Man pleads not guilty to workplace manslaughter in Maine worker’s fatal fall

A man accused of workplace manslaughter in connection with his half-brother’s fatal fall from a three-story apartment building in Portland, Maine in December appeared in court this week. Over the last seven years, Fed-OSHA cited the contractor four times for roofers not wearing fall protection safety harnesses. WGME (Portland, Maine)

Construction takeaways from Fed-OSHA’s Standards Improvement Project

Fed-OSHA’s most recent revisions to its standards, which the agency estimates will save employers $6 million a year, take effect July 15. Here some of the most important changes for the commercial construction industry. Construction Dive

Daughter of New Hampshire town employee killed on the job successfully pushes for new law

The family of a Northfield, New Hampshire town employee, who was killed in 2016 while working for the local highway department, supported a new law that was signed into law Monday. Fatal accidents involving public sector employees now will be investigated by the state labor department, which will also have the option to investigate serious accidents. WMUR [with video]

New Jersey food processor fined more than $150K for amputation incident

Following an investigation of a work-related amputation injury accident, Fed-OSHA has fined a New Jersey snack foods manufacturer nearly $153,000 for cited violations including failing to train employees or control hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance work on machinery. Under the settlement, the company has agreed to add nine full-time safety employees and an outside consultant to improve safety at eight production and warehouse facilities in New Jersey and New York. Cherry Hill Courier-Post

Idaho construction worker dies at rural site

Fed-OSHA is investigating the death of a construction worker at a small lake near Fruitland, Idaho that occurred over the weekend. It is the third construction worker death in the county in the last two months. In April, two men died in a trench collapse while installing irrigation pipes. Idaho Press

North Jersey chemical plant involved in weekend incident has history of fires

Although the cause of a fire Friday night at a South Kearny, New Jersey chemical plant is in still not known, the plant has been the site of a major chlorine leak and at least two other fires over the last several decades. Officials don’t know how much chlorine was released into the air Friday and Sunday afternoon, when it reignited. North Jersey Record