August 18th, 2008 Roberts & Roberts
DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region VI office in Dallas, Texas, has established a Regional Emphasis Program covering employees in the construction industry who perform crane operations. The program conducts safety inspections of workplaces in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and sites in New Mexico that are under federal OSHA jurisdiction.
“This Regional Emphasis Program (REP) was established as an enforcement initiative for the inspection of cranes used in construction, with the goal of preventing serious and fatal injuries to employees working on and around cranes,” said Regional Administrator Dean McDaniel. The REP will address various hazards associated with cranes, including but not limited to, being struck by objects, electrocution, crane tip-over, being caught in or between machinery, and falls. Past inspection evidence indicates these hazards are the leading causes of accidents where cranes are used in the construction industry.”
The emphasis program is intended to supplement existing OSHA targeting programs, focusing additional resources as necessary to monitor jobsites, promote compliance, and promote awareness of safety and health hazards during construction activities involving cranes. OSHA will utilize a number of tools to address this issue, including enforcement, outreach, training, onsite consultation, partnerships, alliances and the agency’s Voluntary Protection Programs.
Under OSHA’s construction crane standard, 29 C.F.R. 1926.550, there is a general requirement for employers to inspect construction cranes prior to each use, during use and annually. OSHA also has specific standards that apply to different types of cranes. The OSHA standard requires that employers conduct tower crane inspections prescribed by the manufacturer.
For more information contact OSHA area offices in the region: Austin, Texas, 512-374-0271; Baton Rouge, La., 225-298-5458; Corpus Christi, Texas, 361-888-3420; Dallas, Texas, 214-320-2400; Fort Worth, Texas, 817-428-2470; Houston North, Texas, 281-591-2438; Houston South, Texas, 281-286-0583; Little Rock, Ark., 501-224-1841; Lubbock, Texas, 806-472-7681; Oklahoma City, Okla., 405-278-9560. OSHA’s Region VI also has two district offices: El Paso, Texas, 915-534-6251 and San Antonio, Texas, 210-472-5040.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to promote the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
Posted in On the Job Injuries | No Comments »
August 18th, 2008 Roberts & Roberts
FRA withdraws proposed railway safety regulation
Alleged discrepancies and lack of clarity on essential railway safety issues caused federal safety officials to withdraw a notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at reducing roadway worker injury and death from train or equipment movements on an adjacent track.
The notice of proposed rulemaking (.pdf file), published in the July 17 Federal Register, would “require railroads, contractors to railroads, and roadway workers to adopt and comply with additional on-track safety procedures.” The proposed rule also would have covered work groups using certain maintenance equipment and in certain situations; as well as requirements or training, job safety briefings, and recordkeeping practices.
FRA officials on Aug. 13 published notice of the withdrawal, citing concerns with parts of the NPRM accurately capturing consensus recommendations and clarity of safety issues.
Since May 2004, four rail employee fatalities have occurred on tracks adjacent to a track where a group of roadway workers had been operating on-track maintenance equipment. The most recent fatality occurred March 27.
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Study: Cable barriers save lives, money
High-tension cable barriers that serve as the median along some Texas roadways are saving lives and money, according to a study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute.
Researchers with TTI and the Texas Department of Transportation studied the effectiveness of the barriers for 12 months. According to a media release, preliminary findings showed the barriers – designed to prevent head-on vehicle collisions – prevented 18 fatalities and 26 injuries. Last year, a similar study showed fatalities dropped from 52 to just one.
The study also found that although maintenance costs for the cable barriers are much higher than costs to repair concrete barriers, overall costs are less expensive than concrete barriers. Other studies have shown use of cable median barriers can involve road design issues and cost issues. TxDOT has installed cable median barriers along about 700 miles of Texas roadways.
Crackdown on impaired driving begins Aug. 15
Law enforcement agencies nationwide will be watching for drunk and impaired drivers as part of the National Crackdown on Impaired Driving, taking place Aug. 15 to Sept. 1.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 16,000 lives are lost each year in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes. In 2006, 17,602 people died in alcohol-related crashes. Progress has been made in reducing alcohol-related crashes for drivers younger than 21, but NHTSA statistics show people 21-34 years old continue to be disproportionately represented in alcohol-related motor vehicle cra
Posted in Transportation Safety | 1 Comment »
August 18th, 2008 Roberts & Roberts
Yes. In addition to paying you the fair market value of your car, the insurance company must pay the towing and storage fee at the salvage yard. It must also reimburse you for the sales tax you will have to pay to get another car of similar value as well as for the cost of the new license plates and title. And remember, the fair market value of your car is based on its retail value — not wholesale value.
Posted in Insurance Law | No Comments »
