Cooperating with OSHA gets two employees fired – and their employer found guilty of retaliation; health experts want asbestos banned and the Association Health Plans program gets a defeat in court. These were among the top occupational safety and health stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
4 safety lessons from a serious forklift accident
May 10, 2019
An employee of a Philadelphia company had his leg amputated after it was run over – twice – by a forklift driven by a fellow employee. That July 2015 incident resulted in lawsuits against several companies and ultimately, in a $9 million settlement. Here are four things you can learn from that incident.
A FairWarning Story
Worker advocates burned up over lack of federal heat protections
May 10, 2019
On a summer morning near Dayton, Ohio, a temporary worker began his first day with a commercial roofing company around 6:30 a.m. Mark Rainey, 60, was assigned to a crew to rip off and dispose of an old bank-building roof. Within hours, as the heat index reached 85 degrees, his co-workers noticed the new guy was “walking clumsily,” then became ill and collapsed, according to documents from OSHA.
Industrial protective fabrics market expanding
May 10, 2019
The global industrial protective fabric market is projected to reach $9 billion dollars by 2025, according to a new growth forecast analysis by Global Market Insights, Inc. Driving that growth: use by the chemical industry. Global petrochemical market size will surpass USD 950 billion by 2025 due to growing demand for plastics and lubricants.
Company illegally fired employees after amputation
Co-workers who cooperated with OSHA terminated
May 9, 2019
Five years of legal wrangling following a workplace amputation – in which retaliation, intrigue and secret photos played a part – ended recently with a decision by a federal jury in Pennsylvania. The jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found that Lloyd Industries Inc. and its owner, William P. Lloyd, unlawfully fired two employees because of their involvement in an OSHA investigation.
Massive health care build earns N.C. construction firm SHARP recognition
May 9, 2019
A North Carolina construction firm has received Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program (SHARP) accreditation for its work on a new health care facility. Brasfield & Gorrie was presented with a certificate of completion last month at the Mission Hospital for Advanced Medicine project, a 12-story, 615,000 square sq foot ft surgical tower with 220 patient beds, a newly expanded emergency department with 94 prep/recovery exam rooms, 10 operating rooms, 40 PACU bays, and a rooftop helipad.
Workplace safety violations across the U.S.A.
May 9, 2019
California OSHA issued four citations and $63,560 in penalties to Mercer-Fraser Co. after a worker driving a truck collided with a front end loader and suffered a serious head injury. Inspectors determined that the company failed to require seat belt use, develop and implement safe practices for workers operating haul trucks, and ensure that trucks were operated at safe speeds.
Slates named ASSP’s 2019 Outstanding Safety Educator
May 9, 2019
Kevin Slates, a highly regarded scholar, educator and researcher in the occupational safety and health field and member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) for 14 years, is ASSP’s 2019 William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator.
APHA calls on Congress to ban asbestos
May 9, 2019
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is urging Congress to urge support of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019, a bill to protect the public from exposure to the toxic substance. “Asbestos is a potent carcinogen. There is no safe level of exposure to it."
A FairWarning Story
Soaring costs but limited progress in cleanup of ‘scariest’ nuclear sites
May 9, 2019
The progress of a Department of Energy (DOE) program to clean up the nation’s most dangerous nuclear waste sites appears to be slowing down even though it’s still devouring billions of dollars.
How to negotiate safety practice in a construction company
May 8, 2019
Construction is a high hazard activity. Workers face serious dangers posed by heavy machinery, sharp objects, falling objects, falls from heights, asbestos, silica, electrocutions, among many other hazards. It's in the best interest of workers and construction companies to ensure the highest safety standards.
Dropped objects the focus of a construction safety campaign this week
May 8, 2019
An effort currently underway - timed to coincide with Construction Safety Week - is aimed at preventing fatalities and injuries from dropped objects. Through its 2019 Safety at Heights campaign, the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) The campaign is providing employers and workers educational information at SafetyAtHeights.org.
Chary named ASSP’s 2019 Safety Professional of the Year
May 8, 2019
Rama Krushna Chary, senior environment engineer for the drilling and technology directorate at Kuwait Oil Company and 10-year member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, is ASSP’s 2019 Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year. He has taken innovative steps to advance the safety and health profession while enhancing ASSP’s membership abroad.
Staying safe from storm-related electrical hazards
May 8, 2019
May is National Electrical Safety Month, and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reminds us that disasters bring serious risks for electrically related fatalities, injuries and property loss. To highlight those risks and ways to plan for severe weather events, this year’s campaign theme is “Electrical Safety during Disasters.”
Packaging firm fined $75K for severe hand injury
May 7, 2019
OSHA issued a fine of $75,156 to packaging firm Ampac Mobile Holdings LLC after two workers were injured by machinery at the firm’s manufacturing plant in Mobile, AL, the agency announced in a recent release.
24-year-old killed in Wisc. construction fall
May 7, 2019
A fall from the fourth floor of a building under construction claimed the life of a 24-year-old worker last month. News sources say Alexander J. Kanouse fell at approximately 8 a.m. while working at a jobsite in Madison. When first responders arrived, Kanouse was barely breathing and was bleeding profusely from a head wound.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
Small business week: Take time to celebrate!
May 7, 2019
During Small Business Week, May 5-11, we celebrate entrepreneurs across the country for their willingness to take a risk and follow a dream. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, we have plenty to celebrate: more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
How to test for carbon monoxide in your home
May 7, 2019
Carbon monoxide (CO) is often called the silent killer because it is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, making this toxic gas one of the most overlooked dangers in homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that annually close to 450 people die and 20,000 people are admitted to the emergency room as a result of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.
How to motivate the millennial workforce in manufacturing
May 7, 2019
Manufacturers across the nation are facing an industry-wide workforce shortage. Between the aging workforce and fewer graduates seeking careers in the trades, the gap is growing, rapidly. The struggle to attract and retain talent is evident. Industry leaders are asking: How do manufacturers in the modern age create an appealing culture for the next generation?
Day 2 training materials for National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
May 7, 2019
Having a detailed fall protection plan is essential to providing a safe work environment for employees working at heights. While OSHA only requires a written fall protection plan for employees engaged in specific types of work who can demonstrate that it is infeasible or hazardous to use conventional fall protection equipment (See 1926.501(b)(2), (b)(12), and (b)(13)), CPWR feels that the use of a plan is beneficial to the safety of all workers at risk for a fall.
Health care costs are stressing us out
Study finds widespread medical financial hardship in U.S. population
May 7, 2019
The high cost of health care is placing a heavy burden on more than 137 million Americans in the form of stress or delayed care, according to a new study by American Cancer Society (ACS). Additionally, researchers found that medical financial hardship is on the upswing in the U.S. High out-of-pocket spending for medical needs can drain assets and affect household finances. Patients may delay or forgo needed medical care because of cost, jeopardizing benefits of treatment.
DOL to appeal employer health plan ruling
May 6, 2019
Employers who are currently offering health coverage to their workers through Association Health Plans (AHP) can continue to do so through the remainder of the plan year, despite a recent court ruling that found portions of the Department of Labor’s AHPs rule unlawful.
It's on!
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction runs this week
May 6, 2019
OSHA and its partners are hosting events throughout the country this week for the sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. Employers and workers will pause to talk about fall hazards, OSHA compliance, and industry best practices to prevent falls. The 2019 poster is available on OSHA's publications page.
Blast at Ill. plant kills three night shift workers
May 6, 2019
The body of a third worker was recovered yesterday from the rubble of the Illinois silicone factory that exploded and erupted into flames late Friday. The search for the fourth body believed to still be in the debris that was the AB Specialty Silicones factory in Waukegan will resume today.
Use portable generators safely to avoid injuries
May 6, 2019
More and more people are using portable generators to make sure they don’t lose power during natural disasters. If not used correctly, however, these useful devices can pose dangers of their own, especially electrocution and carbon monoxide poisoning risks. The CDC says that if water has been present anywhere near electrical circuits and electrical equipment, you should turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel.
