November 2006 Newsletter

Government Web Site Helps Businesses Find Federal Compliance Info

For the first time, businesses can find compliance information from across the U.S. government on one website, Business.gov, the official business link to the U.S. government, publicly re-launched in October 2006 to focus on compliance information, federal forms and government compliance contacts. According to the site this saves businesses both time and money in locating information on tax, labor, safety, environmental, immigration and other regulations.

Businesses can quickly search on Business.gov for compliance information by topic and industry and for federal forms from all major U.S. federal agencies regulating or serving businesses. State and municipal compliance information is also being phased into the site. Business.gov is managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in a partnership with 21 federal agencies and is part of the President’s Management Agenda.

OSHA Comes Down Hard on Colorado Manufacturer

OSHA has proposed a $287,500 fine for Davis Wire Pueblo LLC in Pueblo, CO for alleged willful and serious violations. The inspection began April 3, 2006 as part of OSHA's Site Specific Targeting (SST) program. The inspection resulted in the issuance of $245,000 in proposed penalties for five willful violations and $42,500 for 17 serious violations.

The alleged willful violations address inadequate point of operation machine guarding, unguarded flywheels, unguarded belts and pulleys, unguarded gears, and unguarded chains and sprockets. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

The alleged serious safety violations address the improper use of ladders; unguarded open-sided floors; improper disposal of combustible waste; unguarded rotating parts, fan blades and grinders; unguarded live electrical parts; and improper use of compressed air used for cleaning purposes. In addition, they received alleged serious health violations for failure to enforce the use of required hearing protection; improper respirator use; overexposure to airborne lead; inadequate respirator training; failure to mark permit-required confined spaces; lack of eye wash stations; and deficiencies in the implementation of the required lead program. Serious violations occur when there is probability of death or serious physical harm and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

Davis Wire operates three other facilities in Stillwater, OK, Kent, WA, and Niles, MI with their corporate location in Irwindale, CA. They manufacture galvanized wire of various coatings and weights. A review of previous OSHA inspections at the Colorado location shows they received two citations in 2005 and three separate inspections in 2002 netting a total of 12 citations.

Why'd They Do That??

Here is This Month's "Why'd They Do That?" photo. This was a power cord attached to a fan used to ventilate a confined space for a permit required confined space entry. You want to trust this cord?

Last month's photo showed a worker very close to the edge of a low sloped roof using a power washer. The OSHA Standard 1926.501(b)(10) states:

"Roofing work on Low-slope roofs." Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width (see Appendix A to subpart M), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without the warning line system] is permitted.

For a larger photo click the image.



		November 2006 Newsletter





		Government Web Site Helps Businesses Find Federal Compliance Info For the first time, businesses can find compliance information from across the U.S. government on one website, Business.gov, the official business link to the U.S. government, publicly re-launched in October 2006 to focus on compliance information, federal forms and government compliance contacts. According to the site this saves businesses both time and money in locating information on tax, labor, safety, environmental, immigration and other regulations. Businesses can quickly search on Business.gov for compliance information by topic and industry and for federal forms from all major U.S. federal agencies regulating or serving businesses. State and municipal compliance information is also being phased into the site. Business.gov is managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in a partnership with 21 federal agencies and is part of the President’s Management Agenda. OSHA Comes Down Hard on Colorado Manufacturer OSHA has proposed a $287,500 fine for Davis Wire Pueblo LLC in Pueblo, CO for alleged willful and serious violations. The inspection began April 3, 2006 as part of OSHA's Site Specific Targeting (SST) program. The inspection resulted in the issuance of $245,000 in proposed penalties for five willful violations and $42,500 for 17 serious violations. The alleged willful violations address inadequate point of operation machine guarding, unguarded flywheels, unguarded belts and pulleys, unguarded gears, and unguarded chains and sprockets. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. The alleged serious safety violations address the improper use of ladders; unguarded open-sided floors; improper disposal of combustible waste; unguarded rotating parts, fan blades and grinders; unguarded live electrical parts; and improper use of compressed air used for cleaning purposes. In addition, they received alleged serious health violations for failure to enforce the use of required hearing protection; improper respirator use; overexposure to airborne lead; inadequate respirator training; failure to mark permit-required confined spaces; lack of eye wash stations; and deficiencies in the implementation of the required lead program. Serious violations occur when there is probability of death or serious physical harm and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. Davis Wire operates three other facilities in Stillwater, OK, Kent, WA, and Niles, MI with their corporate location in Irwindale, CA. They manufacture galvanized wire of various coatings and weights. A review of previous OSHA inspections at the Colorado location shows they received two citations in 2005 and three separate inspections in 2002 netting a total of 12 citations. Why'd They Do That?? Here is This Month's "Why'd They Do That?" photo. This was a power cord attached to a fan used to ventilate a confined space for a permit required confined space entry. You want to trust this cord? Last month's photo showed a worker very close to the edge of a low sloped roof using a power washer. The OSHA Standard 1926.501(b)(10) states: "Roofing work on Low-slope roofs." Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width (see Appendix A to subpart M), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without the warning line system] is permitted. For a larger photo click the image.

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