Environment & Energy

mahatmakanejeeves

(68,861 posts)

22. May I suggest a slight correction?

Tue Jul 8, 2014, 12:21 PM

Jul 2014

OSHA did not assess Freedom Industries a "$11,000 fine for poisoning 300,000 people!" According to the article, it fined Freedom Industries "$11,000 for a pair of workplace safety violations." That's because that's what OSHA's jurisdiction is: workplace safety.

The matter of "roughly 10,000 gallons of MCHM {leaking} from one of the tanks and through the riverside diked wall and {leaving} 300,000 residents without clean water for days," is a matter for another agency. I'm sure that the EPA, to name one such agency, is paying attention to this situation too.

Expect additional fines, but OSHA can only take care of things that are within its jurisdiction. It's explained right here:

All About OSHA

OSHA’s Mission
Congress created OSHA to assure safe and healthful conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education and compliance assistance.

Under the OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their workers. For more information, visit OSHA’s website at http://www.osha.gov.

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

36 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Wow! A whopping $11,000 fine for poisoning 300,000 people! [View all] theHandpuppet Jul 2014 OP

Federal agencies need to be able to levy far bigger fines. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #1

the fine should be multiples of the cost to maintain it in the first place elehhhhna Jul 2014 #2

The water is still poisoned Warpy Jul 2014 #3

And since they've already declared bankruptcy (how convenient)... theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #6

What a sad joke abelenkpe Jul 2014 #4

But ... but ... but ... government regulations are killing American businesses! earthside Jul 2014 #5

Regulations? Bah! theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #7

Federal fines for egregious Kelvin Mace Jul 2014 #8

I think that's an excellent suggestion. theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #9

Now, now. Orrex Jul 2014 #10

I'd heard about that. theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #11

He might have to wash the Governor's windows. Enthusiast Jul 2014 #20

Ridiculous corruption. nt stillwaiting Jul 2014 #12

Fines are not adequate. RoccoR5955 Jul 2014 #13

This is how the game is played theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #15

That's 4 cents per poisoning. KurtNYC Jul 2014 #14

And if the owners had a different color of skin, they'd be in Gitmo. sinkingfeeling Jul 2014 #16

Prison at least. Enthusiast Jul 2014 #19

Corporate death penalty please. JEB Jul 2014 #17

Yes, that is one hefty fine. Enthusiast Jul 2014 #18

For regulations to work, violations must bring serious consequences. Fines must be hefty. tclambert Jul 2014 #21

But what happens when the company just avoids the fines by declaring bankruptcy? theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #24

Corporations were formed to avoid legal liability. The laws clearly protect them too much. tclambert Jul 2014 #27

All excellent points! theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #28

May I suggest a slight correction? mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2014 #22

To be honest, OSHA was all part of this comedy of (tragic) errors theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #25

OMG, a classic case of government over-reach! Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #23

Not bad. Treant Jul 2014 #26

OSHA cannot fine for 300K people, only workplace violations endangering workers. freshwest Jul 2014 #29

Thanks for taking the time to compose such a cogent and informative post theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #33

Failure in terms of ensuring that the US public is able to remain healthy and safe is truedelphi Jul 2014 #34

This is great information theHandpuppet Jul 2014 #35

Appalachia group and community rights. Got it. truedelphi Jul 2014 #36

Ok that's for the workplace hootinholler Jul 2014 #30

If California can dissolve companies, so can other states. ancianita Jul 2014 #31

Freedumb™ GeorgeGist Jul 2014 #32