OSHA is INCREASING PENALTIES for SERIOUS Safety Violations ON THE JOB INJURY

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is increasing penalties for serious safety violations, contending current fines are too low to have a deterrent effect.

OSHA's average penalty for a serious violation has been around $1,000.

Under the agency's new policy, the average fine for a serious violation - one that could cause death or serious injury - will increase to between $3,000 and $4,000.

Have you suffered an on-the-job injury?  CALL the TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law for FREE telephone consultation.  (888) 392-LAWS (5297)  We are available 24 hours a day.  CALL NOW  - don't guess what you are entitiled to. 

www.trippfirm.com  - TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

HURT AT WORK? – Workplace injury – OSHA – unsafe workplaces.

According to ABC World News, the Federal Government is about to launch a sweeping crackdown on dangerous work places.

Thousands of other workers are killed on the job every year and hundreds of thousands are injured. Many employers provide as safe work environment. However, there are a lot of irresponsible employers who don't ensure workers are given safe workplaces to work in.

Have you suffered an on the job injury? Call the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for an immediate confidential telephone consultation. (888) 392-LAWS (5297).  No FEES or No COSTS if NO RECOVERY.  Call 24 hours a day.

http://www.trippfirm.com/ – TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law

WALT DISNEY WORLD – OSHA fine reduction – workplace safety issues

ORLANDO – According to the AP, a fine issued to Walt Disney World by a federal workplace safety agency (OSHA) for a serious violation that contributed to the death of a worker during a summer monorail accident has been reduced by 20 percent.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Walt Disney World signed a settlement agreement on Friday. The original fines totaling of $44,000 has been reduced to $35,200 for workplace safety violations.

Under the agreement, Disney says it will correct all four safety violations cited by OSHA.

Walt Disney World – ORLANDO - workplace injury - OSHA

ORLANDO – The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) cited Walt Disney World and urged them to follow monorail manufacturer operating instructions warning of potential hazards when moving the monorail in reverse. The manufacturer recommends using a spotter to watch a train backing up. The federal agency also urged Disney to provide written instruction and training for monorail console operators and to make sure a coordinator is in a control tower when directing monorail operations.

According to the resort’s chief safety officer, Disney World already has taken many of the steps recommended by OSHA.

 

http://www.trippfirm.com/

OSHA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into Walt Disney World monorail crash ♦ Epcot line

LAKE BUENA VISTA ♦ A Disney employee was killed when the monorail trains collided just outside the Transportation and Ticket Center, located at the parking lot of the Magic Kingdom. A park official reported that the crash happened during a track switch attempt, while they were trying to remove one of the trains off the Epcot line.

For the first time ever, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Sunday's monorail crash at Walt Disney World that killed a cast member piloting one of the trains. The NSTB decided to launch a full investigation into the crash after reviewing preliminary crash information from Disney. The board said it has jurisdiction on Walt Disney World property because the monorail is a transport system used by the public. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct an investigation to determine if any workplace safety rules were violated.

Theme parks are not subject to state regulation. Walt Disney World and other Orlando theme parks have their own safety guidelines.

UPDATE – JULY 9, 2009 - The NTSB reported that no malfunctions have been found with the automatic train stop system, nor with any mechanical parts of the switch. No mechanical problems were found with the two trains that collided Sunday. The NTSB says a pink train was changing tracks when it backed up into a purple train. "It appears that the operator of the purple train tried to reverse to avoid the collision," said an NSTB official.

UPDATE – July 10, 2009 - Cast Members On Paid Leave After Monorail Crash - Three Disney cast members have been put on paid leave as part of the investigative process. The three positions they hold are: monorail transportation manager, monorail shop worker, and monorail pilot. Investigators still haven't found any problems with the monorails or tracks, and think human error may be to blame.

www.trippfirm.com

OSHA investigating deadly Pinellas crane accident ♦ Palm Harbor ♦ Paramedics ♦ Deputies on the scene ♦ Home Port Marina

PINELLAS COUNTY-- An investigation is expected to continue today into what caused a crane to topple over Monday in a deadly accident in Palm Harbor. The crane fell over at the Home Port Marina just before 6 p.m., killing the 71-year-old operator. Preliminary details indicated that the crane fell over on its side, throwing the crane operator from his seat. Paramedics said the crane operator, from Tarpon Springs, suffered severe head injuries. He died at the scene.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies said representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration also arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation into the accident. Officials said the investigation, which may center on the crane and how much weight it may have been lifting, could take up to a week.

This crane collapse was not the first one here in Florida. Last month, a crane toppled over at the new Orlando Magic arena. No one was hurt in that crash. Also, last year in south Florida, a crane collapsed in Pompano Beach in Broward County. Crews were working on a baseball facility at the time. No one was injured.

OSHA fines Wal-Mart over trampling death of employee Ι Wal-Mart failed to train employees and implement effective crowd management control.

According to the Associated Press, "The death of a temporary employee who was crushed in a stampede of post-Thanksgiving shoppers at a Wal-Mart store could have been prevented, federal officials said Tuesday as they proposed fining the world's largest retailer $7,000 - as much money as it makes in about 18 seconds."

The agency cited Wal-Mart "for inadequate crowd management following the Nov. 28, 2008, death of Jdimytai Damour at a Long Island store." A spokesperson for Wal-Mart said, "Wal-Mart has 'never had a tragedy like this occur in our stores and we never want it to happen again.'"

The Dow Jones reports, "OSHA's inspection found the store's failure to implement reasonable and effective crowd management meant employees could be crushed by the crowd. The failure included not providing employees with training and tools to safely manage the large crowd of shoppers."

www.trippfirm.com