An employee with Fayetteville PWC killed when an excavator tipped over into McFadyen lake off Offing Drive in Fayetteville, NC.

Thursday, December 01, 2016 12:56PM
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WTVD) -- The operator of an excavator died Tuesday when the machine tipped over into McFadyen lake off Offing Drive in Fayetteville.  He was with Fayetteville Public Works Commission.
 
The Fayetteville Public Works Commission identified the man as James (J.W.) Ivey, a water resources crew leader and 13-year employee.

The excavator was pulled from the water but Ivey was not inside. Divers located his body.

"J.W. was a long-time dedicated employee and this is a tremendous loss to the PWC family," said PWC CEO/General Manager David Trego. "This loss reminds us of the extremely dangerous conditions our employees face every day and why safety is our top concern. All of PWC has J.W.'s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers."

Witnesses told ABC11 that work was being done on sewer lines damaged by Hurricane Matthew when the accident happened.

OSHA is doing an assessment for their separate investigation. Preliminary information shows Ivey was operating a skid steer loader near a creek. The bank collapsed under the skid steer loader and slid into the water and overturned, OSHA determined.

Slawson Exploration Company, Inc., to Pay $4.1M to Make System Upgrades and Undertake Projects to Reduce Air Pollution in North Dakota

Slawson Exploration Company, Inc., to Make System Upgrades and Undertake Projects to Reduce Air Pollution in North Dakota

12/01/2016
Contact Information:
Tricia Lynn (lynn.tricia@epa.gov)
(202) 564-2615

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice today announced a settlement with Slawson Exploration Company, Inc., resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations stemming from the company's oil and gas production activities in North Dakota, including on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The settlement resolves claims that Slawson failed to adequately design, operate, and maintain vapor control systems on its storage tanks at its approximately 170 oil and natural gas well pads in North Dakota, resulting in emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are a key component in the formation of smog or ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

As part of this settlement, Slawson’s total expenditures on system upgrades, monitoring and inspections are estimated to be $4.1 million. These improvements will significantly reduce VOC emissions and include the use of advanced technology such as infrared cameras and electronic pressure monitors to better detect and respond to air emissions. In addition, Slawson will spend at least an estimated $2 million to fund environmental mitigation projects and pay a $2.1 million civil penalty.

“This settlement puts Next Generation Compliance technologies to work to reduce air pollution across communities in North Dakota, including on tribal lands,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at EPA. “EPA is committed to making sure that domestic energy development grows in a responsible way that protects public health and complies with the law.”

“Safe, responsible, and lawful development of domestic energy resources and technology is of great importance to a sustainable future for all Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This Clean Air Act agreement will bring better air quality and lasting health benefits to communities in North Dakota, including the people of the Three Affiliated Tribes.”

EPA estimates Slawson’s system upgrades, many of which are already in place, will reduce the emission of at least 11,700 tons of VOCs, 400 tons of hazardous air pollutants, primarily benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, and 2,600 tons of methane annually. Improved operation and maintenance will result in additional emissions reductions, as will the replacement of all pit flares used to control emissions from storage tanks.

Many of Slawson’s North Dakota wells are located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation; governed by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. Nearly all of the electronic pressure monitors will be installed at operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation; Slawson will replace all pit flares on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation with control devices capable of achieving greater efficiency. These measures, in addition to the other injunctive relief and mitigation projects Slawson will carry out on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, will result in a substantial reduction in harmful emissions.

Slawson’s oil and natural gas production operations in North Dakota use storage tanks to store produced oil and water prior to transport. Multiple storage tanks are typically present at a well pad and are frequently controlled by the same vapor control system. Today’s settlement resolves alleged violations at all of Slawson’s well pads in North Dakota with wells in production.

This settlement is part of EPA's national enforcement initiative to reduce public health and environmental impacts from energy extraction activities. For more information about EPA's enforcement initiative: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/national-enforcement-initiative-ensuring-energy-extraction-activities-comply

The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. To make a public comment: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees

For more information on this settlement: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/slawson-exploration-company-inc-clean-air-act-settlement



Company Overview

Slawson Exploration Company, Inc. explores and produces oil and natural gas. The company was founded in 1957 and is based in Wichita, Kansas. Slawson Exploration Company, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Slawson Companies, Inc.

DIVISIONS 
Engineers and roughnecks, architects and carpenters, hotel clerks and smoothie operators. Slawson Companies is as diverse as the dedicated folks who make up our workforce. Click below to explore our oil and gas exploration, real estate development, hospitality and wellness operations.

OSHA has fined Walker International Events $24,000 in connection with a circus tent collapse in Lancaster, New Hampshire last year that killed a father and her daughter.

OSHA fines company involved in New Hampshire tent collapse deaths


FL company reaches first settlement over fatal NH tent collapse.
NEWS CENTER , WCSH 5:37 PM. EST November 30, 2016

BOSTON, Massachusetts (NEWS CENTER) -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined a Florida-based company $24,000 in connection with a circus tent collapse in Lancaster, New Hampshire last year that killed a father and her daughter.

Walker International Events was also cited for 14 serious violations of workplace safety standards. The collapse also injured dozens of spectators. Walker is currently out of business. If and when the company attempts to resume operations it will have to implement a comprehensive safety and health management plan that includes procedures for the safe installation of outdoor tents.

OSHA also found that despite repeated warnings of severe storms from the National Weather Service, Walker proceeded with a scheduled outdoor circus performance. The company also failed to install the tent safely in keeping with industry standards.

OSHA fines Foundations Behavioral Health $37K for serious federal violations after hospital workers exposed to violence, bloodborne hazards

December 1, 2016

Pennsylvania hospital workers exposed to violence, bloodborne hazards OSHA fines Foundations Behavioral Health $37K for serious federal violations

Employer Name:

Universal Health Services of Doylestown Inc.

833 East Butler Ave.

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Corporate Headquarters:

Universal Health Services Inc.

367 South Gulph Road

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: On Nov. 10, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued Universal Health Services of Doylestown Inc., doing business as Foundations Behavioral Health, citations for four serious violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA's inspection began on May 13, 2016, after the Allentown area office received a complaint alleging problems related to workplace violence at the facility.

TThe agency cited the serious violations for the company's failure to:

• Protect workers from the hazard of workplace violence such as physical assaults by patients (e.g., by ensuring workers used protective arm guards to protect against injuries from incidents of biting.)
• Conduct an annual review of its bloodborne pathogen program.
• Provide annual bloodborne pathogen training to registered nurses and mental health technicians.

Quote: "Hospitals and other healthcare settings pose significant safety and health risks to workers. OSHA standards prevent these employees from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other common dangers. Foundations Behavioral Health failed to provide a safe and healthful workplace, which is unacceptable," said Jean Kulp, director of OSHA's Allentown Area Office.

Proposed penalties: $36,701

The citation can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/UHSofDoylestownLLC_1147891.pdf.

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Allentown area office at 267-429-7542.

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U.S. Postal Service LLC, doing business as Brooklyn South Carrier Annex fined $342K after inspectors find workers exposed to bloodborne pathogen hazards at Brooklyn, Maryland, annex

December 1, 2016

OSHA fines USPS $342K after inspectors find workers exposed to
bloodborne pathogen hazards at Brooklyn, Maryland, annex

Employer name: U.S. Postal Service LLC, doing business as Brooklyn South Carrier Annex

Inspection site: 1500 Cherry Hill Road, Brooklyn, Maryland

Citations issued: On Nov. 22, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the postal service for one serious, two willful, and three repeat health violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA began the inspection on May 24, 2016, in response to a complaint alleging employee exposure to blood and other potentially infectious bodily fluids while handling packages labeled as containing biological infectious materials.

The willful violations relate to the employer's failure to have an implemented written bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan, including performing an exposure determination and offering exposed employees the Hepatitis B vaccine. Additionally, the USPS failed to implement a hazard communication program. The employer did not properly train workers for bloodborne pathogen protection or provide them with properly-sized gloves, resulting in the other violations.

Quote: "Exposure to bloodborne pathogen hazards can result in serious or life-threatening illnesses. To reduce or eliminate these hazards at USPS's Brooklyn facility, an exposure control plan must be implemented to protect employees and provide a safe and healthy workplace," said Nadira Janack, director at OSHA's Baltimore Area Office.

Proposed penalties: $342,059

The citation can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/USPostalService_1150333.pdf

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Baltimore Area Office at 410-865-2055.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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