July 20, 2010

Protecting Our Workers and Reemployment Initiative

President Obama established a four-year Protecting Our Workers and Reemployment Initiative that extends prior workplace safety and health efforts of the Federal Government.

July 13, 2010

Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010

OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels discussed the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010, which would bring needed reforms to the nation's workplace health and safety laws. Every day in this country, 14 workers are killed on the job. According to Michaels, the Miner Safety and Health Act makes much needed increases in both civil and criminal penalties for every type of violation of the OSH Act and would increase penalties for willful or repeat violations that involve a fatality to as much as $250,000. Michaels stated that these increases are necessary to create at least the same deterrent that Congress originally intended when it passed the OSH Act. Simply put, OSHA penalties must be increased to provide a real disincentive for employers not to accept worker injuries and deaths as a cost of doing business.

July 6, 2010

Imperial Sugar to Pay more than $6 Million in Violations after 14 Died at Georgia Plant

OSHA announced it has resolved litigation with Imperial Sugar Co. stemming from the February 2008 explosion at its Port Wentworth, Ga., plant and subsequently discovered safety and health violations at the company's Gramercy, La., facility.

"The 2008 explosion took the lives of 14 people and seriously injured dozens of others. Clearly, health and safety must become this company's top priority," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This agreement requires Imperial Sugar to make extensive changes to its safety practices, and it underscores the importance of proactively addressing workplace safety and health hazards."