OSHA Fines Refinery $3+ Million
Continuing the increased enforcement promised by the Obama Administration, OSHA is proposing more than $3 million in fines for 42 “alleged willful violations” at an Oregon, Ohio refinery.
The refinery “often ignored or severely delayed fixing known hazards,” according to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. “There is no excuse for taking chances with people’s lives.”
OSHA began inspecting the refinery in September 2009 as part of its National Emphasis Program. For more on the process and the specific allegations, click here. Under OSHA regulations, the company has 15 business days to comply, request an “information conference” with OSHA or contest the findings with the OSHA Review Commission.
The Lesson? The message from the government is loud and clear: it fully intends to follow through on its promise to enforce employment laws much more aggressively. It has invested millions of dollars and created dozens of new enforcement-focused positions to do exactly that.
Now is not the time to be lax in complying with the law — particularly in the area of employee health and safety.
March 11th, 2010 at 11:15 am
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March 11th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Employers… Beware of OSHA… They might just be knocking at your back door. And we’re serious this time!
April 8th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
OSHA began its inspection at the refinery located near Toledo, Ohio, in September 2009 as part of the agency’s Refinery National Emphasis Program and as a follow-up to a 2006 inspection and a 2007 settlement agreement between OSHA and BP at this location. Although the 2009 inspection found that BP had complied with the settlement agreement, OSHA found numerous violations at the plant not previously covered by the agreement.