Wisconsins Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP)

US Department of Labor, Wisconsin Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration establishes enforcement policies and procedures for OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), which concentrates resources on inspecting employers who have demonstrated indifference to their OSH Act obligations by willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate violations.

This program is intended to focus enforcement efforts on significant hazards and violations by concentrating inspection resources on employers who have demonstrated recalcitrance or indifference to their OSH Act obligations by committing willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate violations in one or more of the following circumstances:

a fatality or catastrophe situation;
in industry operations or processes that expose employees to the most severe occupational hazards and those identified as "High-Emphasis Hazards,"
exposing employees to hazards related to the potential release of a highly hazardous chemical; or
all egregious enforcement actions. Cases meeting the severe violator enforcement criteria are those in which the employer is found to be recalcitrant or indifferent to its obligations under the OSH Act, thereby endangering employees.

The procedures are intended to increase attention on the correction of hazards found in these workplaces and, where appropriate, in other worksites of the same employer where similar hazards and deficiencies may be present. This program applies to all employers regardless of size, as we are seeing below.

In 2016 alone....just in 5 Months (January through to May) Wisconsin appears to be in the running for first place.

2016

May 19 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 05/19/2016 - Pier 1 Imports endangers workers again with blocked exits, stacked boxes

Pier 1 Imports endangers workers again with blocked exits, stacked boxes National decor retailer faces $101K in fines for hazards at Wisconsin store

May 18 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 05/18/2016 - OSHA finds safety failures allowed machine to sever 30-year-old worker's three fingertips at Nature's Path subsidiary in Wisconsin

OSHA finds safety failures allowed machine to sever 30-year-old worker's three fingertips at Nature's Path subsidiary in Wisconsin Agency cites Nature's Path USA II with repeated, serious violations

May 12 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 05/12/2016 - OSHA finds refrigeration warehouse lacked proper procedures for handling ammonia

OSHA finds refrigeration warehouse lacked proper procedures for handling ammonia

April 25 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 04/25/2016 - OSHA cites Wisconsin paper mill after worker injured fatally while servicing operating conveyor belt

OSHA cites Wisconsin paper mill after worker injured fatally while servicing operating conveyor belt Clearwater Paper mill in Ladysmith cited for machine hazards in 2012

April 19 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 04/19/2016 - OSHA cites world's largest sauerkraut cannery after worker falls into vat

OSHA cites world's largest sauerkraut cannery after worker falls into vat GLK Foods cited for 4th time in 5 years for exposing workers to multiple hazards

March 28 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 03/28/2016 - Wood decor, floral supplier failed to prevent workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals at Glidden, Wisconsin company

Wood décor, floral supplier failed to prevent workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals at Glidden, Wisconsin company OSHA proposes fines of Winter Woods $70K for safety failures

March 28 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 03/28/2016 - Wisconsin wood pellet manufacturer continues to ignore federal workplace safety warnings about amputation, fire dangers

Wisconsin wood pellet manufacturer continues to ignore federal workplace safety warnings about amputation, fire dangers Serial non-compliance earns Woods Fibers Inc. designation as 'Severe Violator'

March 16 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 03/16/2016 - Wisconsin grain handling facility exposes workers to engulfment dangers

Wisconsin grain handling facility exposes workers to engulfment dangers Duffy Grain Inc. faces more than $122K in OSHA penalties

March 15 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 03/15/2016 - OSHA cites Lunda Construction again after death of 18-year-old apprentice at the Bong Bridge resurfacing project, 3rd fatality on Lunda site since 2012

OSHA cites Lunda Construction again after death of 18-year-old apprentice at the Bong Bridge resurfacing project, 3rd fatality on Lunda site since 2012 Repeated violator cited nine times since 2011; faces $105K in fines

March 15 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 03/15/2016 - A serial OSHA offender, Wisconsin contractor continues to risk workers' safety

A serial OSHA offender, Wisconsin contractor continues to risk workers' safety Diaz Roofing violates fall safety rules in 13 inspections in 10 years

March 10 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 03/10/2016 - OSHA cites marine construction company for exposing workers to three-story high fall hazards, other safety violations

OSHA cites Serwas Window Cleaning Services after 20-year-old window washer falls to death Safety violations found at three company jobsites

February 23 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 02/23/2016 - OSHA cites Sheboygan, Wisconsin, plastic manufacturer for not evaluating its hazardous chemical procedures

OSHA cites Sheboygan, Wisconsin, plastic manufacturer for not evaluating its hazardous chemical procedures

February 17 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 02/17/2016 - OSHA cites Oak Creek industrial laundry facility in worker's death

OSHA cites Oak Creek industrial laundry facility in worker's death Crothall Laundry Services failed to prevent equipment from operating

February 02 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 02/02/2016 - Worker loses part of finger while clearing machine jam at Goodman, Wisconsin, wood veneer manufacturer

Worker loses part of finger while clearing machine jam at Goodman, Wisconsin, wood veneer manufacturer

January 28 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 01/28/2016 - OSHA cites Green Bay packaging company for multiple safety hazards

OSHA cites Green Bay packaging company for multiple safety hazards

January 14 [Region 5 News Release] - 2016 - 01/14/2016 - Excavation company again exposes workers to the dangers of trench cave-ins at Middleton, Wisconsin sewer-line site

Excavation company again exposes workers to the dangers of trench cave-ins at Middleton, Wisconsin sewer-line site OSHA fines A-1 Excavating $69K for 15th violation since 2000

And for those caught up in this program, if you are interested in Government Contracts, …..you will not get them.

Dun & Bradstreet Number. If it is available, the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is to be entered in the Inspection. In establishments where ownership has changed, the DUNS number for the new owner. If the new owner does not have a new DUNS number, enter the old DUNS number, if known.

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We look at this problem (and it is a severe problem) and think …..

It doesn't affect me at all, Why should I care??

For one, and most importantly... the victim may be a loved one.
You ask yourself when you purchase anything from one of these Companies..or from a company that these companies deal with, sell to, buy from, do business with ....”Why are their prices so high”?
Aren't these companies in business to MAKE money??? or to LOSE money???