‘Workers Need to Think Safety’: Hawaii Reports Surge in Serious Incidents

Honolulu, HI – Four workers in Hawaii were killed and seven were seriously injured during a 20-day span in May, according to the state’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, prompting further investigation from the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division. Each of the fatalities involved moving equipment. One occurred when a heavy equipment boom lift holding a utility pole collapsed, causing the pole to strike a worker. Others include a worker who fell from a tipped forklift, another who was killed “when a golf-type cart lurched forward into a wall,” and one who died after operating a riding mower that slid down a slope and over a retaining wall. “This surge in serious industrial accidents is a harsh reminder for employers and workers to think about safety when taking any work actions,” Hawaii DLIR Director Leonard Hoshijo said in a May 29 press release states.

Tree worker from Athol dies in fall in Medway

Medway, MA — A tree worker from Athol died in Medway on Monday after apparently falling from a tree. Lewis P. Umbenhower III, 38, died as a result of his injuries at Milford Regional Medical Center, according to a statement released by the town of Medway. The Medway Police and Fire Communications Center received a 911 emergency call stating a man at 27 Broken Tree Road fell approximately 30 feet out of a tree, according to the statement. Preliminary investigation indicated that Mr. Umbenhower was cutting a portion of a tree when he fell.

Firefighter dies while fighting west Texas wildfire

Odessa, TX — A firefighter from the Weatherford Fire Department died Sunday while battling a wildfire in west Texas. Richard “Andy” Loller Jr., 42, suffered an unspecified medical emergency and died on a medical plane on the way to an Odessa hospital, according to the City of Weatherford.  “We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Andy’s passing,” said City Manager Sharon Hayes. “He will be sorely missed by the community and all who knew and worked with him. Our prayers are with his family at this time.” Loller was part of the crew battling the Scenic Loop Complex fire in the Davis Mountains.

NC volunteer firefighter dies in crash while responding to rescue call

AKBORO NC — A North Carolina volunteer firefighter was killed in a wreck while in the line of duty Sunday evening. According to the East Side Volunteer Fire Department, Dakota Snavely was killed in a wreck after leaving a friend’s house near Oakboro. He was headed to Morrow Mountain State Park to respond to a water rescue, crews said

Man, 51, killed in elevator shaft fall in Logan Square

Chicago, IL A man died Monday afternoon after falling down an elevator shaft while working at a Logan Square neighborhood building. Emergency crews responded about noon to the building at 4000 W. Diversey, according to Chicago Police. Rafael Chacon, 51, was found in the elevator shaft and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:47 p.m., police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said. He lived in the Little Village neighborhood.

Dollar General offering $10,000 reward for information in fatal robbery

INDIANAPOLIS, IN  — Dollar General is offering a $10,000 reward for information connected to a robbery at an Indianapolis location last month, where an employee was killed. Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called to the Dollar General in the 5400 block of Emerson Way at about 4 p.m. on May 27. They found an employee who had been shot twice. Brian Eure, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was shot when he reached for the alarm by somebody trying to rob the store.

Family, friends remember local woman at vigil at Happy’s Pizza

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) – Family and friends gathered at Happy’s Pizza on Dorr Street Monday night to remember a local woman who was shot and killed on the job. A GoFundMe account has also been set up by her boss to aid her family. A gunman ambushed Sadari Knighten nearly a week ago, killing the 27-year-old, moments after she delivered a pizza to a home in central Toledo.

Postal carrier dies on route

Goergetown, KY– A Georgetown postal carrier passed out and died Friday while on his route. Daniel Rosenbach, 42, was completing his first week with the Georgetown branch of the U.S. Post Office when he collapsed Friday afternoon around 5 p.m. said Scott County Coroner John Goble. He had shadowed another carrier Monday through Thursday, but Friday he started his own walking mail route and another new carrier was shadowing him, Goble said. An autopsy was conducted because the death occurred while working, and showed Rosenbach had an enlarged heart, Goble said. Weather is not believed to have been a factor, Goble said, but the temperature at the time of his collapse was about 90, and the humidity was high.

Upper Arlington police identify homicide victim as China Dynasty employee

UPPER ARLINGTON, OH  –  Police say an Upper Arlington restaurant employee was stabbed to death during an argument outside China Dynasty restaurant Monday afternoon. According to Upper Arlington Police, the victim is 31-year-old Charles Edward Hale McCoy of Columbus. According to police, McCoy was involved in a verbal argument with a female employee. A short time later, the suspect, identified as Jeffery L. Smith, arrived and started fighting with McCoy. Upper Arlington police officer Bryan McKean say the two men had a verbal argument that escalated. “I don’t know how long the two of them knew each other but it does seem they had the female employee in common,” McKean said. During the fight, McCoy was stabbed. He was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital where he later died.

Worker killed in Pearland industrial accident

Pearland, TX — A worker was killed in an industrial accident at a Pearland pipe yard on Friday, police said. The incident occurred at about 9:20 a.m. at Houston Tubulars, Inc., 13600 Hatfield Road, in Pearland police spokesman Jason Wells said Monday. The worker, who was not identified, was moving a large pipe in the yard with another person when a wood bracket supporting the pipe broke. The worker was crushed to death, Wells said.

Man killed in logging equipment accident in cold brook

COLD BROOK, NY – A man was killed in an accident with logging equipment in the village of Cold Brook on Monday morning, according to New York State Police. The industrial accident occurred at 4391 Norway St. in Cold Brook, Herkimer County. Police say the son of 70-year-old William Kraszewski was moving a large “head rack” from a logging truck across his driveway to an adjacent lawn, and Kraszewski was standing in front of the fork lift in an attempt to stabilize the rack as his son got ready to lower it. Police say the rack then became unstable and fell from the fork lift, striking Kraszewski on the head and pinning him underneath it. Kraszewski was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘A tough loss’ for firefighters, his death is ruled in the line of duty for Whatcom

Whatcom, WA — A former Whatcom County firefighter who died of cancer this week is being listed as a line-of-duty fatality under state law that classifies certain kinds of cancer as job-related. Firefighter John Swobody died Monday night after a years-long battle with lung cancer, said Chief William Pernett of North Whatcom Fire and Rescue. Swobody, 54, died at his Marysville home, surrounded by friends and family.