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

Having the tutorial buttons for additional information was extremely beneficial.

Sharon Ziemek

EHS Manager

I tried other environmental training providers, but they were all sub-standard compared to Lion. I will not stray from Lion again!

Sara Sills

Environmental Specialist

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 price was reasonable, the time to complete the course was manageable, and the flexibility the online training allowed made it easy to complete.

Felicia Rutledge

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Given the choice, I would do all coursework this way. In-person courses go very fast without the opportunity to pause or repeat anything.

Ellen Pelton

Chemical Laboratory Manager

I can take what I learned in this workshop and apply it to everyday work and relate it to my activities.

Shane Hersh

Materials Handler

The instructor was great, explaining complex topics in terms that were easily understandable and answering questions clearly and thoroughly.

Brittany Holm

Lab Supervisor

This course went above my expectations from the moment I walked in the door. The instructor led us through two days packed with useful compliance information.

Rachel Stewart

Environmental Manager

If I need thorough training or updating, I always use Lion. Lion is always the best in both instruction and materials.

Bryce Parker

EHS Manager

Lion courses always set the bar for content, reference, and practical application. Membership and access to the experts is an added bonus.

John Brown, CSP

Director of Safety & Env Affairs

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Use this guide to spot which tanks and substances are regulated under EPA's Underground Storage Tank program, and which are excluded as of October 2018.

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.