Eye on OSHA: Inspections Continue Decline in 3Q 2011
Inspections of stone companies in 2011’s third quarter by the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) lagged behind the previous year’s levels, although fines continue to increase.
The 38 stone companies inspected nationwide (and in Puerto Rico) in July-September last year represented an 18.4-percent decline from third-quarter 2010, according to an exclusive Stone Update analysis of OSHA data. Inspectors wrote up 124 violations in 2011’s third quarter, down 38.7 percent from the same time in 2010.
Of the 28 shops cited for violations, eight received write-ups connected with silica-dust exposure, up from three in 2010’s third quarter. However, three of the companies incurred citations for not posting adequate information on the hazard, and not for problems with air quality or lack of respiratory equipment.
The $124,904 in current penalties meted out to stone companies by OSHA in last year’s third quarter represents a 34.6-percent increase from the same time in 2010.
Florida saw the most OSHA inspections – seven – of stone shops in third-quarter 2011. Colorado, which saw the largest number of third-quarter 2010 inspections with 11, recorded none in July-September last year.
OSHA by the Numbers
July-September 2011
NAICS 327991 (Cut stone and stone product manufacturing)
Number of inspections: 38
Inspections with violations: 28
Companies not found/inactive: 5
Complaint inspections: 11
Accident/Monitoring inspections: 1
Total violations cited: 124
Largest number of violations at one inspection: 11
Silica respiratory violation sites: 8
Silica equipment/air-quality exposures (total): 26
Initial fines (all violations): $163,362
Current fines (all violations): $124,904
States with inspections: 22
Top five states (number of inspections): Florida (7); Georgia (4); California, New York, North Carolina, Texas (3).
Eye on OSHA is an ongoing Stone Update review of inspection reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), operating under the federal Department of Labor. Not all violations entail fines; pending fines may be lowered or dropped if conditions are remedied or upon appeal. Source of data: OSHA databases.
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