OSHA is getting involved now.....

[transamspirit]

I don't know the circumstances behind the complaint that triggered the inspection (be it a disgruntled employee or someone who opposes E-cigs) but now the seed has been planted. I work for Boar's Head Provisions (the deli meat) managing their Process Safety Management program (OSHA required program for their ammonia refrigeration system). A large part of my job is following the trends of OSHA's citations, with OSHA losing federal funding they are getting very aggressive with their citations, I would consider this fair warning to all the suppliers, cover your 6 as far as your safety practices go. We don't need another government agency causing us headaches. You can actually view the citations at the link below, there are 2 different PDFs you can view.

2013 - 03/27/2013 - US Labor Department's OSHA fines Lakewood, NJ, manufacturer nearly $185,000 for exposing workers to chemical, other hazards

While I hate this, self regulation is the best policy.

 

[transamspirit]

Government agencies and officials are often exempted from laws and regulations that apply to everyone else.

dont forget government contractors.
Dear lord i see hundreds an hour at my job.

 

[ad356]

i once took a job sandblasting. i quit after 1 hour..... the only time i quit a job that quickly most of the time i work the same job for many years. the guy told me to sandblast a dump truck using a truckmount air compressor and a large sandblasting unit that had a very large blasting hose, oh yeah and the deadman valve did not work, the only way to stop the sandblaster was to shut off the air supply. i have a sandblasting unit at home but this was a serous industrial unit, and not having a deadman valve is unacceptable at home and it is even far more dangerous on a large industrial unit. he handed me the same $30 protective hood that i use at home (the one i have at home is actually in much better shape) and a cheap pair of winter gloves. he also gave me a $3 dust mask. NO real PROTECTIVE GEAR. i told called the guy, told him that i wasnt going to do this work with this gear, i know what is required for that type of work. i had worked a day previously for him working on some small engine repair related stuff. he paid me the $100 he owed me and i was on my way. i wasnt going to rat him out but some people just dont get it, hopefully someone else will rat him out because i just dont want to be a rat.

when doing sandblasting professionally and hirring people to do such work you have to have a full body suit or at least a hood that covers your entire top of you body with an issolated air supply so you are not breathing air from the room that you are sandblasting. if i kept that job i would have died from Silicosis probably allot faster then i ever would have from smoking. when i called him to confront him and told him that i felt that he had serous safety issues he said we arent going to discuss that, lol. unbelievable, he told me he would pay me what he owed me. he payed me my days of pay and i havent heard from him since. i hope he is either out of business, cleaned up his act, or cant find people to work for him. people should have enough common sense when to walk away from a job. not saying its justified im just saying people shouldnt work for someone like that

 

[Drewsworld]

I wasn't at the inspection (which was just under 6 mnths ago) but I have been to this facility...I have also been to facilities all over the world including 3 others in the US and Esmoke is by far the cleanest most comprehensive site I have ever been to.
I spoke to one of the employees today and apparently they issued summons for computers plugged into power strips, refrigerator on extension cord in one of the offices, an extra fire extinguisher ( in addition to the mounted ones that are required for the Fire Inspections that hey have never failed) was holding a door open, workers were packing sealed bottles of eliquid (including 0 to 24 Mg Strength) using latex gloves which Osha claimed were insufficient, and Pallets outside of the adjoining buildings fire exit. Why did they serve them for "NO Gloves" but in a different summons it says they witnessed them wearing Latex gloves?
There were more but I cant remember them.
Also this inspection was done last year and they never informed the company of any violations until last week. If these were truly dangerous violations, you would think they would of shut them down on the spot or shortly after the determination of unsafe conditions, not 6 months later?
Its just unfortunate that the government is wasting our time and money on tis kind of thing in my opinion. A soaking wet pack of cigarettes would cause a bigger danger...

I never believed in allot of the conspiracy theories i heard, until I got a chance to witness what the Government is willing to do to stifle ecigs and other tobacco harm products... Now a days , Im not so sure?

 

[Drewsworld]

Upon further inspection of the summons...Kinda odd...
Esmoke received two willful fines which combined totaled $112,500...One of the willful fines was for not requiring employees to wear hand protection while handling Eliquid, however on the same date in the same room, they stated that witnessed employees wearing latex gloves....That sure looks contradictory to me?
I feel that these are redundantly issued in hopes of inducing some type of plea bargain.
For those making eliquid I would strongly suggest not allowing your employees to drink Cold Coca Cola and if you do , be sure the fridge isn't plugged into a power strip or it will cost you $2700 for the Cola in the packaging room and another $2700 for keeping it cold.

 

[chellemmm]

I know that some find OSHA to be a "bully" type of government agency, but companies aren't that great about self-policing. Many pre-Osha employers knowingly exposed employees to dangerous and even deadly manufacturing processes that were deemed cost-effective. Approximately 14k people died annually as a result of these practices before public outcry demanded the creation of OSHA. It is designed to protect the employee, not the employer or the consumer. I don't want to live in a world where a company can demand that you expose yourself to dangerous chemicals, practices or whatever so they can increase their own profits.

 

[Drewsworld]

I agree 10000000%, but I also dont understand why OSHA would be issuing $2700 fines for an electrical cord plugged into a power strip? Im all for safety and proper treatment of employees, and providing safe and fair working conditions.

 

[chellemmm]

Maybe the "power strip" wasn't meant to have twenty extension cords to other power strips. I don't know. I do think they are not just trying to "bully" the cruddy bs e-cig operation. They had to have probable cause to issue those types of citations and fines.

 

[TomCatt]

LATEX (Natural Rubber)
Good for biohazard protection (infection risks)
Good for inorganic chemicals
Poor for organic solvents
Avoid: Oils, grease and hydrocarbon derivatives
Hard to detect puncture holes
Can cause or trigger latex allergies.
Requires written risk assessment justifying use

 

[Drewsworld]

Well apparently there are several cases of OSHA abusing their powers since they lost their funding and are required to write citations to keep the organization afloat.


OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program - Feed and Grain - Page 2

In many cases, OSHA’s press releases unjustly injure the reputations of our nation’s employers, as they are based on unproven allegations. They are all premature, and most turn out to be wrong. Nevertheless, OSHA never issues follow-up news releases to correct inaccuracies favorable to employers, and it has never apologized for its mistaken allegations.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5139-2004May31.html

One of the business community's biggest complaints about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been what it perceives to be the unfairness of the agency going after small employers who don't have the resources to fight citations. The claim has been that small businesses pay because they don't have the time or money to fight.


Press Release - Citing Questionable OSHA Enforcement Actions, Witnesses Support Norwood Bill to Enhance Fairness for Small Employers
There is significant concern by many small employers that their due process rights are being systematically denied when facing OSHA citations they claim are unjust. Many claim that the cards are stacked so high against employers that they are forced to settle even the most frivolous claims. H.R. 2731 is intended to level the playing field for small business owners and encourage OSHA to better assess the merits of a case before it brings unnecessary enforcement actions to court against small businesses.

 

[Bill Godshall]

The front page story on yesterday's NY Times highlights the health hazards caused by a type of industrial glue used by two manufacturers, and points out that OSHA has done little to protect the health of these workers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/washington/25osha.html?

While exposures to this type of glue is truly unfortunate, OSHA has recently reduced the permissible exposure limits.

But like most stuff published in the NY Times, the article implies that OSHA should impose more regulations (not fewer or smarter regulations) on employers.

 

[kingdm]

The front page story on yesterday's NY Times highlights the health hazards caused by a type of industrial glue used by two manufacturers, and points out that OSHA has done little to protect the health of these workers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/wa...n/25osha.html?

That is a story about diacetyl, a little off topic but raises a point very relative to vapers, flavors that contain diacetyl are as bad as smoking.

 

[Koman]

The front page story on yesterday's NY Times highlights the health hazards caused by a type of industrial glue used by two manufacturers, and points out that OSHA has done little to protect the health of these workers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/washington/25osha.html?

While exposures to this type of glue is truly unfortunate, OSHA has recently reduced the permissible exposure limits.

But like most stuff published in the NY Times, the article implies that OSHA should impose more regulations (not fewer or smarter regulations) on employers.

Interesting article, thanks for sharing!