Tag Archives: safety

Pacific Topsoils Fined $199,000 for Safety Violations Related to Death of 19-year-old

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has cited an Everett company for multiple safety violations related to the death of a worker last July. Nineteen-year-old Bradley Hogue was killed by a rotating auger while working inside the hopper of a bark-blower truck at a Duvall home.

Pacific Topsoils has been cited for two willful and 14 serious violations, with penalties totaling $199,000. The employer has also been identified as a severe violator and will be subject to follow-up inspections to determine if the conditions still exist in the future.

“The loss of this young man’s life is a tragedy that could have been prevented if the employer had followed basic safety and health rules that protect workers from moving machinery,” said L&I Assistant Director Anne Soiza. “We hope this citation and the penalties serve as a deterrent so that nothing like this ever happens again.”

Following the July incident that killed Hogue, L&I issued a bark and mulch-blower hazard alert to warn others in the landscaping business of the danger of working in hoppers while the equipment is running.

The L&I investigation found that Pacific Topsoils’ workers were regularly assigned to clear jams in the bark-blower truck hoppers while the hoppers were operating. This exposed them to three very hazardous elements: a floor conveyor belt, two rotating-screw conveyors (angled augers) and a rotating stir rod. Exposure to any of these parts of the equipment could potentially result in entanglement, causing severe crushing injuries or death.

Working in and around this type of extremely hazardous equipment requires “lockout/tagout” safety procedures to prevent machinery from starting up or moving during service or maintenance by workers.

The employer was cited for two willful violations. The first was issued for not ensuring lockout/tagout procedures were regularly used; it carries a penalty of $56,000. The second willful violation was issued for not training the employees in the proper use of those critical procedures; it carries a $52,000 penalty.

Additionally, working in the hopper of bark-blower trucks exposed workers to “confined space” hazards. Confined spaces, like hoppers, are areas large enough to accommodate a worker, but aren’t designed for continuous employee occupancy and have limited ways to enter or exit.

When a confined space has one or more hazardous characteristics, such as moving machinery or a potential for engulfment that may harm workers, it’s considered a “permit-required” confined space. That means employers must control access to the area and use a permit system to prevent unauthorized entry. Anyone working in or around a permit-required confined space must be trained and there must be safety measures and rescue procedures in place.

Twelve of the serious violations cited were for failure to implement safe work practices when entering a permit-required confined space. Two other serious violations were cited for not having an effective accident prevention program and for failure to document lockout/tagout procedures. Each of these violations carries a $6,500 penalty.

A willful violation can be issued when L&I has evidence of plain indifference, a substitution of judgment or an intentional disregard to a hazard or rule. A serious violation exists in a workplace if there is a substantial probability that worker death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition.

The employer has 15 working days to appeal the citation. Penalty money paid as a result of a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping workers and families of those who have died on the job.

For a copy of the citation, please contact L&I Public Affairs at 360-902-5413. 

Dept. of Labor and Industries Fines Battle Ground, WA Company After Worker’s Hand Amputated

The Department of Labor & Industries has fined a Battle Ground, WA plastic bottle manufacturer $86,800 for major safety violations after a worker’s hand was caught in machinery and had to be amputated.

Andersen Plastics was cited for one willful violation and six serious violations. The investigation found several problems with the company’s lockout/tagout safety program, a term that refers to the deliberate process of shutting down machinery to prevent accidental startup.

Failure to prevent machinery from accidentally starting puts workers at risk of serious injuries, such as the amputation that occurred in April when a worker was performing a routine task.

L&I cited the employer for a “willful” violation after the investigation found that workers were trained to use unsafe work practices, including bypassing safety guards and not ensuring the machinery was locked out so that it couldn’t start up accidentally.

A willful violation can be issued when L&I has evidence of plain indifference, a substitution of judgment or an intentional disregard to a hazard or rule. The penalty for the one willful violation is $58,500.

Additionally, the investigation found the company did not have specific procedures or a safety program to prevent accidental startup. The employees lacked training and did not understand the purpose or procedures for locking out equipment before making adjustments, performing maintenance or clearing a jam.

The inspection also found several other serious violations related to personal protective equipment and safe forklift operation.

Andersen Plastics has filed an appeal.

Penalty money paid as a result of a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.

For a copy of the citation, please contact Public Affairs at 360-902-5413.

 

Photo credit: Horia Varlan / Foter / CC BY

Major Asbestos Violations Result in Fines for Two WA Companies

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has cited two employers for violations that exposed workers to asbestos during the demolition of a Seattle apartment building. Asbestos can cause cancer and other fatal illnesses.

An L&I investigation into the Seattle project found a total of 19 willful and serious safety and health violations. As a result, together the businesses have been fined a total of $379,100.

Partners Construction Inc., of Federal Way, was cited for a total of 14 willful and serious violations and fined $291,950. Asbestos Construction Management Inc., of Bonney Lake, was fined $87,150 for five willful and serious violations.

The violations were for asbestos exposure to workers, asbestos debris left on site and other violations that occurred during demolition of an apartment building in the Fremont neighborhood. The three-story, five-unit apartment building was originally constructed with “popcorn” ceilings, a white substance containing asbestos fibers, as well as asbestos sheet vinyl flooring.

Asbestos is an extremely hazardous material that can lead to asbestosis, a potentially fatal disease, as well as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Removal of asbestos-containing building materials must be done by a certified abatement contractor who follows safety and health rules to protect workers and the public from exposure to asbestos. The contractor must also ensure proper removal and disposal of the asbestos materials.

Partners Construction Inc., a certified asbestos abatement contractor at the time, was hired by the building owner to remove the asbestos before the apartment building was demolished.

After several weeks, Partners provided the building owner with a letter of completion indicating that all asbestos had been removed. When L&I inspectors responded to a worker complaint, the inspectors found that the removal work had not been done and approximately 5,400 square feet of popcorn ceiling remained throughout, as well as asbestos sheet vinyl flooring.

Partners came back to finish the abatement work; however, due to a prior history of willful violations, L&I was in the process of revoking Partners’ certification to do asbestos abatement work. In May, Partners was decertified and went out of business.

A new company, Asbestos Construction Management Inc. (ACM), owned by a family member of the Partners owner, took over the job using essentially the same workers and certified asbestos supervisor as Partners, and sharing the same equipment.

A subsequent L&I inspection of ACM found many of the same violations as in the Partners’ inspection. L&I has initiated decertification action against ACM.

The employers have 15 business days to appeal the citation.

Penalty money paid as a result of a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.

For a copy of the citations, please contact Public Affairs at 360-902-5413.

 Photo credit: avlxyz / Foter / CC BY-SA

Olympia, WA Roofing Company Cited 7th Time for Safety Violations

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has cited an Olympia roofing company for the seventh time in recent years for safety violations involving fall protection for roofers.

The Roof Doctor Inc., was cited for six willful violations and one serious violation, with total proposed penalties of $219,600. Each of the six willful violations carries a penalty of $36,000, and the serious violation has a penalty of $3,600.

A serious violation exists in a workplace if there is a substantial probability that worker death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition. A willful violation can be issued when L&I has evidence of plain indifference, a substitution of judgment or an intentional disregard to a hazard or rule.

“Falls from elevation are the leading cause of Washington’s worker fatalities and immediate hospitalizations, and they are fully preventable,” said Anne Soiza, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. “The tragedy, pain and suffering from these incidents are completely unnecessary for the workers’ families and friends and our communities.”

The Roof Doctor inspection began on April 11 when an L&I safety compliance officer observed employees working on a rooftop at an Olympia-area residence without proper fall protection equipment. The investigation found that five workers were exposed to falls from as high as 17 feet while engaged in various roofing activities.

The employer has appealed the citation. The appeal will be heard by the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, an independent state agency separate from L&I.

Penalty money paid as a result of a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.

 Photo credit: Jorbasa / Foter / CC BY-ND

Mercer Island Construction Firm Recognized by L&I for Safety Excellence

Bayley Construction in Mercer Island has been recognized with a safety and health award from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for its exemplary safety and health prevention program at two worksites.

Bayley Construction is the first construction company — and only the sixth company in the state — to achieve recognition through the Safety through Achieving Recognition Together (START) program.

START recognizes workplaces with exemplary safety records that have shown a commitment to health and safety at work. It is modeled on a federal program.

Bayley Construction was awarded with START certification at its corporate office in Mercer Island and at its equipment yard in Bellevue.

“The goal of START is to showcase businesses with excellent safety and health programs as a way of encouraging other companies to improve their safety efforts,” said Lynda Stoneberg, Consultation Program Manager for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). “We hope the companies who earn START certification will share their experiences with other employers who might have safety challenges.”

To participate in the program, employers must have an injury rate below their industry’s average for at least one year and allow safety and health experts to visit the worksite and review workplace hazards, examine safety and health programs, and interview workers and managers.

“We are really proud of this recognition as we always want to be the best that we can be, and safety goes right along with that,” said Ron Bayley, Chairman and CEO.

L&I presented the certificate to the company at a special ceremony last month.

Bayley Construction has 75 employees at its Mercer Island headquarters, where it oversees company operations in three western states. At its equipment yard in Bellevue, employees are responsible for the mobilization and de-mobilization of project sites, inventory, tracking and maintenance of all hand and small tools as well as providing will-call services and pickup and delivery services for Washington project sites.

For more information on START, visit www.Lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/Start/ .

The Vanishing Concept of a Job

Today’s post comes from guest author Jon Gelman from Jon Gelman, LLC – Attorney at Law.

While reviewing some historical cases today, I realized that what is missing from the workplace is the concept of “a job.” America’s economy has dramatically changed, and so have jobs that were once available its workforce.

Even clearer is the fact that the concept of a job has disappeared. The idea of getting up in the morning and going regularly to a job has even vanished. The evolution changed slowly with the young generation claiming that a job cycle transformed from a lifetime position to one lasting two years. Then the next stage in the evolution occurred, where the employee became a transient worker and daily the job changed and no stable employer really exists.

This evolution has eroded the underlining framework of a functional workers’ compensation program and the delivery of benefits. The injured worker becomes lost to the system, and a safe and secure workplace becomes an illusion. Lost in the complexity is the adequate reporting of accidents and occupational disease, and the ability to accurately folllow the evolution of latent diseases and medical conditions.

“A new trend in the U.S. labor market is reshaping how management and workers think about employment, while at the same time reshaping the field of occupational safety and health. More and more workers are being employed through “contingent work” relationships. Day laborers hired on a street corner for construction or farming work, warehouse laborers hired through staffing agencies, and hotel housekeepers supplied by temp firms are common examples, because their employment is contingent upon shortterm fluctuations in demand for workers. Their shared experience is one of little job security, low wages, minimal opportunities for advancement, and, all too often, hazardous working conditions. When hazards lead to work-related injuries, the contingent nature of the employment relationship can exacerbate the negative consequences for the injured worker and society. The worker might quickly find herself out of a job and, depending on the severity of the injury, the prospects of new employment might be slim. Employerbased health insurance is a rarity for contingent workers, so the costs of treating injuries are typically shifted to the worker or the public at large. Because employers who hire workers on a contingent basis do not directly pay for workers’ compensation and health insurance, they are likely to be insulated from premium adjustments based on the cost of workers’ injuries. As a result, employers of contingent labor may escape the financial incentives that are a main driver of business decisions to eliminate hazards for other workers.”

Click here to read “At the Company’s Mercy: Protecting Contingent Workers from Unsafe Working Conditions”

Application Deadline Extended for Safety and Health Investment Projects (SHIP) Grant Program

Australian Safety Alert

Washington workers, employers and other groups can participate in the SHIP Grant Program to improve workplace safety, with grants of up to $150,000.  I have spoken with many people over the years with tales of scary workplaces or, in many instances, workplaces that are only slightly unsafe – these are just as likely, if not more likely, to result in an injury than one where obvious mistakes are being made.  The news release from the Department of Labor and Industries at the end of this post sets out the workshop schedule for learning more about it’s program for preventing injuries. Follow the link, below, for full details about this program and the assistance available to grant seekers of many stripes working towards a common goal.

 

The 2011 Legislature gave statutory authority to place the SHIP grant program as a permanent program within the Division of Occupational Safety and Health at the Department of Labor and Industries. Previously, the SHIP grant program had operated with budget provisos from 2007 – 2011. To date the program has funded 41 safety and health grant projects. The materials and products developed through completed grant projects are available through the SHIP Program and on the L&I/DOSH website. 

 

All proposals should be designed to develop and implement innovative and effective return-to-work programs for injured workers.

 

Grant limits and other criteria — the following criteria will apply to all SHIP grant applications:

  • Eligibility requirements for SHIP grants are listed on the application form and in WAC 296-900-175.
  • Grant requests for this round will not exceed $150,000.
  • Funding for grants approved during this cycle may occur beginning late fall 2012.
  • Successful applicants will be required to attend a grantee orientation to receive specific guidance and information about managing their SHIP grant experience.
  • Project duration for projects approved for this cycle should not exceed 12 months.
  • Products and materials developed or created through a SHIP grant must be available for distribution by SHIP to others who can benefit from them.

 

Learn how to apply for grant money from L&I at free workshop

Do you have an innovative idea for improving workplace safety and health or helping injured workers get back on the job? If so, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) would like to hear from you and may help fund your project.

 

In other words, L&I will give you money for your great idea!

 

A series of free one-hour workshops starting Oct. 2 will explain the basics of L&I’s Safety and Health Investment Projects (SHIP) Grant Program. The current grant cycle for Return-to-Work applications is open until further notice.

Workshops are currently planned for:

  • Olympia – 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 2, 805 Plum St. SE, 2nd Floor SHIP Conf. Room
  • Kennewick – 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 9, 4310 W. 24th Ave., Room C24
  • East Wenatchee – 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 10, 519 Grant Rd., Room C16
  • Mount Vernon – 10 to 11 a.m., Oct. 23, 525 E. College Way, Ste. H, Room C20
  • Tukwila – 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 24, 12806 Gateway Dr. S, Room C20
  • Tacoma – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 30, 950 Broadway, Ste. 200, Room 503
  • Vancouver – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 2, 312 SE Stonemill Dr., Ste 120, Room C49

To register, please visit www.Workshops.Lni.wa.gov or call 800-574-2829.