Following employee death, Fed-OSHA investigating fatal 2019 chemical exposure at Alabama plant

Following the death last week of a 20-year employee who was exposed to hazardous chemicals while working at a Decatur, Alabama plant last month, Fed-OSHA is investigating a chemical exposure incident that occurred at the plant in 2019. WHNT

 

Kentucky factory employee killed instantly in accident

An employee died last week after a workplace accident at a Georgetown, Kentucky factory after a plastic injection molding machine locked up. The man reportedly climbed into the machine to look at it when it suddenly came down on him, killing him instantly. WKYT

 

Fed-OSHA issues $339K in fines after amputation incident at Denver milk plant

Fed-OSHA has proposed more than $339,000 in penalties for Safeway, Inc. after an employee at a Denver milk packaging plant lost four fingers while operating a molding machine that the agency says lacked required safeguards. KDVR

 

Fed-OSHA looks to update mechanical power press standard

Fed-OSHA’s current metalworking safety standard hasn’t been updated in 50 years. One of the reasons the agency is considering changes to it is a concern about presses causing amputations and other injuries such as crushed bones and lacerations. The Fabricator

 

Safety reminders for employees working outdoors

Fed-OSHA has a free heat safety app that offers a visual indicator of the current heat index and associated risk levels specific to a user’s current geographical location. PAhomepage

 

Amazon loses federal fight to block New York pandemic safety investigation

A federal judge this week dismissed Amazon’s lawsuit seeking to block the investigation by the New York Attorney General into its employee safety protocols during the early days of the pandemic. In addition to ignoring its duty to follow cleaning and disinfecting requirements, according to the complaint, the company would fail to identify or notify employees potentially exposed to the virus through their contact with co-employees in the same facilities who would up positive for the COVID-19 virus. Courthouse News Service

 

Exosuits being used for lifting on construction sites

Construction ranks fifth on the list of the 10 occupations with the highest incidence rates of workplace injuries, according to data published in 2020 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. SAIF Corp. has teamed with the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter to begin a pilot project to test exosuits, in an effort to to help reduce back sprains, other injuries in the construction sector. Business Tribune