The EPA, OSHA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a chemical advisory that provides information on the hazards of ammonium nitrate (AN) storage, handling and management.

Create a safe work environment. Minimize hazards from falling or unstable debris. Make sure that tools work and safety features (machine guards) are in place. Make sure that workers (particularly volunteers) know how to use tools properly.

OSHA has cited Enterprize Management Inc. and Schlitterbahn Beach Resort Management LLC, both doing business as Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark and Resort in South Padre Island, Texas, for six safety violations regarding hazardous energy sources that fatally crushed a 20-year-old lifeguard and severely injured a maintenance supervisor.

A warehouse operator’s decision to seal exit doors and block emergency exit routes in order to gain additional storage space for hazardous materials “placed the workers in great jeopardy," said OSHA’s Galen Lemke, who pointed out that the blocked exits could have devastating results in the event of an ammonia leak from piping located throughout the facility.

OSHA has cited Tsudis Chocolate Co. Inc. for 19 alleged safety violations at its Pittsburgh manufacturing facility. Proposed penalties total $87,260.

A complaint that workers were not evacuated during a natural gas leak brought OSHA to Badger Metal Finishing Inc.’s St. Francis metal finishing facility, where the agency found 17 safety violations. Proposed penalties total $46,200.

OSHA has cited Cardell Cabinetry LLC with 29 safety and health violations and a proposed penalty of $267,434 for failing to remove hazardous levels of combustible dust at the company's facility on North Panam Expressway in San Antonio.

Republic Steel is facing $1,138,500 in fines for for 24 safety violations at its Canton manufacturing plant – fifteen them willful violations of OSHA’s fall protection standards.

An employee of Lindenhurst, NY-based Marley Building Materials was shoveling sand onto a conveyer belt Feb. 19^th when his left arm got caught in the conveyer belt. His arm was amputated above the elbow.