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OSHA workplace samples: Millions of records out of reach

By Jim Morris

Toxic exposures on the job cause the premature deaths of some 49,000 Americans each year, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administrat

Excerpts from this story referencing "Occupational Safety and Health Administration":

"… f this sad fact, and having served as director of health standards for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Dr. Adam Finkel filed a Freedom of Information Act request with OSHA in 2 …"

"… ATAWhat: Results of sampling for toxic substances in U.S. workplacesWhere: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington, D.C.Availability: Closed to publicFormat: Delimited textUsabi …"

BP to pay record fine, spend $500M to upgrade Texas refinery

By Jim Morris and M.B. Pell

UPDATED BP will pay a $50.6 million penalty and spend at least $500 million to upgrade its Texas City, Texas, refinery where a 2005 explosio

Excerpts from this story referencing "safety":

"… rity analysis found 97 percent of what OSHA classified as the worst worker safety violations at two BP refineries, including the one in Texas City.UPDATE 4: …"

"… “The size of the penalty rightly reflects BP’s disregard for workplace safety,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a conference call with reporters.T …"

"… thers as evidence of what they call BP’s cavalier attitude toward worker safety.Deputy Assistant Labor Secretary Jordan Barab told reporters the agreement …"

"… American and London boards of directors, and OSHA, which will ensure that safety issues are raised “at the highest level,” the government said in a sta …"

'Model' workplaces avoid special government scrutiny targeting hazardous industries

By Chris Hamby

'Model' workplaces avoid special scrutiny targeting hazardous industries

Excerpts from this story referencing "safety":

"… safety and Health Administration, the nation’s chief overseer of worker safety, had formally certified the Valero refinery as a “model workplace” wit …"

"… nery as a “model workplace” with an exemplary record and an impeccable safety program exceeding that required by regulators.It was a “Star” site in …"

"… ted dangers or ensured the problematic boiler conformed to widely accepted safety standards.Though Valero blames the companies that manufactured and install …"

"… ult with Valero, issuing a serious violation and highlighting a half-dozen safety problems. In a June 2010 settlement with the agency, Valero agreed to fix …"

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OSHA reforms Voluntary Protection Programs

By Alice Su

Labor Department official announces changes to a program that rewards supposedly safer-than-average workplaces

IMPACT: OSHA's 'model workplace' program needs reform, report finds

By Chris Hamby

Companies exempt from some inspections under a special OSHA program should face tighter scrutiny, a report finds, echoing a Center series.

'Retail exemption' shields some fertilizer facilities from stringent safety inspections, rules

By Chris Hamby

An exemption carved out two decades ago allows some fertilizer and other chemical facilities to skirt stricter rules and inspections.