Search

OSHA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 12/12

Posted on 12/7/2022 by Nick Waldron

US employers must comply with stringent workplace safety regulations to provide a safe, healthy workplace for every employee. Failure to comply with applicable US OSHA health & safety standards can result in serious injury and even death.

The enforcement actions highlighted below provide insight into how and why OSHA assesses penalties for workplace safety violations. All violations mentioned are alleged unless we indicate otherwise. 

See the 10 Most Cited OSHA violations of 2022 here.

We withhold the names of organizations and individuals subject to enforcement to protect their privacy.

WHO: An industrial loading facility
WHERE: Pueblo, CO
WHAT: Safety and training violations
RESULT: Two fatalities

For alleged noncompliance with Federal safety and employee training requirements, a facility in Colorado has been cited for two willful violations and one serious violation of workplace health and safety standards.  

OSHA cited the company following an investigation into the tragic deaths of two employees who climbed on a pile of coal to check if equipment was functioning properly. The coal pile shifted, fatally burying the two workers. The company faces $304,556 in proposed penalties.

WHO: A construction contractor
WHERE: Edmond, OK
WHAT: Confined space hazards
RESULT: Two fatalities

An construction contractor faces $287,150 in proposed penalties for alleged violations at an Edmond, OK worksite after investigators determined that the employer failed to test oxygen levels in a confined space before workers entered it.   

OSHA also alleges that the contractor failed to:

  • Complete required planning and testing of a confined space,
  • Train workers on confined space entry procedures,
  • Obtain permits required by federal law, and
  • Provide rescue equipment.

The employer was cited for six serious violations and two willful violations.

WHO: A retail store chain
WHERE: Matteson, IL and Richmond Hill, GA
WHAT: Repeated safety violations
RESULT: $728,000 in civil penalties

OSHA has cited two stores for a combined seven repeat violations, assessing civil penalties of about $365,000 for each store. The stores, located in Matteson, IL and Richmond Hill, GA, are part of a retail chain with a history of workplace health and safety violations.  

Alleged violations at the stores include trip-and-fall and fire hazards created by blocked walkways, work areas, and exit routes; unsafely stacked merchandise, obstructed electrical panels, and (at one store) unsecured compressed gas canisters in danger of falling over.

According to an OSHA press release, Federal and state authorities have inspected the retail chain’s stores more than 500 times in the past five years, discovering more than 300 violations.

OSHA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 12/12

Tags: OSHA compliance, osha enforcement

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

I can't say enough how pleased I was with this course! Everything finally makes sense.

Kim Graham

Lab Manager

This is a very informative training compared to others. It covers everything I expect to learn and even a lot of new things.

Quatama Jackson

Waste Management Professional

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

Having the tutorial buttons for additional information was extremely beneficial.

Sharon Ziemek

EHS Manager

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

The instructor does a great job at presenting material in an approachable way. I have been able to save my company about $30,000 in the last year with what I have learned from Lion!

Curtis Ahonen

EHS&S Manager

The course was very well structured and covered the material in a clear, concise manner.

Ian Martinez

Hazmat Shipping Professional

The instructor was very very informative, helpful, understandable and pleasant. This course answered many questions I had, being new to this industry.

Frances Mona

Shipping Manager

Lion's training was by far the best online RCRA training I've ever taken. It was challenging and the layout was great!

Paul Harbison

Hazardous Waste Professional

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Use this guide as a quick reference to the most common HAZWOPER questions, and get course recommendations for managers and personnel who are in need of OSHA-required HAZWOPER training.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.