WEATHER ALERT
California work safety board approves indoor heat rules, but another state agency raises objections
Read full article: California work safety board approves indoor heat rules, but another state agency raises objectionsAs global warming raises temperatures, a California work safety board has approved standards that would require companies to protect employees from excessive indoor heat, particularly in warehouses.
Insider extra: Read OSHA report after killer whale bites SeaWorld Orlando trainer
Read full article: Insider extra: Read OSHA report after killer whale bites SeaWorld Orlando trainerA trainer at SeaWorld Orlando was severely injured last year when one of the park’s killer whale’s bit her arm, breaking several bones.
Fireworks company fined nearly $110K after explosive fatal warehouse fire in Orange County
Read full article: Fireworks company fined nearly $110K after explosive fatal warehouse fire in Orange CountyThe fireworks company that owned a warehouse in Orange County that caught fire and ignited numerous fireworks, killing four people and injuring another, has been fined over $100,000.
Amazon worker injuries dip last year, but higher than 2020
Read full article: Amazon worker injuries dip last year, but higher than 2020Amazon’s total injury rate for warehouse workers took a dip last year, but injuries were still worse than they were in 2020, according to an analysis released Wednesday by a coalition of labor unions.
Candy firm fined after 2 workers fall into vat of chocolate at M&M’s factory
Read full article: Candy firm fined after 2 workers fall into vat of chocolate at M&M’s factoryFederal workplace safety authorities have fined a central Pennsylvania confectionary factory more than $14,500 following an accident last year in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate.
Dollar General faces new penalties for store safety issues
Read full article: Dollar General faces new penalties for store safety issuesFederal regulators said Dollar General is facing another $1.68 million in fines after government safety inspectors found violations at four of the chain’s stores in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
OSHA presents more than $330K fine after worker’s death at Orlando Family Dollar
Read full article: OSHA presents more than $330K fine after worker’s death at Orlando Family DollarAn investigation into a shoplifting-related worker death at a Family Dollar store in Orlando led OSHA to present more than $300,000 in fines for violations, according to the agency.
Amazon sues admins of 10K Facebook groups over fake reviews
Read full article: Amazon sues admins of 10K Facebook groups over fake reviewsAmazon has filed a lawsuit against administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups it accuses of coordinating fake reviews in exchange for money or free products.
OSHA inspects Amazon warehouse in Orlando following workplace complaints
Read full article: OSHA inspects Amazon warehouse in Orlando following workplace complaintsThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating reports of potential workplace hazards at Amazon warehouses in New York City, Chicago and Orlando, officials said Monday.
OSHA initiates investigation into death of man who fell from apartment roof
Read full article: OSHA initiates investigation into death of man who fell from apartment roofThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it initiated an investigation into an incident where a construction worker fell to his death from an Orlando apartment building roof.
OSHA calling on employers to protect workers as temperatures heat up
Read full article: OSHA calling on employers to protect workers as temperatures heat upWith temperatures reaching triple digits in several parts of the Southeast U.S., the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is asking employers to protect workers from the dangers that come with such hot conditions.
OSHA: Shortfalls found in Amazon severe weather procedure
Read full article: OSHA: Shortfalls found in Amazon severe weather procedureThe federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday its investigation into the deadly collapse of an Amazon warehouse has “raised concerns about the potential risk to employees” during weather emergencies.
State OSHA Shift Could Take Years, DeSantis’ office says
Read full article: State OSHA Shift Could Take Years, DeSantis’ office saysSaying it is too early to determine whether pursuing the change would be “prudent,” Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has told legislative leaders that it could take about nine years to move away from workplace regulation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Biden administration officially withdraws OSHA vaccine rule
Read full article: Biden administration officially withdraws OSHA vaccine ruleThe Biden administration has officially withdrawn a rule that would have required workers at big companies to get vaccinated or face regular COVID testing requirements.
Biden team regroups after court loss on COVID shots-or-test
Read full article: Biden team regroups after court loss on COVID shots-or-testThe White House is pushing ahead with efforts to prod people to get COVID-19 shots after the Supreme Court put a halt to the administration’s sweeping vaccinate-or-test plan for large employers.
Biden administration asks court to allow vaccine mandate
Read full article: Biden administration asks court to allow vaccine mandateThe Biden administration is asking a federal court to let it move ahead with a workplace rule that would require employees at larger companies to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face weekly testing.
Feds Push Back in Vaccination Court Fight
Read full article: Feds Push Back in Vaccination Court FightBiden administration attorneys late Friday urged a federal appeals court to reject a request by Florida, Georgia and Alabama to put on hold a rule that would require tens of millions of workers nationwide to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be regularly tested and wear masks.
Government: Vaccine rule should remain while cases play out
Read full article: Government: Vaccine rule should remain while cases play outThe Biden administration is framing its vaccine mandate for private employers in life-and-death terms in a legal filing that sought to get the requirement back on track after it was halted by a federal court.
Gov. DeSantis announces Florida’s legal challenge to OSHA vaccine mandate
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis announces Florida’s legal challenge to OSHA vaccine mandateGov. Ron DeSantis formally announced Thursday Florida will present a legal challenge to the Biden Administration's latest executive order mandating companies with more than 100 employees require vaccinations for their workers.
JBS Foods cited after worker dies in Colorado chemical vat
Read full article: JBS Foods cited after worker dies in Colorado chemical vatOfficials say meatpacker JBS Foods Inc. faces about $59,000 in fines following the death of a worker who fell into a vat of chemicals used to process animal hides at one of the company’s meat processing facilities in northern Colorado.
Smithfield Foods pork plant faces OSHA fine from outbreak
Read full article: Smithfield Foods pork plant faces OSHA fine from outbreakSIOUX FALLS, S.D. Four plant workers were killed by the virus during the spring and at least 1,294 workers were sickened. Smithfield Foods, which is based in Virginia, said it planned to contest the citation and $13,494 fine. But large outbreaks at meatpacking plants across the nation soon followed. After President Donald Trump signed an executive order in Apri l deeming meatpacking plants as critical infrastructure, they mostly stayed open.
OSHA investigates Disney Springs' Cirque du Soleil performer's fall
Read full article: OSHA investigates Disney Springs' Cirque du Soleil performer's fallA Cirque du Soleil La Nouba performer at Disney Springs was injured on Oct. 20 after falling during an aerial rehearsal, according to Reedy Creek Fire Department. The call for service at Cirque Du Soleil came in at 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 20. "Safety is our number one priority at Cirque du Soleil. The performer’s condition is unknown and is still receiving medical care, according to Cirque du Soleil. In June 2013, a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil performer died after a fall from 94 feet in front of an audience during a performance of the show "Ka," the Wall Street Journal reported.
'Dine with Shamu' reopens at SeaWorld Orlando
Read full article: 'Dine with Shamu' reopens at SeaWorld OrlandoORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld Orlando's 'Dine with Shamu' program has reopened for the first time since Dawn Brancheau's death on Tuesday-- the same day the park appealed citations in the trainer's death. In 2010, OSHA fined SeaWorld for employee safety violations involving the "water work" with whales during the shows and prohibited trainers from swimming with killer whales. Welsch kept a full $5,000 in fines for a staircase without rails but reduced the water work fine to $7,000-totaling $12,00 in fines. SeaWorld argues there is no difference between caring for the whales during a show and after the audiences have left. SeaWorld officials said they hope OSHA safety inspectors will allow trainers and whales to swim together again with the new rising floor.