Chinese-run copper mining companies in Zambia routinely flout labor laws and regulations designed to protect workers’ safety and the right to organize, according to the group Human Rights Watch in a recent release.
Zambia’s newly elected president, Michael Sata, a longtime critic of the Chinese labor practices, should act on his campaign promises to end the abuse and improve government regulation of the mining industry to ensure that all companies respect Zambia’s labor laws, according to officials with HRW. (WCxKit)
The 122-page report, “You’ll Be Fired If You Refuse’: Labor Abuses in Zambia’s Chinese State-Owned Copper Mines,” details the persistent abuses in Chinese-run mines, including poor health and safety conditions, regular 12-hour and even 18-hour shifts involving arduous labor, and anti-union activities, all in violation of Zambia’s national laws or international labor standards.
The four Chinese-run copper mining companies in Zambia are subsidiaries of China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation, a state-owned enterprise under the authority of China’s highest executive body. Copper mining is the lifeblood of the Zambian economy, contributing nearly 75 percent of the country’s exports and two-thirds of the central government revenue.
The report is centered on observations conducted during several field missions in November 2010 and July 2011 and draws on more than 170 interviews, including with 95 mine workers from the country’s four Chinese copper operations and 48 mine workers from other multinational copper mining operations. Miners at Chinese-run firms claim they were pleased that the companies had made a major investment in the copper mines and created jobs. However, they described abusive employment conditions that violate national and international standards and fall short of practices among other multinational copper mining companies in the country.
Between Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, 2011, miners at three of the four Chinese-run copper mining operations initiated strikes, hopeful that the new government’s election would create an environment for improved conditions. Production ground to a halt. On Oct. 19, Non-Ferrous China Africa, the longest-operating Chinese-owned copper mine, fired at least 1,000 striking workers. After government pressure in subsequent days, NFCA agreed to reinstate them. Reuters reported that NFCA’s chief executive officer said that the reinstated workers would be screened and the “troublemakers” disciplined.
Miners from the Chinese-owned companies reported consistently poor health and safety standards, including inadequate ventilation that can lead to serious lung diseases, the failure to replace workers’ damaged protective equipment, and routine threats to fire workers who refuse to work in unsafe places underground. These practices, combined with the already dangerous nature of copper mining, cause injuries and other health complications. At times, Chinese managers bribe or threaten miners to keep them from reporting accidents or other problems to the government’s Mines Safety Department, the miners said.
In addition to their poor safety standards, several Chinese-run copper operations in Zambia require miners to work brutally long shifts, despite difficult conditions involving extreme heat and contact with acids and noxious chemicals. Many miners at Sino Metals work five 12-hour shifts a week as well as a sixth 18-hour “change shift” when they rotate from the day shift to the night shift or vice versa. Other miners there described working 365 days without a single day off. Zambian law specifies a 48-hour work week, and every other multinational copper mining company uses 8-hour shifts that comply with this law. Several miners said the long hours contributed to accidents, and many complained about failing to receive proper overtime.
The curtailment of union activity hampers the ability to address these and other issues of concern to workers – particularly pay, which is higher than Zambia’s monthly minimum wage, but much lower than that paid by other multinational copper mining firms in Zambia.
Several Chinese-run operations have prevented workers from exercising their right to join the labor union of their choice through threats and intimidation. Miners in companies run by the Chinese or other multinationals also described retaliation against outspoken union representatives, including docked pay or refusal to renew their contracts. (WCxKit)
Primary responsibility for ensuring that Zambia’s copper mining companies operate in accordance with national and international standards rests with the Zambian government. It has a Mines Safety Department within the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development that is responsible for enforcing the country’s mining regulations, including on health and safety.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contactInfo@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The former owner of the country’s largest asbestos abatement training school has been sentenced to prison after having fled the United States after her trial in 2008.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton sentenced Albania Deleon to 87 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and several hundred thousand dollars to AIM Mutual Insurance Company. (WCxKit)
In 2008, Deleon was convicted of charges including selling training certificates to thousands of illegal aliens who had not taken the mandatory course. She allegedly placed these unqualified people in temporary positions as certified asbestos abatement workers in public buildings.
From approximately 2001 to 2006, Deleon owned and operated Environmental Compliance Training (ECT), a certified asbestos training school located in Methuen, Mass. ECT normally offered training courses on a weekly basis at its Methuen offices, however, many of the recipients of the certificates never took the required course.
Instead, with Deleon’s knowledge and approval, ECT’s office employees issued certificates of course completion to thousands of individuals who did not take the course. These individuals filed the certificates with the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety in order to be authorized to work in the asbestos removal industry. Many of the recipients were illegal aliens who wished to skip the four-daylong course so that they would not forego a week’s pay.
Since ECT’s training course records were subject to inspection, Deleon sought to cover up ECT’s practice of issuing certificates to untrained applicants by having the applicants sign final examination answer sheets that already had been completed and graded, which she maintained in ECT’s files. Based on the evidence at trial and information supplied by the Division of Occupation Safety, ECT issued training certificates to more than 2,000 untrained individuals.
Deleon is the fifth environmental criminal captured since the EPA fugitive website was launched in December 2008. (WCxKit)
“Today’s sentence marks the final chapter in bringing Albania Deleon to justice,” said EPA’s Cynthia Giles. “Committing environmental crimes to make a profit that put workers and our communities at risk [carries] serious consequences.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
For workers who spend the days behind the wheel, it would make sense to assume that the thin strip of nylon or polyester that keeps them pinned to their seats in case of a collision is there to keep them safe from harm.
But a Saskatoon Court of Queen's Bench judge recently ruled that buckling up may actually be more dangerous for bus drivers, according to a report from the Canadian OH&S News. In an Oct. 20 decision, Justice Grant Currie overturned Saskatoon bus driver Dean Christianson's traffic court conviction for failing to wear his seatbelt. (WCxKit)
"
His experiences, and those of others that had come to his attention in the course of working in his industry, gave him reason to believe that his safety may be compromised by wearing a seatbelt," Justice Currie wrote. Christianson believed that if passengers on the bus assaulted him, being buckled in would make him less able to defend himself.
In his initial traffic safety court trial, Christianson called violence against transit operators a "growing, nationwide epidemic," noting that he been threatened by three people riding on the bus at the time he was pulled over.
"
As someone who has been spit on, I discovered that you do not know who is going to grab your steering wheel while you're driving or sucker punch you, or stab you, or spit on you. You have no idea who it's coming from," he said. "Some of the drivers have been sucker punched while they are driving and took repetitive blows while trying to get their seatbelt off so they can defend themselves."
Under Saskatchewan's Traffic Safety Act, a bus driver is not required to wear a seatbelt if they have reason to feel it may put them at risk of injury.
The Crown had argued that the exemption only applied when there was a specific risk of injury, but Justice Currie ruled that the regulation could also be applied to a driver who "may be continuously exposed to a compromise of his or her safety on a random basis." (WCxKit)
A Saskatoon civic policy states that all public employees must be buckled in whenever they're behind the wheel of a city vehicle, but the transit union is hoping this ruling will help change that policy, first introduced three years ago.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
New Zealand’s Workers Comp Bureau, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) are reminding people to take care to avoid alcohol-related injury and harm. We are only a couple weeks from when schools begin graduation ceremonies.
In 2010, ACC received more 50,000 claims from people injured during holidays, with over 11,000 injuries resulting from falls in the home. The total cost of all these injuries to date is more than $32 million. ACC’s General Manager of Insurance and Prevention Services, Dr Keith McLea, says it is estimated that more than 20% of all injury claims received by ACC have alcohol as a contributing factor.
“Injuries don’t necessarily only occur when a person is intoxicated, but can also happen the next day when people are fatigued and may not be able to function fully or make good decisions. That makes them a danger at work and on the roads, but also at home where around one in three injuries happen,” McLea remarked.
During holiday seasons and graduations, more parties and gatherings can mean greater exposure to alcohol than usual for many people. McLea therefore suggests the following tips for hosts of parties:
1. provide substantial food early on and keep it coming throughout
2. plan activities so drinking isn’t the focus of the party
3. provide a range of non-alcoholic drinks and activities
4. if someone refuses a drink, don’t push it
5. do not let people drive home – arrange safe transport for them or organize somewhere for them to stay.
Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) Chief Executive Officer, Gerard Vaughan, says holidays and graduations are a time for celebration and getting together with friends and family. However, sometimes these events can be ruined by too much alcohol.
“As we head into the festive season, it is timely to think of the consequences for us as individuals, families, communities and the country as a whole when we take drinking too far,” Vaughan says. “The greatest problems occur when people get drunk. It’s then that the accidents, fights, problems with relationships and domestic violence increase. It’s also the little things that affect families such as being too hung over to participate in family events.”
Vaughan says employers and parents hosting parties should implement host responsibility provisions and ensure the function doesn’t get out of hand. Watch out for the younger staff, particularly those under 18, and check how the law applies if you’re the host or taking them out to licensed premises.
Vaughan noted those hosting parties at home should plan ahead to avoid situations which could lead to at-risk drinking.
“We encourage people to talk to their friends and families about easing up on the drink. This will help everyone have a good time. It will also lighten the load on emergency staff, which sees a lot of alcohol-related harm at this time of year,” he added
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He recommends the #1 selling cost containment book, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Our WORKERS COMP BOOK: www.WCManual.com
WORK COMP CALCULATOR: www.LowerWC.com/calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Unions from around the world, including the International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) affiliates, recently participated in the ILO Workers Symposium on Policies and Regulations to Combat Precarious Employment. The Symposium produced a set of recommendations on measures that the ILO should take to reduce precarious work and improve conditions for precarious workers.
According to information from the IMF, while trade unions have recognized for a long time the threat that the rapid expansion of precarious work throughout the world poses to workers rights, concerns have been raised that the ILO is not doing enough to protect the rights of precarious workers to join a union and participate in meaningful collective bargaining. In order to put the issue firmly at the center of the ILO's standard setting and enforcement agenda, ACTRAV, the Workers Bureau of the ILO, organized a Worker's Symposium which brought together union representatives from both developing and industrialized countries, the public and the private sector. (WCxKit)
During three days, unions shared information on how worldwide, unimaginable numbers of workers are suffering from precarious, insecure, uncertain and unpredictable working conditions. They discussed how global forces are driving the rapid expansion of precarious work in all countries and in all sectors of the economy and the urgent need for regulatory and policy responses to prevent this.
The aims of the Symposium included determining how existing standards can be better promoted in order to protect the rights of precarious workers as well as identifying gaps in existing international labor protections that could be filled by the development of new standards.
At the conclusion of the Symposium, union representatives called on the ILO to conduct a comprehensive report on the obstacles that prevent precarious workers from being able to bargain collectively with their employer, with a particular focus on the barriers to workers in triangular relationships bargaining with the employer controlling their conditions of work. (WCxKit)
Lastly, they called for ILO action to promote key conventions and recommendations that can improve conditions for precarious workers and pointed to the need for further regulation, particularly to limit temporary employment other than in cases of legitimate need.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He is a contributor to the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Missouri’s Labor Department’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program recently noted that Ambassador Steel of Kansas City has earned the distinction of being named the newest member of the Missouri’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) for its excellent workplace safety record, for a new total of 37 SHARP businesses in the state.
“We welcome Ambassador Steel to Missouri’s elite workplace safety program,” said Larry Rebman, director of the Labor Department. “The businesses that belong to this group are essentially the best of the best when it comes to providing a safe and hazard-free workplace. These businesses really care about their employees and should be rewarded for the commitment they put forth in protecting them,” Rebman added.
Ambassador Steel employs more than 60 people in Missouri and fabricates rebar (steel) used to build large structures. Some of Ambassador Steel’s accomplishments include Kansas City landmarks such as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the IRS Regional Headquarters building, the KCP&L Iatan Power Plant, the H& R Block Headquarters building, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Sprint World Headquarters building, and the National Nuclear Security Administration building. Ambassador Steel has had an internal safety and health management program in anticipation of working with the Department’s Division of Labor Standards to pursue SHARP certification.
The on-site consultations are discretionary and are initiated by employers who want to provide a safe work environment for their workers. Businesses that achieve an excellent workplace safety record and eliminate the occurrences of injuries on the job can qualify for this exclusive safety and health incentive and recognition program. SHARP members also have lower workers compensation insurance premiums and are exempt from OSHA inspections for a period of time.
“Safety is one of our most important shared values and is primary to our culture at Ambassador. As a company, we have invested a great deal in machinery, processes, and training to protect our teammates. The team has invested even more energy in making it personal and participating in every part of the journey,” remarked Jeff Albert, Vice President of Ambassador Steel. “Today is about celebrating their accomplishments and to celebrate the ultimate victory– that each and every worker here will continue to go home safely at the end of each shift.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He recommends the #1 selling cost containment book, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A recent report looks at the dangers faced by both children living in close proximity to battery manufacturing units on the developing world and workers who work in such facilities.
A new study reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene claims children living close to battery manufacturing units in the developing world were 13 times more apt to have lead traces in their blood than their U.S. counterparts.(WCxKit)
Health officials point out that lead poisoning damages the central nervous system, the kidneys, and the cardiovascular reproductive systems, along with leading to low hemoglobin percentages. In children, it can retard learning, make them hyperactive and even lead to violent behavior.
The researchers, using data from studies published between 1993 and 2010, also discovered that battery industry workers in the developing world had three times higher blood lead levels than their U.S. counterparts.
“Children and workers in developing countries face significant risks of lead poisoning, which can cause lifelong health problems,” commented Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) and study author. “Without major improvements, we expect that lead poisoning cases will continue to increase as the industry grows.”
The battery industry uses approximately 80 percent of the global lead output. The demand is being led by huge demand for batteries in vehicles, solar power systems, cellular phones and for back-up to power supply.(WCxKit)
According to The World Health Organization (WHO), 120 million people are over-exposed to lead – approximately three times the number infected by HIV/AIDS – and 99 percent of the most severely affected live in the developing world.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Catastrophic injury claims make up less than 1% of all workers compensation claims, but different studies show they entail approximately 20% of all workers comp costs. For the small employer, one catastrophic injury claim can distort the severity factor in the workers comp premium calculations and have a major impact on the workers compensation premiums for years into the future.
Catastrophic injuries are injuries that disable the employee to the extent the employee can never return to work and significantly alters the employee's life in general. Common examples of catastrophic injuries are: (WCxKit)
1. Brain/brain stem injuries.
2. Severe burns over 50 % or more of the body.
3. Spinal cord injuries.
4. Multiple amputations.
5. Multiple trauma.
6. Total vision loss.
7. Occupational lung diseases. (WCxKit)
The eventual cost of a catastrophic injury is very difficult to establish early in the life of the claim. Even the experienced adjuster does not have a crystal ball to determine if the overall cost of the claim is going to be $500,000 or $5 million when establishing the initial reserves on the claim. With catastrophic claims, as additional medical and rehabilitation information becomes available, the reserves are often adjusted by large amounts (6 figures or more) several years into the claim.
To establish the value of the catastrophic injury claim, there are various factors the adjuster considers. While it is the adjuster's responsibility to establish the reserve, the smart risk manager does not leave it all up to the adjuster. It behooves the employer to review the factors that go into reserving to be sure the adjuster is setting the proper reserve and not taking the easy way out by reserving a nice round number like $1 million.
The factors that go into establishing the value of the catastrophic injury claims can be divided into the three areas: indemnity, medical, and claim related expenses. Look for vendors specializing in
Life Care Planning.
Lifetime cost of the indemnity includes:
1. The employee's average weekly wage and weekly indemnity benefit.
2. The time span of the indemnity; does it last for a set number of weeks, (500 weeks), as it does in about half of the states, or does it last a lifetime, or to a set cut off point in the retirement years?
3. The employee's age and projected life span on the actuarial tables.
4. Does the indemnity rate remain the same for permanent total disability as for temporary total disability, or does the compensation rate change?
4. What is the amount of the offset for social security disability?
Medical factors in establishing the value of the claim:
1. The cost of immediate medical care following the injury.
2. The cost of surgical interventions in the first years following the injury.
3. The on-going cost of medical care on an annual basis after the medical status is stabilized.
4. The cost of modifications to the employee's home and current and future vehicles.
5. The cost of institutional medical care.
6. The cost of durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, artificial limbs, hospital beds, oxygen tents, etc.).
Claim handling expenses for catastrophic claims:
1. Nurse case managers.
2. Rehabilitation specialist.
3. Defense attorneys.
4. Actuarial experts. (WCxKit)
The above items impacting the value of the catastrophic claim are not the only factors to consider when establishing the future claim cost. If the insurance company decides to settle the catastrophic workers comp claim, they work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to obtain approval of the Medicare Set Aside Agreement (MSA). The value of the settlement has to be high enough that the claimant (in theory) never has any future medical cost paid by CMS.
Another factor impacting the value of the catastrophic injury claim is the availability, in some states, of a Subsequent Injury Trust Fund to cover part of the future cost of the claim. Also consider whether or not the insurance company can resolve the claim with a structured settlement and of the future cost of the claim being sold to another insurance company. (WCxKit)
While it is possible to calculate the value of the catastrophic injury claim, keep in mind a catastrophic injury is a major life altering event for the employee. The catastrophic injury impacts almost every area of the employee's life and family. It is a personal tragedy far beyond the financial cost of the claim.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. Shafer is the author of Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
More than 300 local government delegates from across B.C. met in Vancouver recently to share strategies and reaffirm their commitment to protecting workers from occupational injury, disease, and death, according to a report from WorkSafeBC.
The 2011 BC Municipal Occupational Health and Safety Conference provided a forum for governments, municipalities, school boards, and other public sector agencies to exchange success stories about improving health and safety in the workplace through a series of presentations, workshops, and panel discussions. The BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA), CUPE BC, and WorkSafeBC sponsored the conference. (WCxKit)
These discussions affect a significant portion of Vancouver’s working public. Approximately 513 employers, responsible for the occupational health and safety of more than 39,800 workers, are registered with WorkSafeBC’s local government sector. Between 2006 and 2010, this sector experienced a 20 percent decrease in workplace injuries. Yet, despite the encouraging news, WorkSafeBC accepted more than 9,100 injury claims — 2,200 of which were labeled serious injuries — during the same time period.
“Public sector workers are exposed to a wide variety of hazards,” says Cathy Cook, conference chairperson and executive director of the BCMSA. “We have put together these sessions to help employers, supervisors, and workers be aware of the hazards and provide them with some real-life solutions to improve their safety.”
The BC Municipal Safety Association is a non-profit society that provides a common focal point for occupational health and safety concerns in the municipal environment. Its purpose is to identify and address these concerns, and to create learning opportunities for its members. All employers in the local government and related operations classification unit are members of the BCMSA. (WCxKit)
“BCMSA’s increased safety training throughout the province, their enhanced Web site, e-newsletter, and overall engagement in the municipal sector on safety matters is making a difference,” says Ed Dowling, general industries manager for WorkSafeBC’s Industry and Labour Services. “The feedback from past conferences is outstanding. Employers, supervisors, and employee representatives are returning to their worksites as safety champions. We see a compounding effect — demonstrated by a 20 percent decrease in injuries since 2006.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited Central Transport International Inc. for 17 safety, including four repeat, violations at the company's Hillside facility.
According to OSHA, the violations involve allowing workers to operate unsafe forklifts and failing to provide proper eyewash facilities for workers exposed to corrosive chemicals, among others. Proposed penalties total $164,800.
OSHA's Chicago North Area Office initiated an inspection after receiving a complaint alleging that employees were not provided with forklift training and a hazardous material spill had occurred due to a forklift incident. No injuries were reported. (WCxKit)
"Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to workplace safety and health standards. Deficient forklifts and improperly handled chemicals can lead to serious injuries or death," said Diane Turek, director of OSHA's Chicago North office in Des Plaines. "All employers must take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace."
Four repeat violations with proposed penalties of $132,000 have been cited, including exposing workers to hazards by allowing them to operate forklifts that remained in service even after deficiencies were noted; exposing workers' eyes, faces and hands to corrosive chemicals without providing suitable eyewash facilities; and failing to develop an emergency response plan and conduct fire extinguisher training.
A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The company was cited for the same violations at numerous facilities between 2006 and 2011.
Central Transport also has been cited for eight serious violations with proposed penalties of $30,800, including failing to train and evaluate forklift drivers, maintain forklift name plates in legible condition, label hazardous material containers, maintain the mechanic shop maintenance area in a dry condition, provide workers with training on hazardous chemicals and provide material data safety sheets for workers reference. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. (WCxKit)
Finally, the company has been cited for five other-than-serious violations with $2,000 in proposed penalties for failing to maintain the OSHA 300 injury and illness log, maintain fire extinguishers, illuminate exit signs and unlock a fire exit door. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
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Management Commitment, Safety and Loss Control, WC in Other Countries (International) |
