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Nevada OSHA Blames Construction Workers Death on Company's Rush To Finish Work.

2008-10-06T18:57:38Z

Below is an article and accompanying editorial from the Las Vegas Sun about
a rare OSHA citation blaming a worker's death on a company's rush to finish
work. Pace of work is clearly a factor in workplace injuries and fatalities,
but OSHA there are no OSHA standards regulating pace of work, nor do OSHA

Acting Tough: When Cameras Leave, OSHA Penalties Wither

2008-09-18T13:02:30Z

Thought this might interest you all.
*Acting Tough: When Cameras Leave, OSHA Penalties Wither*
[link]
After an explosion tore through a sugar refinery in Georgia in February,
killing 14 workers and injuring 40, the Occupational Safety and Health

"Secret Rule" Article

2008-09-17T03:53:55Z

Oops. Here's the real *Washington Pos*t article:
[link]
The other one was a *Washington Post* editorial, also worth reading.

"Secret Rule" Hearing Wednesday Morning at 10:00

2008-09-17T03:49:55Z

The House Education and Labor Committee, Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections will hold a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 am on the Department of
Labor's "Secret Rule" on risk assessment. Testifying are Assistant Secretary
of Labor for Policy Leon Sequeira, AFL-CIO Health and Safety Director Peg
Seminario, GW University Lecturer Celeste Monforton, and Chamber of Commerce

Big Fines, big blame

2008-07-26T15:17:41Z

A couple of big days and big fines: third largest in OSHA history and
largest in MSHA history. I would imagine the families would have preferred
that the events had been prevented in the first place though.
Senate hearing on combustible dust next Tuesday.
[image: The New York Times] <[link]>[image: Printer

Pass the bill

2008-07-25T13:23:47Z

OSHA Citation to be announced today. Senate hearing next week.
Pass the bill By Savannah Morning News
Created 2008-07-24 23:30
OUR DEMOCRATIC-controlled Congress has often borne the criticism that it is
more interested in digging up dirt on the Bush administration than in
producing substantive legislation.

Rep. Pledges to Block Workplace Exposure Rule

2008-07-25T13:22:06Z

*Rep. Pledges to Block Workplace Exposure Rule*
By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 25, 2008; 6:05 AM
A Congressional leader pledged this morning to introduce legislation that
would block an eleventh-hour effort by the Labor Department to make it more
difficult to limit workers' exposure to chemicals on the job.

SHOCKED! Labor Department Up To No Good

2008-07-23T05:06:50Z

After issuing almost no standards for 7 1/2 years, "virtually overnight,
changing the risk-assessment process became the agency's top priority for
workplace regulations."
*
U.S. Rushes to Change Workplace Toxin Rules*
By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 23, 2008; A01
Political appointees at the Department of Labor are moving with unusual

In case you thought all the world's problems were solved....

2008-07-10T22:36:13Z

It's not clear that Iowa OSHA has the umph, will or capacity to actually
enforce health and safety laws in a way that might change a company's
behavior:
*Agriprocessors escapes big fines for violations*
[link]
Carlos Torrez was in the middle of a 60-hour workweek at the Agriprocessors

Workplace Violence: Nurses Step Up Efforts to Protect Against Attacks

2008-07-08T13:44:58Z

Linked below is an article in today's NY Times about violence against health
care workers. Most media attention to workplace violence focuses on
so-called "worker-on-worker" assaults ("going postal"), although most
workplace violence occurs in retail, health care and social services, and is
patient-client-customer oriented, rather than disgruntled former employees.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch....

2008-07-07T22:38:44Z

Some interesting items in today's papers and the internets.
First, for all you trainers out there, this *video* of a trench collapsing
just after an Oregon OSHA inspector warns a worker to get out should help
you make the point:
[link]
And then we have a couple of articles confirming that, as the American

Moyers Exposé

2008-07-01T14:19:55Z

In case you missed this Friday night, you can still watch on-line here. (The
written transcript is also available):
[link]
And a rather angry columnist who viewed the program:
[link]

Moyers Exposé Tonight at 9:00

2008-06-27T13:15:44Z

Tonight on PBS (9:00 in DC. Check local listings), *Bill Moyers' Journal and
Exposé* will do a report on Worker Safety based on the *Charlotte Observer's
* recent series on the plight of poultry workers and underreporting of
injuries and illnesses (the subject of the House Education and Labor
Committee's June 19 hearing.) Appearing in the program will be Bob Whitmore,

Congressional Health and Safety Hearings

2008-06-25T22:23:51Z

As you know, the House Education and Labor Committee has been quite busy on
OSHA issues lately. On June 19th, a hearing was held on underreporting of
workplace injuries and illnesses, and on June 24 a hearing was held on
construction safety. Below are some of the better articles and links to the
hearing webcasts.

House Hearing on Construction Safety Tomorrow Morning

2008-06-24T00:27:26Z

*Tomorrow, June 24, at 10:00 am, the House Education and Labor Committee
will hold a Hearing on "Is OSHA Failing to Adequately Enforce Construction
Safety Rules?"* **
*You can view the hearing live by webcast here:
[link] (or later on an archived
webcast)*
*Witness List***