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OSHA databases track injuries, violations
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 | No comments posted.
Tracking the actual number of injuries and fatalities in the ship dismantling industry is tricky.
There are online databases through the U.S. Department of Labor and US-OSHA. None of the databases contains specific statistics on ship dismantling, which is lumped in with ship builders and ship repair. The ship building, repairing and dismantling industry earned a rating of 12.9 recordable injury cases per 100 workers in 2004 nationwide.
n In 2003, the industry reported 2,970 injuries. Most hit workers between the ages of 35 and 54. Most were experienced employees, having been on the job more than five years. Of those injured, the average missed 17 days of work, with 1,100 cases involving more than 30 days off the job. Sprains and strains were the No. 1 complaints, followed by bruises and contusions and bone fractures. Most were injured by objects or equipment.
n In 2004, the industry reported 5,100 injuries concentrated in workers between the ages of 25 and 54. Most of the workers were white (2,740), followed by black (1,080), Hispanic (340) and Asian (40), with 880 not reporting race. There were 330 bone fractures, with 1,130 injuries related to overexertion. Falls accounted for 780 injuries. Three hundred were caused by exposure to harmful substances, but none was caused by fires or explosions.
As to OSHA inspections, for example:
n In Texas, the U.S. Department of Labor database shows there were two inspections at Esco Marine's Brownsville shipbreaking facility in 2005. One followed an accident. It found eight violations and levied $3,300 in fines that were reduced to $1,980. The other was a planned, unannounced inspection. There were five inspections at the shipyard in 2004. Two were referred by other agencies; one was a complaint. All totaled there were 68 final violations.
n In Texas at International Shipbreaking Limited LLC in 2002, the company was inspected on one day for health and safety practices, with notes on 14 violations. According to a Department of Labor database, there have been no documented OSHA inspections since.
n In Virginia, OSHA inspectors went to Bay Bridge Enterprises' Chesapeake facility 10 times from 2003-05, noting fewer than 30 violations. Eight visits were unannounced. One came after a complaint. One followed a referral.
n In Philadelphia at Metro Machine Corp., OSHA inspectors made one shipyard visit each year in 2003 and 2005, with one violation. There were three inspections in 2002, with one following an accident that turned up 12 violations, with almost $14,000 in fines ultimately cut to $9,000.
OSHA Area Director Carl Halgren said that fines usually are reduced. The goal is to get the problem corrected so no one gets hurt, and reduced fines are the incentive to speed up action.
On the Net
U.S. OSHA: http://www.osha.gov
Go to “A-Z Index” and search and go to “Special Emphasis Programs”
EPA Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances: http://www.epa.gov/oppts/
U.S. Maritime Administration: http://www.marad.dot.gov
Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov
There are online databases through the U.S. Department of Labor and US-OSHA. None of the databases contains specific statistics on ship dismantling, which is lumped in with ship builders and ship repair. The ship building, repairing and dismantling industry earned a rating of 12.9 recordable injury cases per 100 workers in 2004 nationwide.
n In 2003, the industry reported 2,970 injuries. Most hit workers between the ages of 35 and 54. Most were experienced employees, having been on the job more than five years. Of those injured, the average missed 17 days of work, with 1,100 cases involving more than 30 days off the job. Sprains and strains were the No. 1 complaints, followed by bruises and contusions and bone fractures. Most were injured by objects or equipment.
n In 2004, the industry reported 5,100 injuries concentrated in workers between the ages of 25 and 54. Most of the workers were white (2,740), followed by black (1,080), Hispanic (340) and Asian (40), with 880 not reporting race. There were 330 bone fractures, with 1,130 injuries related to overexertion. Falls accounted for 780 injuries. Three hundred were caused by exposure to harmful substances, but none was caused by fires or explosions.
As to OSHA inspections, for example:
n In Texas, the U.S. Department of Labor database shows there were two inspections at Esco Marine's Brownsville shipbreaking facility in 2005. One followed an accident. It found eight violations and levied $3,300 in fines that were reduced to $1,980. The other was a planned, unannounced inspection. There were five inspections at the shipyard in 2004. Two were referred by other agencies; one was a complaint. All totaled there were 68 final violations.
n In Texas at International Shipbreaking Limited LLC in 2002, the company was inspected on one day for health and safety practices, with notes on 14 violations. According to a Department of Labor database, there have been no documented OSHA inspections since.
n In Virginia, OSHA inspectors went to Bay Bridge Enterprises' Chesapeake facility 10 times from 2003-05, noting fewer than 30 violations. Eight visits were unannounced. One came after a complaint. One followed a referral.
n In Philadelphia at Metro Machine Corp., OSHA inspectors made one shipyard visit each year in 2003 and 2005, with one violation. There were three inspections in 2002, with one following an accident that turned up 12 violations, with almost $14,000 in fines ultimately cut to $9,000.
OSHA Area Director Carl Halgren said that fines usually are reduced. The goal is to get the problem corrected so no one gets hurt, and reduced fines are the incentive to speed up action.
On the Net
U.S. OSHA: http://www.osha.gov
Go to “A-Z Index” and search and go to “Special Emphasis Programs”
EPA Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances: http://www.epa.gov/oppts/
U.S. Maritime Administration: http://www.marad.dot.gov
Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov
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