A whistleblower blows the whistle on OSHA; the problems that lead to Deepwater Horizon disaster haven’t gone away and a “green” industry that helps the environment is hazardous to its workers. These were among the top stories posted on ISHN.com this week.
Healthcare workers’ radiation exposure tied to range of health problems
Healthcare professionals performing x-ray guided cardiovascular procedures may be at higher risk for health problems including orthopedic problems, cataracts, skin lesions and cancers, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
OSHA exposé
Federal agency that protects whistleblowers accused of retaliating against one of its own
For nearly five years, Darrell Whitman was a federal investigator who probed whistleblowers’ complaints about being fired or otherwise punished for exposing alleged corporate misconduct.
Florida company continues long history of OSH violations
OSHA proposes $280K in fines for roofing company after two recent inspections
Recent federal inspections of Florida construction sites finds Jasper Contractors Inc., a Georgia-based roofing company, is continuing its seven-year history of ignoring safety and health laws and putting workers at risk of serious injury or death.
CSB: Offshore risk management, regulatory oversight still inadequate in Gulf
Macondo disaster minimal compliance culture still exists
Offshore regulatory changes made thus far do not do enough to place the onus on industry to reduce risk, nor do they sufficiently empower the regulator to proactively oversee industry’s efforts to prevent another disaster like the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and oil spill at the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, an independent investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) warns.
Welder falls 50 feet into bottom of water tank in Prince William County
A man was injured Thursday when he fell into a large out-of-service water tank in Prince William County, authorities said.
ASSE announces election results
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Nominations & Elections Committee has announced the results of the 2016 Society Election. Voting in the 2016 election ended on March 31 with a 14.5% voter return.
Self-employed welder breaks every facial bone after explosion in home workshop
It was a typical Thursday afternoon for Moffat County, Colorado, resident Daina Wagner, but a sudden explosion and what followed had her wondering if her life and the lives of her loved ones were about to change forever.
Welding robot kills worker
A man has been killed by a robot at a car parts factory in India. The 24-year-old worker was reportedly adjusting a metal sheet being welded by the machine when he was stabbed by one of its arms.
Pa. worker hospitalized after trench cave-in
A Middletown, Pennsylvania contractor has been cited for multiple violations and fined $41,000 after a trench cave-in sent one of its workers to the hospital.
A FairWarning story
Recycling is a feel good activity, but not for workers hurt or killed on the job
Darkness had enveloped the Newell Recycling yard by the time Erik Hilario climbed into a front-end loader on a cold evening in January 2011. Just 19 years old, Hilario, an undocumented immigrant, had followed his father from Mexico to an industrial park in East Point, Ga., near Atlanta, where they worked as low-skilled laborers amid jagged piles of scrap metal bound for the smelter.
Report: Phys ed programs not keeping U.S. kids in shape
Students across the nation would benefit from strong state requirements for physical education. However, 2016 Shape of the Nation™, released today by SHAPE America - Society of Health and Physical Educators and Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, shows most states are dropping the ball on keeping kids active and fit and preparing them for a healthy future.
Contractor dies after falling through skylight
HVAC installer Timothy O’Neal Gearing and a co-worker were trying to unjam a saw stuck in a metal roof when the saw jerked loose, causing Gearing to lose his balance and fall through an unguarded skylight. The 39-year-old plunged to the concrete ground 15 feet below died from his injuries after being transported to a hospital.
