Archive for June, 2011
US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, for safety and health hazards; $48,000 in fines proposed
Region 2 News Release: 11-936-NEW/BOS 2011-230
June 28, 2011
Contact: Ted Fitzgerald
Phone: 617-565-2074
Email: fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov
US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Interfaith Medical Center in
Brooklyn, NY, for safety and health hazards; $48,000 in fines proposed
NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Interfaith Medical Center, 1545 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn, for 14 violations of workplace health and safety standards following an OSHA inspection. The hospital faces a total $48,000 in proposed fines.
“OSHA standards require that employees whose duties bring them in contact or close proximity to asbestos or potential asbestos-containing material be informed and trained about the hazards and safeguards associated with that material,” said Kay Gee, OSHA’s area director for Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. “That knowledge is vital since ongoing exposure to asbestos can result in asbestosis, mesothelioma and cancer of the lung.”
OSHA’s inspection found that the hospital failed to provide adequate asbestos training for environmental staff and employees in the engineering department who perform demolition and renovation. Nor did it inform outside contractors of the presence of potentially asbestos-containing material in and around their work area. It also failed to properly label asbestos-containing insulation and floor tile, and allowed disposal of asbestos-containing material in the hospital dumpster. Additionally, the hospital failed to train trade employees on the hazards; provide them with material data safety sheets; and develop a written hazard communication program for cleaners, lubricants, acetylene, naptha and other hazardous chemicals. Furthermore, the inspection found improper storage of compressed gas cylinders and electric shock hazards from exposed and improperly spliced wiring. These conditions resulted in the issuance of citations for 10 serious violations with $44,000 in proposed fines. Four other-than-serious violations with $4,000 in fines were cited for incomplete OSHA 300 illness and injury logs for 2007 through 2010.
A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Detailed information on asbestos hazards and safeguards is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html, while information on chemical hazard communication is available at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html.
“One means of addressing hazards such as these is by establishing and maintaining an illness and injury prevention program in which employers and employees work jointly to identify and eliminate hazards,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in New York.
Inetrfaith Medical Center has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA’s Manhattan Area Office; telephone 212-620-3200. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
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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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.
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SDG&E Expects to Meet Summer Power Supply Demand
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SDG&E Expects to Meet Summer Power Supply Demand
Conservation and Demand-Response Programs Still Key
San Diego, CA, June 28, 2011 - San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced it has secured adequate electricity supplies and required reserves to meet customers’ expected energy needs this summer, barring extreme weather conditions.
The California Independent Systems Operator (Cal-ISO), the agency responsible for managing the statewide power grid, has issued its 2011 Summer Assessment confirming adequate supplies to meet the projected electricity demand across the state – even if hotter-than-average temperatures occur.
“This year forecasters are predicting a warmer summer compared to last year when San Diego experienced unusually cool temperatures during the summer months, said David L. Geier, vice president of electric operations for SDG&E. “Even though our resources are ample, we want to remind our customers that conservation is important especially when unexpected conditions like a heat wave or transmission emergency arise.”
In addition to conservation helping to maintain electric resources, it also helps customers save money on their energy bill. The less energy customers use the lower their energy bills will continue to be.
Statewide, over 1,800 megawatts (MW) of new generation resources have been added to the grid since summer 2010, including more than 46 MW of renewable generation, such as solar and wind.
According to Cal-ISO, there is a less-than-one-percent chance for rotating power outages, due to a resource deficiency.
Even with adequate power supplies this summer, conservation and demand-response programs continue to be important to maintain grid reliability when demand for electricity is especially high, such as during an extreme heat wave.
“San Diegans are already doing a great job on energy efficiency and conservation, but we can always do more to go green and save money,” Geier added.
SDG&E continues to work on providing the tools and resources to help customers manage their energy use wisely. By signing up for My Account, SDG&E customers have access to Energy Charts, a tool that customers can use to track their energy usage and take steps to reduce that usage. These types of tools will help many customers save energy and save on their utility bill.
In addition, SDG&E has numerous energy-efficiency programs, including online tools to survey your own home’s energy use, rebates for energy-efficient products, and no-cost, water-saving kits. The kits include three faucet aerators and a low-flow showerhead. These easy-to-install items maintain a high-pressure flow while reducing water volume.
SDG&E also recommends these additional tips to reduce energy use and costs:
- Turn off unneeded lights, computers and appliances when not in use. These energy “vampires” can account for 5 percent of your energy use.
- Don’t wait until your standard incandescent light bulbs burn out. Replace them now with compact fluorescent lamps, which use 75 percent less energy and can last 10 times longer.
- Set thermostats at 78 degrees when at home.
- Use major appliances before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. and unplug small appliances when not in use.
- Check weather-stripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm outside air from entering the home.
- Close blinds, shades or drapes during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun’s heat.
- Install low-flow, water-saving shower heads to cut water use and save 5 percent to 10 percent on water heating costs.
- Save up to 10 percent of hot water costs by washing full laundry loads in cold water.
For more energy-saving tips to use throughout the year visit www.sdge.com/residential or call (800) 411-7343.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.5 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help our customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
For More Information Contact
Allison Zaragoza
San Diego Gas & Electric
1-877-866-2066
www.sdge.com
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US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Delta Granite and Marble in San Antonio for exposing workers to excessive levels of respirable silica, other hazards
Region 6 News Release: 11-895-DAL
June 27, 2011
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov
US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Delta Granite and Marble in San Antonio
for exposing workers to excessive levels of respirable silica, other hazards
SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Delta Granite and Marble Inc. with 10 serious and one other-than-serious violation. Proposed penalties total $42,000.
OSHA’s San Antonio Area Office initiated a health inspection on Feb. 23 at the company’s facility on Sable Lane where employees were fabricating marble and granite countertops and associated products. The inspection was part of the agency’s National Emphasis Program for Crystalline Silica, which was developed to reduce occupational exposure to respirable silica.
Serious violations include failing to ensure that airborne levels of crystalline silica met established health standards, to provide an effective hearing conservation program, to ensure employees wore protective footwear, to ensure that appropriate hand protection such as gloves were utilized and to ensure compressed air used for cleaning did not exceed 30 pounds per square inch. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
“Exposure to respirable silica above OSHA’s established limits can lead to serious long-term health conditions such as silicosis and other pulmonary function disorders,” said Jeff Funke, OSHA’s area director in San Antonio.
The other-than-serious violation was cited for failing to ensure that audiograms contained information on employee job classifications. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Delta Granite and Marble employs approximately 38 workers and manufactures custom countertops for residential and commercial applications. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in San Antonio or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
For information on the silica national emphasis program, visit http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=3790.
Employers and employees with questions about workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA’s San Antonio office at 210-472-5040. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
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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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audiotape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters featured article: Ten Years Of Media Lens – Our Problem With Mainstream Dissidents.
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Struggling to Pay Utility Bills? Customers Can Get TRUE Help
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Struggling to Pay Utility Bills? Customers Can Get TRUE Help
Union, NJ, June 27, 2011 - Elizabethtown Gas would like to make customers aware of a new energy assistance program that helps residents facing financial hardship to pay their natural gas bills.
Eligible low- and middle-income residents can obtain a one-time benefit of up to $750 for each utility service from the Temporary Relief from Utility Expenses (TRUE) grant program. TRUE is funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
“We want to spread the word to make sure that our customers know what’s available if they need help paying their gas and other utility bills,” said Don Carter, Vice President and General Manager of Elizabethtown Gas.
Administered by the Eatontown-based Affordable Housing Alliance, TRUE provides payments directly to utility companies on behalf of eligible customers that may have lost their jobs or are facing other financial difficulties. The program is intended for those New Jersey residents not enrolled in other programs, such as the Universal Service Fund (USF) or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) during the last 12 months.
Prospective applicants must meet a series of eligibility requirements, including documentation of household income, notice of past due payments and a history of making regular payments.
For more information about the requirements and to obtain an application, visit ahanjtrue.org or call toll free at 855-465-8783.
About Elizabethtown Gas
Elizabethtown Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL), provides natural gas delivery service to approximately 276,000 residential, business and industrial natural gas customers in New Jersey. In operation since 1855, the company serves parts of Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris and Mercer counties. For more information, visit www.elizabethtowngas.com.
About AGL Resources
AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL), an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves approximately 2.3 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout North America. As an 85-percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates two high-deliverability natural gas storage facilities: Jefferson Island Storage & Hub near the Henry Hub in Louisiana and Golden Triangle Storage in Texas. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.
For More Information Contact
Duane Bourne
Media Relations Specialist
+1-757-616-7510
Cell: +1-757-955-0363
www.aglresources.com
dbourne@aglresources.com
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US Department of Labor’s OSHA cites Waco, Texas, manufacturing company with 29 serious workplace violations
Region 6 News Release: 11-898-DAL
June 24, 2011
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov
US Department of Labor’s OSHA cites Waco, Texas,
manufacturing company with 29 serious workplace violations
WACO, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Hobbs Bonded Fiber Inc. with 29 serious violations following a Dec. 27, 2010, safety and health inspection. OSHA’s Fort Worth Area Office initiated the inspection in response to a complaint alleging unsafe working conditions at the company’s facility on Commerce Drive in Waco. Proposed penalties total $161,100.
“This company exposed its employees to avoidable workplace hazards,” said Jack Rector, OSHA’s area director in Fort Worth. “OSHA’s safety standards must be followed to prevent injuries, accidents and fatalities.”
Violations include failing to develop and implement a respiratory program; provide training for employees entering confined spaces where an oxygen deficiency may exist; develop a plan to avoid employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens; provide an area for employees to wash their eyes; ensure that compressed oxygen and acetylene gas cylinders were stored separately; provide hazard communication training to employees working with hazardous and toxic chemicals; adequately guard rotating belts, pulleys, chains and sprockets from pinch points and at the point of operation; and provide covers on junction, outlet and transformer boxes. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Hobbs Bonded Fiber, which employs about 160 workers, specializes in the development and manufacturing of nonwoven products for industrial and consumer markets. The company has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Fort Worth or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Workers and employers with questions about workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA’s Fort Worth Area Office at 817-581-7303. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
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.
###
U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters featured article: Ten Years Of Media Lens – Our Problem With Mainstream Dissidents.
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