The bulk of the citations against Trade Fair Supermarkets in Astoria and Jackson Heights sections of Queens, New York allege repeated violations for blocked exits, unguarded vertical ban saws used in preparing meats, and inadequate safety information and training for hazardous cleaning chemicals, including bleach and liquid detergent. The company was cited for many repeat…

Thankfully, the National Federation of Independent Business (“NFIB”) has challenged a rule that has been around for only a short period of time called the Union Walk Around Rule. For background, when OSHA inspects a workplace, an OSHA Compliance Officer does a “walk around” where he literally walks around the workplace looking for violations of…

In September 2011, an employee of Caterpillar, Inc., who was a member of the United Steelworkers union (USW), died after being crushed by a heavy piece of equipment. The accident was properly reported to the police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The president of the Local Union notified the USW Emergency Response…

OSHA projects fewer employers will be inspected for safety violations in 2014 so that inspectors can undertake investigations that are more comprehensive according to the agency’s 2014 budget request. OSHA plans to conduct 39,250 inspections in 2014, down from 41,000 in 2013. Despite OSHA’s aggrandizing about the fewer inspection, it’s really not a huge reduction in…

OSHA projects fewer employers will be inspected for safety violations in 2014 so that inspectors can undertake investigations that are more comprehensive according to the agency’s 2014 budget request. OSHA plans to conduct 39,250 inspections in 2014, down from 41,000 in 2013. Not a huge reduction in number. OSHA plans to conduct more health inspections…