Quote of the day
''The demand is there, but it's fast-paced, and it exposes employees to a lot of hazards. When you have a construction worker out there trying to pave a road and trying to deal with people driving 70 miles per hour, that's a very dangerous situation to try to put people in."
New Fed-OSHA Miami-area director Darlene Fossum, about the effects of South Florida's explosive growth on worker safety
Sand Hopper Mishap Not the First Accident for Corona Concrete Firm
The rescue of three men trapped in a sand hopper early this month was not the first accident for Corona-based concrete producer Robertson’s Ready Mix. “This company does not have a spotless safety record,” according to Kate McGuire, spokeswoman for Cal/OSHA, which is investigating; out of 11 incidents, at least four involved citations for serious violations. By Michele Clock, San Diego Union-Tribune
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South Florida’s Growth Endangers Construction Workers
New Fed-OSHA Fort Lauderdale area director Darlene Fossum says South Florida’s explosive growth in building and public works projects can be deadly for workers. Last year, 355 people died on the job in Florida, making it again the third deadliest in the country for workers after Texas and California, and in South Florida, half the deaths occurred in construction. By Niala Boodhoo, Miami Herald
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Feds Probe Fatal Garden State Bridge Plunge
A 45-year-old New Jersey construction worker dies after a temporary walkway breaks, causing him to fall 96 feet from a Sayreville bridge. Fed-OSHA is investigating. By Michael Acker, Sentinel (Edison, N.J.)
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San Antonio Firm Fined Nearly $142K
Fed-OSHA fines a San Antonio plaster firm $141,600 for nine safety citations at a Sugar Land construction site, including one serious and seven repeat violations, after investigators find employees working without proper fall protection. Houston Chronicle [Third Item] Go to the Full Story…
Hope Fading for Trapped Utah Coalminers
For the first time since the collapse of the Crandall Canyon mine more than a week ago, co-owner Robert E. Murray fails to express hope that the six trapped miners are still alive. “The big issue right now for these guys is air,” says author Jeff Goodell, who has written about mine rescues; two samples have showed that the air’s oxygen content where the men were working was only 7 percent, and it may take another week to reach them. By Sonya Geis, Washington Post
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Summer Nearly Over, But Heat Isn’t: ASSE Offers Safety Tips
Although summer is waning, extreme heat in remains a risk factor for workers in some parts of the nation. The American Society of Safety Engineers has tips to prevent heat stress and heat exhaustion. By Katherine Torres, Occupational Hazards
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Exhausted Truckers Pose Safety Hazard in Malaysia: Union
The Malaysian Transport Union says it is common for commercial vehicle drivers, including bus drivers, to be paid on a per-trip or commission basis so that companies earn more, but that causes drivers to be tired during long journeys. A new law will hold chief executives of bus companies accountable for safety standards. The Star (Malaysia)
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S.A. Environment Group Surprised at Favorable Nuke Safety Audit
South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station has received high praise from National Occupational Safety Association auditors, but environmental group Earthlife says a 2006 Nuclear Energy Regulator report detailed procedural mistakes and the incorrect following of safety procedures at the station. Independent Online (South Africa)
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Fires at Nuke Plant a ‘Common Problem’
Although there has not been a nuclear reactor blaze since Chernobyl, recent fires at nuclear plants in Spain, Germany and Sweden are reigniting debate over whether such plans should be shut down for good. By Daniel Fineren, Kuwait Times
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Lab Pipettes Causing RSI Injuries to Cambridge Scientists: Report
Cambridge University scientists are suffering from repetitive strain injury caused by lab pipettes, which are used to suck up liquids to transfer or measure, according to the annual report of the university’s health and safety executive. Additionally, work-related mental health issues are another main cause of referrals to the university’s occupational health service. Cambridge Evening News (U.K.)
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Feds Probe Deadly Fireworks Incident
Fed-OSHA is investigating a July fireworks accident in Piedmont, Okla., that killed two people when a firework exploded near the ground and ignited a box of fireworks. By AP via KTEN-TV (Denison, Texas)
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