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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

National Safety Stand-Down Kicks Off with Event in Texas

The sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction kicked off on May 6, 2019, with an event in Arlington, Texas. Acting Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt spoke at the construction site for the Texas Rangers’ new stadium. This event will be one of many throughout the week of May 6-10.

OSHA anticipates that millions of workers on thousands of worksites will observe the safety Stand-Down. The agency’s fall prevention webpage provides information on how to conduct a successful event and educational resources in English and Spanish. Falls from elevation is one of the leading causes of fatalities for construction workers.

If you are participating, please share your Stand-Down story on social media, with the hashtag: #StandDown4Safety. For more on the Stand-Down, see the news release.

Meeting on Whistleblower Protection Takes Place May 14

OSHA will hold a public meeting on May 14 in Washington, D.C., to seek public input on improving whistleblower customer service and enhancing understanding of whistleblower laws that the agency enforces. For more information, see the Federal Register Notice.

U.S. Department of Labor Announces $10.5 Million in Worker Safety and Health Training Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that $10.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants are available in the areas of targeted topic training, training and educational materials development, and capacity building. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities. Applications must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on July 2, 2019. Details on the grants and how to apply are available at Grants.gov.

Whistleblower Awarded $40,000 in Damages Following Investigation of Pennsylvania Foundry

A U.S. district court jury awarded $40,000 to a former employee of Fairmount Foundry, Inc. An OSHA whistleblower investigation determined that the company fired the employee in retaliation for reporting alleged safety and health hazards to OSHA. For more information, read the news release.

Jury Finds Pennsylvania Company Wrongfully Terminated Two Employees for Participating in OSHA Investigation

A U.S. district court jury found that Lloyd Industries, Inc., and its owner unlawfully terminated two employees because of their involvement in an OSHA safety investigation. One employee was fired after suffering an amputation, which prompted an OSHA investigation. A manager was fired because the company believed that he cooperated with OSHA’s investigation. For more information, see the news release and visit OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs website.

On-Site Consultation Program Helps New York Chemical Company Reduce Injuries

KIC Chemicals, Inc., worked with OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program to identify and abate hazards at its New Paltz, N.Y., facility and to develop an effective safety and health program. Consultants helped the company institute a safety-first culture among workers by establishing training programs, weekly and monthly inspections, and a safety committee. KIC experienced no recordable injuries in five of the last seven years and was accepted into OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. For more information, read the success story.

Partnerships Enhance Workplace Safety and Health at Construction Projects

• The United Association of Journeymen Plumbing, Pipe Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada Union, and Holder Construction signed an agreement to promote worker safety and health during construction of a data center in Huntsville, Alabama. The partners will address the use of personal protective equipment, heat illness prevention, fire prevention, and silica hazards. Read the news release for more information.
• H.J. High Construction and the Haskell Co. signed an agreement to promote worker safety and health during the construction of a project in Boynton Beach, Florida. For more information, read the news release.
• Shawmut Design and Construction Co. signed an agreement to promote worker safety and health during the construction of a school in Miami, Florida. Read the news release for more information.
• The Walsh Construction Company II, LLC, signed an agreement to promote worker safety and health during the demolition, remodeling, and construction of a bridge in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The partnership will focus on preventing falls, electrical hazards, heat stress, and silica exposure. For more information, read the news release.
• Alvin H. Butz, Inc., signed an agreement to promote workplace safety during the expansion of a medical device manufacturing facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The partnership seeks to educate workers about how to control or eliminate hazards, and establish effective safety and health programs. Read the news release for more information.

OSHA Alliance Partners Commit to Improving Worker Safety and Health

• The Safety Alliance - Jacksonville Chapter signed a two-year agreement to help protect workers by preventing exposure to fall, electrical, struck-by, and caught-in-between hazards.
• The Illinois Funeral Directors Association signed a two-year agreement to protect the health and safety of workers in the funeral industry by preventing exposure to chemicals, bloodborne pathogens, walking-working surfaces, and electrical hazards.