OSHA cracks down on federal agencies that violate workplace standards

File this regulation sign under “Another reason to follow OSHA safety regulations” (via MySafetySign.com).

September 11, 2011 — Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest for failing to mitigate employees’ exposure to toxic chemicals at the Coronado, California, facility. The move serves as a reminder that even government agencies are required to uphold OSHA’s workplace health and safety standards.

Over three separate inspections in 2011, OSHA found the aircraft maintenance facility exposed the 500 workers to extremely toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and beryllium.  “Exposing workers to metals such as lead, cadmium and beryllium can result in serious illness and even fatal respiratory disease,” said Jay Vicory, director of OSHA’s San Diego Area office. “We are encouraged by the Department of the Navy’s response to OSHA’s intervention, and we are working cooperatively with that department to further mitigate the hazards uncovered.”

Signage that warns of potential dangers is an OSHA requirement (via MySafetySign.com).

As required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, federal agencies must comply with the same health and safety standards as private-sector employers, and it’s not uncommon for them to receive violation notices. In May, for example, four Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in Northern California received 26 notices for violations such as blocked emergency doors, electrical hazards and exposure to contaminated needles.

It’s such an issue, in fact, that OSHA has implemented the Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program, which involves unannounced inspections of agency workplaces that reported a high number of “lost time injuries” during the previous year.  Nevertheless, rather than getting slapped with a citation and heavy fine, federal agencies receive a “notice of an unhealthful or unsafe working condition.”

OSHA’s Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program focuses on government workplaces that have reported a high number of injuries. (via nytimes.com).

Inspections at the Navy facility resulted in 21 serious violations, including alleged “willful violations” – “committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.” These included allowing workers to store and consume food and beverages in areas contaminated by toxic materials.

Other serious violations cited include the accumulation of lead dusts throughout the workplace, the use of dry sweeping to clean work areas where lead was found, and a failure to implement a program for beryllium hazard prevention and control.

The facility has 15 business days from receipt of the latest notices to comply or to request an informal conference with OSHA officials.

While workplace health and safety precautions vary by industry and sometimes by state, OSHA’s general standards require employers to provide a “place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.” General requirements include:

• Using, posters, labels, signs and color codes to warn employees of potential hazards.
• Establishing and maintaining operating procedures for safety and health requirements, and communicating them thoroughly.
• Ensuring that protective equipment is functioning effectively and is being properly used to minimize health risks.

– A.H. Hirt