Six workers died from H2S2 in August incident near Denver
- The Weld County, Colorado, coroner’s office says the six dairy workers who died this summer in a confined-space incident were killed by hydrogen disulfide.
- Five men and a teenager – 17 years old – were killed in an incident for which the circumstances have yet to be established.
- Four of the employees of the California-based Prospect Ranch were related, and their ages ranged from 17 to 50.
- H2S2 is a highly toxic gas that is colorless but has a sulfurous smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.
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Federal budget impasse, OSHA operations and worker safety implications
- The 2025 partial government shutdown has curtailed Fed-OSHA’s routine operations, but will it cause dramatic near-term deterioration in worker safety?
- OSHA’s contingency plan focuses on preserving essential functions, notes the Ogletree Deakins law firm.
- This plan ensures that OSHA will respond to imminent dangers and fatalities, even if routine inspections are reduced.
- Employer behavior regarding safety is shaped by reputational risks, contractual obligations and insurance economics.
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CSB: Chemical facilities should strengthen emergency response
- The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) recommends chemical facility managers ensure effective emergency response and evacuation protocols are in place.
- The recommendations come after an investigation into a July 2024 incident at a Sterling, Virginia, food processing facility.
- Approximately 170 pounds of anhydrous ammonia were released after an emergency pressure relief valve discharged.
- Some 33 workers were transported to nearby hospitals and four suffered serious injuries.
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Did contractor cut corners on East Wing demo?
- Following the abrupt demolition of the East Wing of the White House, critics are questioning whether the razing of the historic structure adhered to federal health and safety standards.
- Substances such as asbestos were widely used during the period of the East Wing’s original construction in 1902.
- “The demolition of a structure of the age and historic national significance of the East Wing demands the highest possible standards of care, not the lowest bid and a blind eye toward regulation,” wrote Senator Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) to the Maryland-based demo contractor.
- Federal law requires asbestos inspection, notification and abatement before demolition.
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