A proposed chemical manufacturing plant in Killeen, Texas could not only create close to 30 new jobs but also could bring a number of other companies from the semiconductor industry to the city. At a forum last week, however, residents raised safety concerns, in the aftermath of the Arkema plant fire near Houston in August. […]

Fed-OSHA says it has 23 staff members operating in the Houston area, to identify hazards and keep safety a priority during clean up of the recent hurricane, but the economic stress that comes with post-hurricane work is a perfect storm for wage theft, says a local lawyer. Houston Public Media

An ammonia leak last week at the rural Brazoria County facility of a Houston-based manufacturer of plastics, fibers and chemicals resulted in no reported injuries. The leak was near the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. Houston Chronicle

The career of Don Wright, new acting Health and Human Services secretary, includes a stint from 2003 to 2007 with Fed-OSHA. Wright has worked at HHS for 10 years; since February, he has been the department’s acting assistant secretary. USA Today

A man died last week at a potato farm near Idaho Falls, Idaho after being pulled into a conveyor belt system as he unloaded a truck. His coworkers freed him from his tangled clothing and perform CPR until an ambulance arrived, but EMTs were unable to revive him. Fox6 (Green Bay, Wisc.)

The 46-year-old ironworker who fell to his death last week in a manhole at a Las Vegas construction site was on his first day on the job with a new company. Nevada OSHA is investigating. Las Vegas Review-Journal

It has been about four months since the explosion and fire that killed five employees and injured 11 others at a Wisconsin corn processing plant, but the cause of the explosion has yet to be officially released. Fed-OSHA is one of the agencies investigating the May 31 incident, which leveled much of the facility. Portage […]