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Worker Health & Safety News
Tue, 2011-03-15 09:12
An unidentified dockworker was run over by a container lift at the Port of Oakland on March 2, 2011. The woman survived, but both of her legs were lost in the accident.
The APM terminal, where the accident occurred, had been reconfigured before reopening in January of 2010. As part of the change, pedestrians and equipment are forced to work in the same area, which may have contributed to this tragedy. Cal/OSHA is investigating.
This is not the first tragedy to occur at the Port of Oakland. In 2007, two dockworkers lost their lives. One was run over by a tractor-trailer; the other was crushed by a cargo container. In 2008, a longshoreman was hit into the water by a cargo container and drowned.
Mon, 2011-03-14 10:23
Russell Rosco, age 52, died Monday morning from head injuries he suffered at his place of employment, Disney's Animal Kingdom Park in Florida. Mr. Rosco had been performing maintenance on the Primeval Whirl, which is located in the DinoLand area of the Park. No further details have been provided regarding the cause of the accident.
Fri, 2011-03-11 11:14
As reported earlier, grain bin fatalities reached an all-time high last year. Despite its limitations, OSHA has initiated an increased number of inspections and safety violation fines. On March 4th, it issued a fine of $64,000 on Ag Processing Inc.
For further information on grain bin safety, go www.osha.gov. You also can see OSHA's fact sheet: OSHA Fact Sheet on Worker Entry Into Grain Storage Bins.
Sun, 2011-03-06 17:27
Virtually no one would disagree that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been underfunded for decades. The result is an organization that is severely handicapped in its ability to inspect workplaces, even after reports of serious safety violations.
The US Congress, however, is seeking to cut the existing OSHA budget by at least 20%, arguing that the organization's "expensive" rules harm the economy. Even if this were true (and it is not), does this country prefer worker fatalities? And, the truth is this: OSHA regulations are not the laws that place a financial burden on small business. Small business associations have repeatedly looked at laws that financially stunt growth, but these associations have confirmed that the main burden comes from economic laws & regulations (e.g., business taxes, effect of quotas & tariffs). Other regulatory costs are associated with health insurance and workers compensation premiums. OSHA regulations actually are the least costly regulations in comparison.
Thu, 2010-12-30 00:00
California's legislature passed AB 2774, which amends the California Labor Code Section 6432 as of January 1, 2011. The change was made in response to a finding that Cal/OSHA was citing employers for "serious" violations far less frequently than Federal OSHA. The amendment changes the Labor Code's language by making it a rebuttable presumption that a serious violation exists if Cal/OSHA demonstrates that there is a “reasonable possibility” that death or serious physical harm could result from the worksite hazard. The maximum amount for a serious violation is $25,000.
Mon, 2010-10-04 23:00
A man was taken to the hospital after falling from scaffolding on a Lynwood,Washington construction site. He had been working on renovation of a former car dealership property. His condition currently is not known.
Scaffolds with no guarding system or improper guarding systems are in violation of OSHA regulations. The consequences of disregarding these safety rules can be deadly. Even falling from one story can cause fatal injuries. Federal OSHA addresses scaffolding in a number of different standards, including its general industry, shipyard, marine terminal, and longshore standards. For details regarding these regulations, go to www.osha.gov.
Mon, 2010-10-04 19:14
The US Department of Labor reports that workplace safety laws in California are not being implemented and enforced in a timely and consistent manner. Among noted problems: slow response to workplace complaints and insufficient training of safety inspectors.
The AFL-CIO’s “Death on the Job Report, 2010” notes that California has approximately 300 workplace safety and health inspectors. To investigate all California workplaces once, it would take these inspectors 147 years.
Mon, 2010-09-27 19:16
While working on machinery at Tule River Dairy, a California worker had 3 fingers amputated. The cause of the accident currently is not known.
Tens of thousands of workers suffer amputation injuries each year in the United States. Studies identify “machines” as the leading cause. Other frequent causes include “metal items” and “hoisting apparatus.
Mon, 2010-09-20 23:00
An industrial accident involving a crane occurred just before 3 p.m. in Orcutt , California
Fri, 2010-09-17 23:00
Grain Bin Deaths Hit Record in 2010
If you or a loved one has been injured in a grain bin accident the attorneys at Paul & Hanley LLP can help.
A Purdue University study revealed that 2010 was the deadliest year in decades for grain bin deaths. In a recent Bloomberg story written by Michael J. Crumb it was reported that there were "51 grain bin accidents last year, up from 38 in 2009 and the most since tracking began in 1978. Twenty-five people died, and five of them were children under age 16. The previous record for grain bin accidents was 42 in 1993."
Most of the fatalities occurred in major corn and soybean growing states: "Illinois led the country with 10 accidents last year, followed by Minnesota with eight. Wisconsin had seven, and five were reported in Iowa." 31 people are known to have died in grain elevator accidents in Illinois over the last 25 years.
OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor recently cited two Illinois grain elevator companies and imposed $1.4 million in fines for three fatalities in incidents where workers died from suffocated after being buried in grain. The citations were issued to Haasbach LLC in Mount Carroll in Geneseo, Illinois, and the Hillsdale Elevator Co. in Annawan, Illinois.
Grain Bin Injury Lawyers
We are nationally recognized trial lawyers with offices located in California and Wisconsin. Paul & Hanley LLP has an outstanding track record of success, and our lawyers are known for their honesty, integrity and compassion. If you or a loved one have been injured in a grain bin accident, by asbestos exposure, product defects, premises liability, or work related injuries, our legal team is here to help you.
Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
Our nationwide, toll free numbers are (800) 933-2244 or (800) 281-9804.
California residents may also reach us at (510) 559-9980.
