So we meet here again folks and guess what?  There is still no shortage of companies behaving badly out there.  When the industries and their lobbyist say that they can self regulate and even do a better job at workplace safety than the current regulations can you imagine how bad it would be?  With that said, Get out your pens and pencils, (there may be a quiz) grab a squat, and make sure you’re properly strapped in and let’s Go.

OSHA cites Warner Robins business after employee loses finger – PREVENTABLE – An employee had his finger amputated and hand crushed while removing a glass mold from a piece of equipment.  The company was given a willful violation, which means the company demonstrated an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law with indifference to worker safety.  They had no procedures for workers performing set up and servicing of equipment, which to me translates into NO training as well.  It is little cost to have procedures written along with training, but it wasn’t worth the companies time or money.

Bacardi downs stiff OSHA penalty following worker death – PREVENTABLE – “A worker’s first day at work shouldn’t be his last day on earth,” OSHA chief David Michaels’.  I couldn’t have said it any better.  A 21-year-old man, beginning his career and life is crushed in a palletizer because it wasn’t LOTO while he was in it.  They were given 11 violations with 2 being willful violations which involved the company’s failed lockout/tagout program.  Tell me again what you saved by cutting back on training?

OSHA Cites Texas Employer After Worker Death – PREVENTABLE – Cited for no LOTO procedure, no guards on equipment and disregard for employee safety.  Did you know It costs a lot less to train your staff than it is to hire an attorney to defend your stupidity and laziness?  Before YOU work on any piece of equipment make sure it is properly Locked Out and Tagged Out.

Hawaii concrete manufacturer Tileco Inc. cited for safety and health violations – PREVENTABLE – Not to be considered as an underachiever, but this company was hit with a total of 23 violations, 22 of them serious.  Too numerous to list here, they included failing to evaluate workplace hazards adequately, including protecting workers from amputation hazards to protecting workers from confined space hazards or provide training on the use of powered industrial trucks.  Nothing like tempting fate.

OSHA Fines Construction Company $7,600 in Worker’s Death – PREVENTABLE – Sad that the value of human life is only worth $7600.  A young man working to feed and support his family was killed because the company he was working for decided to cut corners on safety to save a few bucks.  Is it really worth it?

Preventing injuries related to ‘distracted walking’ – PREVENTABLE –  This story is more a sign of the times than about any company, but distracted walking is becoming a serious issue.  To prevent accidents at the workplace, on the road or in the kitchen, everybody has to be focused and aware of their surroundings and where they’re going.  I don’t understand how people can believe they’re the only ones on the road or shopping in a store as they proceed totally self-absorbed with the most personal of conversations.  Distracted working is dangerous – please understand that.