Laws on Working Alone are Being Re-Evaluated by Alberta H&S Inspectors After Two Violent Robberies

The Alberta government plans to inspect 200 convenient stores and gas bars after two separate robberies lead to the death of two clerks.  These inspections will cover current legislation related to working alone, workplace violence, paycheck deductions and employing young workers. The need for these inspections is to help determine the next steps in the review of occupational health and safety and employment standards laws.  Read more here.

CSB Releases Its Initial Findings on the 2013 Ammonia Nitrate Fertilizer Explosion at West Fertilizer Co.

Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its initial findings on the 2013 explosion from the storage of large quantities of ammonia nitrate (AN) fertilizer, where 14 people were killed, 226 injured and local communities destroyed.  Findings indicate fire fighters and other first responders along with the communities located near AN storage and distribution facilities are not being told of the AN hazard; and there are no fire codes are in place to ensure companies use safe storage practices for AN fertilizer.  Fertilizer Institute establishes guidelines for first responders.  Read more here

Insufficient Risk Assessment and Unsafe Work System Lead to UK Worker Losing His Arm in Dangerous Machinery

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lead an investigation into a 2013 accident where a worker lost his arm while cleaning a potato grinder. The investigation found that there were unsafe systems of work being used, which involved cleaning and clearing blockages from the rollers while they were still rotating under power. On 25 January 2016, W B Daw & Son of Staffordshire, was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000 after being found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.  HSE Inspector David Brassington said: "Incidents of this kind are all too common and generally have serious consequences. The onus is on employers to ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken for work activities involving exposure to dangerous parts of machinery, and to make sure that robust safe systems of work are implemented to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery."  Read more here.

Blocked Exits and Other Repeat Safety Violations at a Dollar General Store Leads to a $113K Fine

OSHA inspected a Dollar General store in Pennsylvania for one serious incident and three repeat violations, and proposes a fine of $113,300.  The compliant alleged hazards due to bolted and blocked exits and blocked aisles.  The company was also cited for failure to have a fire extinguisher readily available.  Dollar General stores have been cited more than 40 times and inspected by OSHA more than 70 times since 2009, usually because of blocked exits, electrical panels, as well as improperly maintained fire extinguishers.  "It only takes one emergency for workers to get hurt or killed because of the company's deficient safety practices", says OSHA's area director of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.