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Unsecured Packages Tops in Top 10 HazMat Violations

The top violation DOT inspectors have found so far in FY 2015 is that packages are not secured in vehicles. At 1,207 violations, this mistake accounted for 8.12% of the total violations. Following at a close second, inspectors have found 1,197 instances when there was no copy of the U.S. DOT registration number in the […]

Musical Instrument Maker Facing $273K OSHA Fine

Conn-Selmer Inc., an Eastlake, Ohio, musical instrument manufacturer, is facing $273,447 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for three repeat and three serious violations, the agency announced January 24. On July 14, 2023, a worker suffered a fingertip amputation while setting up a machine die inside a press used to manufacture sousaphones. Investigators […]

ERCOT Granted Sovereign Immunity

In June 2023, the Texas Supreme Court narrowly ruled that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is protected by sovereign immunity laws, which generally protect government entities from civil lawsuits. In a 5–4 ruling, the all-Republican court found that ERCOT, which manages most of Texas’s power grid, qualifies for sovereign immunity because it “provides […]

What the SEC Says about Reporting Climate Change Risks

Peabody Energy Corporation, the largest publicly traded coal company in the world, was recently muscled by the state of New York into revising its shareholder disclosures with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include financial risks associated with climate change and potential regulations. Yesterday we reviewed SEC risk disclosure requirements. Today we will discuss […]

Lifestyle and addiction issues in construction

At the recent Connecticut Construction Industries Association’s 3rd annual Safety Alliance Conference, local union and Labor Assistance Professional Kyle Zimmer delivered a presentation on substance abuse and lifestyle issues that impact construction workers. BLR Legal Editor Ana Ellington shares the highlights.

Wisconsin Ice Cream Maker Facing $145K OSHA Fine

AJLS Enterprises Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin—operating as Schoep’s Ice Cream—faces $145,097 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for 12 serious safety violations, the agency announced January 29. OSHA inspected the ice cream plant in response to reports of workers being exposed to anhydrous ammonia. Investigators found that the plant lacked sufficient process safety […]

A Safer Workplace Is Everybody’s Job

Accountability for injury and incident prevention can vary significantly from organization to organization. Who is ultimately responsible in your company? Does everyone understand his or her role and responsibilities? In a safer workplace, management responsibilities include: Providing a workplace free from recognized hazards Evaluating workplace conditions, and controlling or eliminating potential hazards Complying with all […]

Next Steps for WOTUS

On August 5, 2021, the EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced upcoming community engagement opportunities for public input into their efforts to revise the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition. Redefining WOTUS is a two-part process for the agencies. The first rulemaking will restore the WOTUS definition to the version in […]