citations.

OSHACampus.com, a leading provider of online OSHA training, has 10 Hour OSHA Training and 30 Hour OSHA Training, as well as 40 Hour HAZWOPER training for workers, supervisors, and contractors.

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Petrol Explosion and Burn Hazards Result in OSHA Fines

All manner of accidents threaten the American worker, and all are preventable. Sadly, every day across the country these same avoidable accidents cause dire consequences on health, or result in injury, even death. Although most employers now require Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training, such as OSHA 30  hour course and 10 hour training, and 40 Hour HAZWOPER training, lapses (both unintentional and not) still frequently occur and put in great danger the health and safety of workers.

This February, OSHA cited Coomes Oil & Supply Inc. for safety hazards after an employee of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, the company that delivers petroleum to one of its gas stations, was burned in an explosion in August 2011.

OSHA reported that the delivery driver was refilling an above-ground gasoline storage tank that had a malfunctioning gauge. The tank eventually overflowed and caused an explosion. The subsequent OSHA investigation revealed that the gas station and Florida Rock & Tank Lines knew of the broken gauge and yet proceeded with refilling the storage tank.

Florida Rock & Tank Lines was cited for one willful violation for failing to provide a way for the delivery driver to determine if the storage tank was in danger of overflowing. The citation carried a proposed penalty of $70,000. Coomes Oil & Supply, on the other hand, was cited for one serious violation with a proposed penalty of $7,000.

"Unfortunately for the injured employee, the two companies involved in this explosion learned a safety lesson by means of a terrible incident instead of taking the steps they should have to protect their workers in the first place," stated OSHA area director Brian Sturtecky.

One company that may be luckier than either Coomes Oil & Supply Inc. or Florida Rock & Tank Lines is Miniature Precision Components Inc. Or maybe not.

For failing to provide the simple matter of personal protective equipment, Miniature Precision Components Inc. is looking at a proposed fine by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of $55,000.

The penalty came in the wake of an OSHA investigation at the company’s Richland Center facility which found that employees working mold machines were exposed to very hot temperatures without adequate personal protective equipment

"Failing to protect employees from burns while they are working with materials manufactured at high temperatures shows a disregard for their safety," pointed out Kim Stille, OSHA area director in Madison. Wisconsin. "Employers have a responsibility to be aware of the hazards that exist in their workplace and ensure that work environments are healthful and safe."

Miniature Precision Components' corporate headquarters is located in Walworth. The company's Richland Center facility had been inspected by OSHA five times since 1999, resulting in 11 citations.

OSHACampus.com, a leading provider of online OSHA training, has 10 Hour OSHA Training and 30 Hour OSHA Training, as well as 40 Hour HAZWOPER training for workers, supervisors, and contractors.

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