News from the Safety Industry

The maximum for a willful or repeated violation is now $132,598 per violation.

Alexander Acosta, the current U.S. secretary of Labor, was Miami's top federal prosecutor when he agreed in 2007 to allow multimillionaire defendant accused of coercing underage girls into sex acts at his Florida mansion to plead guilty only to two prostitution charges in state court, the Miami Herald reported in November 2018.

A fire on Jan. 26 destroyed a partly constructed, 141-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel in the city, with damage estimated at $20 million. Two restaurants in the same strip mall were set afire on Feb. 4 and Feb. 7.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport set new records for passenger numbers in 2018, topping 58 million passengers for the first time.

The Department of Buildings issued 165,988 construction permits in 2018, down from 168,243 in 2017 -- a drop of about 1 percent. This was the first decline in total permits issued year-over-year since 2009. However, 2018's permit totals are the second highest on record.

The regulations cover permits and the storage, transportation, and use of explosive materials. They would take effect May 1, 2019.

February 6, 2019 U.S. Department of Labor Cites Guam Building Materials Distributor For Struck-By Hazards

February 6, 2019 U.S. Department of Labor Orders Vermont Company to Compensate Employee Fired for Reporting Finance Industry Violations

Announced Feb. 4, the alliance already has completed its first project: a training video showing a mock agricultural retail facility inspection. The video was filmed at the ResponsibleAg training facility in Owensboro, Ky.

"The 2019–2020 Most Wanted List advocates for 46 specific safety recommendations that can and should be implemented during these next two years," said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. "It also features broad, longstanding safety issues that still threaten the traveling public."