August 15, 2016
OSHA finds Furia Roofing Co. Inc. again exposes employees to life-threatening falls at a Bergen County, NJ work site, proposes $79K in fines
Employer name: Furia Roofing Co. Inc., 2 Monhegan St., Clifton, New Jersey
Inspection site: 699 Route 46 East, Teterboro, New Jersey
Citations issued: On Aug. 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for one repeat and three serious violations.
Investigation findings: OSHA initiated an inspection on April 25, 2016, after a compliance officer observed Furia Roofing employees working on low slope roofs without fall protection and without effective fall protection, resulting in the repeat violations.
The serious violations relate to issues with fall protection equipment.
Quote: "Furia Roofing has repeatedly violated OSHA standards by failing to provide employees with fall protection and continuing to expose construction workers to serious injury or death. This failure to ensure worker safety indicates a problematic safety and health management system," said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA's Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. "OSHA will not tolerate this company continually endangering its workers. Furia should correct these hazards and implement an effective injury and illness prevention program for its workers."
Proposed penalties: $79,240
The citation can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/FuriaRoofingCoInc_1142474.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 Hasbrouck Heights Area Office at 201-288-1700.
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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Contractor Profile: Furia Roofing Inc.
August 18, 2010
Dan D. Furia believes the company's philosophy of quality and service creates growth.
Sponsored by Allied Building Products Corporation Dan D. Furia, president of Furia Roofing Inc. in Clifton, N.J., believes the company’s philosophy of quality and service creates growth.
“We believe our commitment to this ideal is the main reason for our dramatic growth since the company’s inception,” Furia told Roofing Contractor magazine.
Furia Roofing, No. 86 on Roofing Contractor’s Top 100 list (see page 34), was formed in 1994 by Daniel Furia Sr. and Daniel D. Furia as a full-service commercial roofing company.
Today Furia is the sole principal of Furia Roofing, having taken over the company in 1999 with the retirement of Furia Sr. Since the younger Furia took the helm, the business has grown “threefold.”
“As our reputation and business grew we became authorized applicators of many of the industry’s top manufacturers,” Furia said. “We became a licensed Carlisle applicator in 1996, which greatly aided in our continued growth.”
In 1999, Furia Roofing built an office and warehouse, and in 2003 the company became a Carlisle ESP (Excellence in Single Ply) contractor. “By the end of 2009 we had installed in excess of 6 million square feet of Carlisle membrane alone,” Furia said. “In addition to the Carlisle installations we have extensive experience with built-up SBS.”
Through the years, Furia Roofing has compiled an impressive list of satisfied customers, including Acme Supermarkets, AMB Property Corporation, Allied Building Products, AT&T, Barnes & Noble, Bear Stearns, Bed Bath & Beyond, Commerce Bank, Connell Corporation, Edwards Foods, Garden State Plaza Mall, Garden State Properties, Gucci International, Hartz Mountain, Home Depot, Kohl’s Department Stores, Lexus, Linens ’n Things, L’Oreal, Lowe’s Home Improvement, New Jersey Transit, New York Sports Club, Pathmark, PetSmart, PFG – AFI Food Services, Prestige Auto Group, Prudential Insurance, Pulte Homes, Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Rockaway Mall, Simon Property Group, SJP Properties, Staples, Stop & Shop, Topcon Medical Systems, Unilever Corporation, United Parcel Service, University of Medicine & Dentistry, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods.
“What makes our company unique is our personal service,” Furia said. “I personally visit each job each no matter how busy we are. I believe my ready accessibility to the clients gives them the confidence they are getting the right job.”
Furia Roofing just completed re-roofing the Gucci International American headquarters and shipping hub. “The project was an existing built-up roof over perlite insulation on a metal deck,” Furia said. “What was unique about this project was all the warehouse stock. Approximately 210,000 square feet is totally exposed and is not in boxes. The astronomical value of the inventory made off-hours work impossible.”
In the Gucci project, the challenge for Furia Roofing was to remove the existing roof without allowing any debris to contaminate the ocean of expensive designer clothing.
“We decided to literally tarp the entire interior of the building,” Furia said. “We attached clear 6 mil polyethylene sheeting to the bar joists on the entire building before starting the tear-off process. Attaching to the joists instead of simply draping the sheeting over the racks eliminated both our main obstacles.”
Furia offered some reliable advice to contractors: “Stay relevant and viable,” he said.
“We have focused on the larger property managers in our area,” Furia said. “We have found they are financially solid and are taking full advantage of the overly competitive pricing a depressed economy yields.”
When he’s not running a roofing business, Furia is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys his Harley Davidson motorcycles and snowmobile.
4th heat-related death recorded in Philadelphia
Monday, August 15, 2016 04:19PM
PHILADELPHIA -- Authorities say a fourth heat-related death has been recorded in Philadelphia during the current heat wave.
A spokesman for the city medical examiner's office said Sunday that heat was a factor in the death of a 72-year-old west Philadelphia man whose other conditions included diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
Officials earlier said heat was a factor in the death of a 59-year-old north Philadelphia man, a 67-year-old north Philadelphia woman and an 82-year-old northeast Philadelphia woman.
In addition to those four deaths during the current heat wave, there have been four other heat-related deaths this year.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the city until 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for Lake County due to the effects of the Clayton Fire, which has burned thousands of acres, damaged critical infrastructure, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of residents.
By Laura Anthony
Updated 41 mins ago
LOWER LAKE, Calif. (KGO) -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday issued an emergency proclamation for Lake County due to the effects of the Clayton Fire, which has burned thousands of acres, damaged critical infrastructure, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of residents.
PHOTOS: Crews battle massive Clayton Fire in Lake County
The aftermath of the massive Clayton Fire in Lake County, California on Monday, August 15, 2016. (KGO-TV)
Firefighters are battling a raging wildfire that CAL FIRE officials say has destroyed at least 175 structures and forced thousands to evacuate the Lower Lake area of Lake County.
Firefighters are calling this the Clayton Fire because it started near Clayton Creek Road. It started Saturday and crews seemed to have a handle on it until it blew up Sunday afternoon, quickly taking over the town of Lower Lake.
With the Clayton Fire still raging to the east, and aerial tankers and firefighters doing their best to stop it, all the weary residents of Lower Lake can do is watch, worry and hope.
"My hope was that I still might have a house here," said Matt Colburn.
Matt and Crystal Colburn live on Winchester Street, just a few blocks from downtown Lower Lake. Here, home after home is gone. And though she hasn't been allowed back in yet to see it for herself, it's a reality Crystal has already begun to accept.
"As long as the lives are safe and the animals, we saw animals, people getting their animals out and everything. Everything else is rebuildable," said Crystal.
The big flames from Sunday were a wind-whipped inferno that destroyed one business after another in a matter of minutes. And it's a battle that's far from over
"We have a lot of resources in the air and on the ground. We want to get this under control as quickly as possible. We want to get this wrapped up. This community has been through a lot of fires in the last year," said Paul Lowenthal with the North Bay Incident Management Team.
Indeed, families like these, who are waiting it out with their animals at an evacuation center in Middletown are left to wonder why this keeps happening here.
"Two summers now. Yeah, the Valley Fire. It's too much for one person to handle you know," shared Manny Cook, another evacuee.
PG&E has cut power to miles of electrical lines in order to make it safer for firefighters.
As of Monday morning, roughly 1,800 homes and businesses are without power. That's down significantly from 8,00 who were without power on Sunday night.
The flames have damaged about 20 PG and E power poles and other essential equipment.
Clayton Fire Resources:
School closures:
The following schools will are closed Monday in the Konocti Unified School District because of the fire: Lower Lake High, Lower Lake Elementary, Carle, Konocti Education Center, Burns Valley, Pomona, East Lake and Clearlake Creativity Center.
Evacuation centers:
A power outage has closed the Clearlake Highland Senior Center as an evacuation center. Residents are being advised to go evacuation centers located at:
Kelseyville High School - 5480 Main Street, Kelseyville
Twin Pine Casino - 22223 Hwy 29, Middletown
Seventh Day Adventist Church - 3500 Hill Road E. Lakeport
Closures:
Highway 53 is open to all traffic between Olympic Dr. and Highway 20; however, it remains closed between Olympic Dr. and Highway 29.
Donation information:
North Coast Opportunities is re-activating the fire relief fund created during 2015's devastating Lake County wildfires and is already working with local organizations to react as quickly as possible to the Clayton fire. More details about the fund and how to apply will be forthcoming. In the meantime, to donations are being accepted at any Mendo Lake Credit Union branch, at any NCO office or via PayPal.
To donate via PayPal, click here.
Make checks payable to: NCO / Wildfire Relief Fund. Be sure to write "Clayton Fire" in the memo section.
The Salvation Army of Northern California has deployed multiple canteens (mobile kitchens) to the #ClaytonFire scene in Lake County. Salvation Army representatives are also distributing meals to evacuation centers at Kelseyville High School and Seventh Day Adventist Church in Lakeport. They are also providing emotional and spiritual care to the affected areas.
Click here to learn how you can help.
Also, the Salvation Army is also collecting monetary donations. They use 100 percent of disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations. To learn more about how to donate, click here.
PHOTOS: Crews battle massive 2015 Valley Fire
Some of the materials found in Middletown, Calif. that the Environmental Protection Agency deemed hazardous Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. (KGO-TV)
CSB Deploying to Site of Hot Work Incident Injuring Seven Workers in Port Arthur, Texas
Washington DC, August 15, 2016 - An investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of an incident that injured seven workers – including three critically – that occurred Friday August 12 at the Sunoco Logistics Partners, a terminal facility in Port Arthur, Texas.
According to initial inquiries the incident involved a flash fire during welding – also referred to as hot work - activities at the facility. Hot work is defined as burning, welding, or similar spark-producing operations that can ignite fires or explosions. Media reports state that all of the injured were contractors engaged in work activities on a crude oil pipeline connection.
“The CSB has investigated too many incidents involving hot work – my thoughts go out to the workers and their families affected by this tragedy” said Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland. “In an effort to warn of the dangers of hot work the CSB has issued a wide range of material regarding the dangers of hot work including safety videos, a safety bulletin, and accident investigations.
The investigative team will be led by Investigator-in-Charge Mark Wingard and will be accompanied by Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland.
The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency’s board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.
For more information, contact Hillary Cohen (traveling with the team) at 202.446.8094 or via email at public@csb.gov.
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Seven injured following flash fire during welding at Sunoco Logistics
Multiple injuries following explosion at Sunoco Logistics Nederland Terminal
Scott Eslinger, KBMT 11:24 AM. EST August 13, 2016
NEDERLAND - UPDATE:
The following statement was issued by Sunoco Logistics:
Shortly before 9 p.m. Central Time Friday, Sunoco Logistics was alerted to a fire on a construction project at its Nederland Terminal in Nederland, Texas. Seven employees of a contractor working on site were injured, four of them critically, in what appeared to be a flash fire involving a crude-oil pipeline connection. Three of the injured were transported to burn centers via helicopter, four by ambulance to area hospitals.
Sunoco Logistics will work with the contractor, L-Con, Inc., to investigate the cause of the accident and support those injured and their families. Our prayers are with them.
There was no impact to nearby residents. We thank the Nederland Police Department, Nederland Fire Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management and Acadian Ambulance for their timely response. The U.S. Coast Guard was on site as well Friday.
A flash fire at the Sunoco Logistics' Nederland, Texas, terminal has injured seven people according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
The workers were injured while doing some welding at the terminal according to the Marcus McLellan of the sheriff's office.
Three of the injured were taken by Life Flight to Houston or Galveston hospitals with burns and four were transported by ambulance to local hospitals according to McLellan
The sheriff's office, Nederland Police Department and Acadian Ambulance responded to the scene in the 2300 block of Twin City Highway.
Sunoco Logistics is in the business of transporting, terminaling and storing crude oil, natural gas liquids and refined products according to their website.
The Nederland terminal handles crude oil, condensate, naptha, base and extract oils according to the site.
The terminal is connected to several pipelines as well as the strategic petroleum reserve and has marine crude transfer facilities.
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Feds probing if fire at Texas refinery caused by welder
August 15, 2016
By The Associated Press
NEDERLAND, Texas (AP) — Federal investigators are reviewing whether a welding contractor working on a crude oil pipeline connection under construction might have helped ignite a flash fire that injured seven people at a Southeast Texas refinery.
The Beaumont Enterprise reports (http://bit.ly/2aTW1jY ) the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Saturday was investigating the fire at the Sunoco refinery, located about 10 miles southeast of Beaumont, Texas.
Jeff Shields, a Sunoco spokesman, says part of the investigation into Friday night's fire will review whether the contractors followed safety practices.
Shields says seven contract workers were injured, four of them critically.
Three workers were flown to burn specialist hospitals in Houston and Galveston and the rest went to local hospitals by ambulance.
Shields did not have an update on the conditions of the injured workers.
