Weld County Government’s Post

Falsifying documents is NEVER ok. If your safety program is not compliant with OSHA regulations, it’s time to get it in order. If your lacking the necessary documents to be compliant, creating them, backdating, and singing these documents can have you being held accountable for your fraud and negligence. We can help you draft and implement the proper safety programs that will keep your employees safe and your company compliant! 🦺🚧🦺🚧🦺🚧🦺🚧🦺🚧🦺🚧🦺🚧🦺🚧 Didion Milling Inc.'s agreed to pay more than $1.8 Million in OSHA penalties for the 2017 explosion that killed five workers and injured more than a dozen others. This past week, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin sentenced six Didion Milling Inc. officials – including a corporate vice president and former food safety, environmental, and operations managers – for their role in the fatal explosion. Didion Vice President of Operations, Derrick Clark, was sentenced to two years in prison, a year of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine. Former Environmental Manager Joseph Winch was sentenced to two years in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine for conspiring to falsify Didion’s environmental compliance certifications. Former Food Safety Superintendent Shawn Mesner was sentenced to two years in prison and a year of supervised release after being convicted in October 2023 of conspiring to commit fraud and falsify Didion’s sanitation log. Three former Didion shift superintendents – Anthony Hess, Joel Niemeyer, and Michael Bright – were sentenced to probation and fines for falsification of Didion’s sanitation log. Nicholas Booker, a fourth shift superintendent, is scheduled to be sentenced in March. Additionally, the Didion company pled guilty to falsifying its environmental and sanitation logs. The judge sentenced the company last month to pay $10.25 million in restitution to the victims and a $1 million fine, as well as to serve five years of probation with special conditions related to oversight of Didion’s operations. #safetyprofessionals #oshacompliance #HighMountainSafety #safetyculture #workplacesafety

The importance of reporting environmental compliance. If you fail to do so or falsify documents, this is something that can happen. #environmentalcompliance #environmentalconsulting #environmentalmanagement

Today undertaking environmental health audits for a contract caterer to help ensure that they are keeping their staff safe and their food is just as safe as it is tasty. Do get in touch if we can help you with your food safety requirements, perhaps you employ a contract caterer and want to ensure that they are meeting all requirements or you are a caterer yourself and want to make sure that you are heading for a five-star environmental health assessment #foodsafety #environmentalhealth #healthandsafety

Penalties for failing to comply with EHS regulations not only goes to the companies, it can also apply to the individuals responsible for the compliance of these regulations at all levels of an organization.

The end of Chevron doctrine does not end food safety regulation, but it may make it more difficult By Dan Flynn on July 3, 2024 The “Chevron deference or doctrine” that bit the dust last week when the Supreme Court nixed it means courts will no longer defer to federal agencies’ interpretation of ambiguous laws. It is not the end of federal regulations. It does make them more vulnerable to legal challenges. Since 1984, “Chevron” has been one of the cornerstones of federal administrative law, which was used to make regulations. “Chevron deference” came on the scene with the landmark case, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 468 U.S. 837 (1984). “Chevron deference” refers to when judicial deference is given to administrative actions. https://lnkd.in/gdzMitrU

Here are my learnings from the recent Food Safety Professionals Group (FSPG) session 2 - on the topic of  Environmental Monitoring: 🙇♀️ While focusing on the root cause analysis for an environmental monitoring incident, consider the following : - 𝐆𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Focus not just on the visible trail but on underlying events such as facility issues (e.g., dripping problems), contractor movements, maintenance activities, and areas like loading docks. These can all contribute to contamination. - 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠: Pay attention to the initial date of swabbing to help pinpoint the source of contamination more accurately. -  𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐳𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬: Study movement across the plant, as it can often contribute to contamination spread. 🙇♀️ 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬:  When using specific equipment (e.g., designated mats), ensure that sanitized floors are completely dry before placing them back to avoid contamination build-up. 🙇♀️  𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬:  Partner with microbiologists for diverse perspectives on the root cause of contamination. Chemical contractors may also provide microbiologists who can assist in these investigations. 🙇♀️ 𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚: Review historical data from known hotspots and increase swabbing frequencies for heightened monitoring in critical areas. 🙇♀️ 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: Different production or activity areas require distinct monitoring schedules. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t suffice for effective environmental monitoring. 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: In cases of company acquisition, Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) results are often presented under attorney-client privilege to assess potential economic liabilities. Thoroughly enjoyed the discussion with some of most prominent food safety professionals Pamela Wilger Penny Vyskocil James R. Nasella, M.S. and as always, our dear moderator Gary Wills. ✅ Always excited to interact with this group and learn about advancing food safety through revising practices in the manufacturing world. #environmentalmonitoring #learning #foodsafetyawareness #foodscience #FSPG

🌍 Championing Environmental Health: The Unsung Heroes of Food Safety 🍕🐭 In light of recent unsettling incidents, like the controversy surrounding Roman's Pizza reusing dirty boxes and Sasko's unfortunate mishap, it's time to shine a light on the critical role of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs). EHPs are often the silent guardians of public health, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that food establishments comply with environmental and health laws. If appropriately employed and sufficiently resourced, these professionals could have prevented such distressing situations. So, what exactly do EHPs do? 1. Regular Inspections: They conduct thorough inspections to ensure facilities adhere to health regulations, addressing potential hazards before they escalate. 2. Evidence-Based Recommendations: EHPs provide guidance based on scientific consensus and best practices, ensuring that operational protocols are not only compliant but also cost-effective. 3. Proactive Policies and SOPs: By drafting comprehensive policies, EHPs help prevent issues before they arise, fostering a culture of safety and compliance. 4. Training and Awareness: Continuous training empowers workers to recognize and mitigate risks, creating a safer work environment and protecting public health. 5. Health Surveillance: Regular health surveillance ensures that any emerging threats are identified and addressed promptly. 6. Waste Management: By promoting effective waste management practices, EHPs help reduce environmental impact and enhance overall community health. It's time we recognize the pivotal role EHPs play in safeguarding our health and safety, not just in our communities but also in the workplace. We are everywhere, pity we do not have movies, series and songs written about us, you'd see the intricacies of the unsung heroes! #EnvironmentalHealth #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #ThoughtLeadership #EHPs #SafetyFirst

I am elated to share that I have successfully completed the Higher Certificate in Food Control thus becoming a Registered Food Safety Practitioner with The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. This could not have been possible without the never ending support of Sean Kelly, Hannen Bishop and Iain Ferris. #foodsafety #foodlaw #regulatorycompliance #foodsafetyandhygiene

For Food Safety, it is obvious things are falling apart, except we're living in alternative reality. Where and when did things go wrong is not the question we seek after, but if we're honest and we deeply self-examine, we ought to ask how did we get things wrong. Global or local, is there even any existing governing body that governs or regulates Food Safety practitioners? Other than losing employment, quitting roles, or scandals that put people in the firing line of the laws of the land for violating ethics of our discipline, who holds us accountable for the epic proportion of avoidable failures we see across the Food Safety landscape? There are disciplines requiring license to practice, especially when it pertains to life of people and how it is handled. Why exempt Food Safety practitioners who are involved in the business of prevention of Food-borne illnesses and ensuring the well-being of consumers?

Food safety managers work on the frontlines of upholding your organization’s standards, preventing outbreaks, and protecting public health. Having the right person in the role is critical to success. Here’s what you should look for in a candidate to ensure you hire the right professional for the job. #FoodSafety #FoodSafetyManager #HACCP #PCQI