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December 2024
nate wilkerson
December 02, 2024
OSHA Insider
Essential Updates
December 2024 Edition
Welcome to Our December 2024 Safety Spotlight
Hello Safety Advocates,
In this edition of our newsletter, we explore contrasting developments in workplace safety across different sectors. From significant improvements to ongoing challenges, these stories highlight the diverse experiences in our efforts to ensure a safer work environment for all.
Positive Trends in Workplace Safety: Reduction in Worker Fatalities - We begin with encouraging news from the Department of Labor, which reports a notable decrease in the number of worker fatalities. This decline is largely attributed to enhanced enforcement and targeted initiatives, particularly in reducing fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls among construction workers. These positive changes reflect the impact of a concerted effort to prioritize worker safety and the effectiveness of federal and state safety programs.
$1M Fine! Historic Syracuse Foundry Faces Severe Penalties for Persistent Safety Violations - On the more troubling side, we delve into the story of a historic foundry in Syracuse, New York, which faces nearly $1 million in penalties due to a litany of unresolved safety violations. Despite previous agreements to amend unsafe practices, the foundry continues to expose its workers to severe hazards, illustrating the challenges of ensuring compliance and the consequences of neglecting safety protocols.
Exciting New Safety Program Offering: Coming in 2025, we are developing a Fully Managed Compliance Platform for our best customers. Reach out to apply for the pilot program.
Through these narratives, we aim to foster a comprehensive understanding of the state of workplace safety today—celebrating progress where it occurs, and addressing the setbacks to prevent future incidents. These stories serve as a reminder of the critical importance of vigilance, adherence to safety standards, and the ongoing commitment required from all stakeholders to safeguard the well-being of workers.
Stay informed and committed to safety,
Dale
In a heartening update from the U.S. Department of Labor, recent initiatives aimed at enhancing workplace safety are showing promising results, with a notable decline in the number of worker deaths. This improvement is particularly significant in areas where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has intensified its enforcement efforts, such as trench collapses and falls—two of the most perilous hazards in the construction industry.
Key Developments and Statistical Improvements
According to preliminary data from fiscal year 2024, there has been an 11 percent reduction in worker fatalities that OSHA is mandated to investigate, dropping from 928 in the previous year to 826. This marks the lowest number of worker fatalities investigated by OSHA since Fiscal Year 2017, excluding Covid-related deaths. The data underscores significant strides in reducing fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, with fatal falls investigated by federal OSHA decreasing by nearly 20 percent from 234 to 189.
Enhanced Safety Programs and Collaborative Efforts
The decline in fatalities is attributed to stronger enforcement and cooperative initiatives between labor, management, and OSHA, driven by a worker-centered approach advocated by the outgoing administration. OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Falls and its rigorous policy on trench safety, including a "zero tolerance" stance on unprotected trenches, have been central to these efforts. These programs have been complemented by robust educational outreach and aggressive enforcement tactics, including immediate inspections and referrals for criminal prosecution where necessary.
Continued Focus on Workplace Safety
While celebrating these positive outcomes, OSHA acknowledges that there is still much work to be done. Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health emphasized that over 5,000 worker deaths annually point to the need for ongoing dedication to improving workplace safety. "Reducing worker deaths means embracing an approach that makes worker health and safety a core value in every workplace," he stated, underscoring the goal to address all causes and factors leading to needless worker fatalities.
Resources and Support
OSHA continues to offer extensive resources and support to help employers and workers enhance safety measures. This includes free and confidential compliance assistance for small and medium-sized businesses to identify and mitigate hazards, establish or improve safety and health programs, and comply with OSHA standards.
As we reflect on these advancements, let us remain committed to upholding and enhancing safety standards across all workplaces to ensure that every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.
In a concerning revelation about workplace safety compliance a historic iron foundry in Syracuse, New York, has been cited for a slew of safety violations that continue to put its workers at serious risk. The foundry, which has been in operation for over 150 years, faces nearly $1 million in penalties following the latest inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Repeated Violations and Inspections
The October 2024 inspection revealed that the iron foundry has not only failed to uphold its commitments from a 2021 settlement agreement to correct 60 identified safety and health violations but also exposed its employees to new risks. These include the dangers of fire and explosion, thermal and chemical burns, falls, and more, leading to citations for more than two dozen willful, repeat, serious, and other violations.
Details of Current Violations
Inspectors identified multiple hazards during their latest visit:
Uncapped natural gas vent lines posed significant fire and explosion risks during furnace maintenance.
Employees were at risk of struck-by injuries from the use of cranes, hoists, and lifting devices that were already flagged for deficiencies.
Lack of guardrails resulted in fall hazards on walking and working surfaces.
Hazardous atmospheres in confined spaces like kilns threatened workers with asphyxiation.
Insufficient lock-out/tag-out procedures exposed workers to caught-in dangers during machine maintenance.
Inadequate safety measures led to thermal burns from improperly lighting burners and chemical burns from using hazardous chemicals without proper labeling and emergency procedures.
Implications and OSHA's Stance
OSHA’s Area Director in Syracuse highlighted the foundry's troubling history of neglecting worker safety, emphasizing that such disregard for established safety protocols is unacceptable. The agency remains committed to enforcing safety regulations and holding employers accountable to protect their workers.
Industry and Community Impact
This particular company is a significant player in the manufacturing sector, employing about 150 workers and supplying cast components to various industries across the United States, including automotive, construction, and utilities. The penalties and repeated safety violations raise serious concerns about the company’s commitment to worker safety and its impact on the broader community and industries it serves.
As we reflect on this case, it serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for all employers, especially those in high-risk industries, to rigorously adhere to safety standards to protect their workers from preventable injuries and fatalities.
Exciting new offering coming in 2025
We are preparing for the new year by developing a new offing intended to solve all of your safety problems. We spent a lot of time this year thinking about how to best serve our customers, and we came up with a Fully Managed Compliance platform that we think will do a lot of good in your organization.
Imagine one dashboard where you can view and manage all of your certifications, employee details, and have a compliance score. This will give you a day-to-day view of how ready you are for an OSHA audit. We also have a Custom Safety-Plan Generator paired with a 1:1 consultation with a Certified OSHA Expert.
We imagine that this service will complete the tasks that a full-time EHS Employee would be responsible for, but at a fraction of the cost.
You can take a test run of our safety plan generator here:
Stay tuned for more details for the release date, and reach out to us if you would like to apply for your company to be a part of the Pilot Program.
About the Author
Dale, your OSHA Expert
Hey Everyone,
As we conclude this edition of our newsletter, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for joining us on this journey of safety enlightenment. The stories we've shared, from the tragic to the triumphant, remind us of the critical importance of our collective commitment to workplace safety.
These cases serve as a sobering reminder of the real-world consequences when safety protocols are overlooked. It underscores the necessity for each of us to not only advocate for stringent safety measures but to actively implement them in our daily operations.
As your partner in safety, I'm inspired by our shared dedication to creating safer work environments. Let the insights from this edition motivate us to review, refine, and reinforce our safety practices. Remember, the strength of our safety programs lies not just in compliance but in our unwavering commitment to protect every worker who trusts us with their well-being.
Looking ahead, we promise to continue bringing you the most relevant, informative, and actionable safety insights. Your feedback, stories, and engagement fuel our mission, and together, we can forge a future where workplace accidents are a rarity, not an expectation.
Until our next edition, stay safe, stay informed, and never underestimate the impact of your role in safeguarding the health and safety of our workplaces.
Warmest regards,
Dale