OSHA cites Jersey City Medical Center (St Barnabas) $174,393

OSHA investigation of Jersey City Medical Center worker's fatal fall finds facility exposed employees to dangerous electrical hazardsCitations issued: On Dec. 21, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the medical center for one willful and four serious safety violations.

OSHA began its inspection on June 28, 2016, after the employer notified the Agency that a worker needed to be hospitalized after falling from a ladder as he changed an overhead ballast in a light fixture. The worker later died from his injuries on July 17, 2016.

The agency cited the willful violation because the facility required employees to change ballasts without the proper lockout/tagout training on practices and procedures necessary to disable machinery or equipment to prevent hazardous energy release, as well as other safety hazards and related unsafe practices.

The serious violations involved the medical center's failure to ensure de-energized circuits were locked out, maintain an electrical lockout/tagout program, ensure that only qualified persons worked on live circuits, provide personal protective equipment, and ensure workers did not work on live parts.

"This worker's tragic death was preventable. Jersey City Medical Center did not have basic lockout/tagout safeguards in place to prevent exposure to electrical hazards, and failed to train its maintenance workers on these safeguards. As a result, the worker sustained an electrical shock while changing the ballast, fell approximately 6 feet off a ladder and died from his injuries," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office.

Proposed penalties: $174,593

The citation can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JerseyCityMedicalCenter_1158589.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 Parsippany Area Office at 973-263-1003.

NJ Workers' Compensation Rates Increase in 2017 - Max $896.00

The NJ Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (NJCRIB) reported today 2017 rates effective January 1, 2017.

The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance (“Commissioner”) has approved a 3.0% decrease in rates and rating values applicable to New Jersey workers compensation and employers liability insurance effective January 1, 2017 on a new and renewal basis. The rating components of the decrease are summarized below.

OSHA cites NJ roofing contractor for exposing workers to falls, other hazards $112K

Hackensack Roofing Co. Inc., 83 First St., Hackensack, New Jersey was cited for OSHA

violations.Citations issued: On Dec. 16, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the company for one serious and three repeat safety violations.

Investigation findings: As part of the agency's Local Emphasis Program focused on falls, OSHA began the East Rutherford inspection on Oct. 18, after inspectors observed employees working on a roof without fall protection. The Wallington inspection was opened in response to a complaint alleging fall hazards on the site.

Inspectors issued citations for repeat violations due to a lack of fall and eye protection. The company was previously cited for similar violations in 2014.

A serious citation was issued because workers were throwing roof shingles from the roof without the use of a container to catch the materials.

Quote: "The fact that Hackensack Roofing allowed employees to work without basic fall protection on two separate sites is problematic and indicates a breakdown in their safety and health program," said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA's Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. "Falls in construction continue to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities. By repeatedly failing to comply with OSHA regulations, this employer continues to put its workers at risk, leaving them vulnerable to falls that could permanently injure or kill them."

Proposed penalties: $112,487

The citation can be viewed at:

https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HackensackRoofingCoInc_1188195_1191691.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.

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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Zika: The Next Compensable Infectious Disease - Benefit Challenges Begin

Workers' Compensation insures for the consequences of infectious diseases arising out of and in the course of employment. Is the system ready for a potential onslaught of Zika claims?

The line in the sand has been drawn in the State of Florida, where an infected Miami Beach police officer has been denied benefits. The union has actively supporting the municipal employee in an effort to rule the claim compensable.

The NJ Supreme Court in establishing compensability in an occupational disease cited Justice Learned Hand, “Few adults are not diseased … an infection mastered, though latent, is no longer a disease, industrially speaking, until the individual's resistance is again so far lowered that he succumbs.” Bober v. Independent Plating Corp., 28 N.J. 160, 145 A.2d 463 (1958).

Lung-sparing surgery for patients with advanced mesothelioma results in prolonged survival, new study shows

Patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) treated with a combination of surgery to remove the cancer but save their lung, plus photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy, had a median survival of nearly three years, with a subset of patients living longer than seven years, according to new research published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

OSHA Issues Final Record Keeping Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday will issue a final rule that clarifies an employer's continuing obligation to make and maintain an accurate record of each recordable injury and illness. The final rule becomes effective Jan. 18, 2017.

OSHA Cites Paterson NJ Laundry for Violations - $91K In Fines

OSHA cites New Jersey commercial laundry for workplace safety hazards
Paterson's Star Laundry fined $91K for 12 federal violations

Employer name:

Star Laundry Inc.

421 and 436 East 16th St.

Paterson, New Jersey

Citations issued: On Dec. 7, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations against Brite Services Inc., doing business as Star Laundry Inc., for seven repeat, two serious and three other-than-serious violations.