Dallas crane’s computer will reveal conditions at time of fatal collapse: Expert
The Dallas area was being hit with wind gusts up to 70 mph on Sunday around the time a crane collapsed at an apartment complex, resulting in the death of a 29-year-old woman and injuring five other people. An expert on crane accidents says investigators will be aided in their probe by the crane’s computer. There were 16 fatal injuries related to cranes in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Weather.com [with video]
Dallas accident was ninth crane-related fatality in region since 2012
The fatal Dallas crane collapse Sunday reportedly is the ninth death related to a crane accident in North Texas since 2012. However, Sunday’s was the first involving a person who was not working on a construction site. According to an industry report, wind has been a major factor in nearly a quarter of fatal crane accidents around the world. CBS DFW (Dallas) [with video]
Massachusetts worker seriously injured in industrial accident
A 41-year-old male employee was seriously injured Monday morning at an industrial accident at a precast products company in Carver, Massachusetts, according to local law enforcement. Fed-OSHA is investigating. South Coast Today
North Carolina considers zip line safety bill
In the wake of two deaths in the past few years, the North Carolina General Assembly is considering a bill that would impose strict oversight on the “aerial adventure course” industry, which includes zip lines, high ropes courses and other aerial adventure parks. The bill, which is named in honor of a 12-year-old who was riding a zip line at a YMCA camp when her harness snapped and she died as a result of her fall-related injuries, would mandate annual inspections of zip line and high ropes courses and equipment, implement state standards for operator training, require companies to report accidents and impose civil and criminal penalties against operators for violations. Asheville Citizen-Times
Fed-OSHA cites Florida farm following ammonia release
A Belle Glade, Florida farm has been fined more than $95,000 by Fed-OSHA in connection with an ammonia release in the farm’s packinghouse last November. Cited violations include lack of an ammonia release employee alarm and inadequate training for employees working with the ammonia refrigeration system. Miami Herald
Violations, including repeats, at Omaha store spur $302K in fines
Fed-OSHA has fined Family Dollar more than $302,000 for violations the agency says it found at an Omaha store. In addition to two classified as serious, four cited violations classified as repeat include obstructed emergency exits, unsecured helium tanks and an obstructed path to breaker control panels. Omaha World-Herald
Examining the role of culture in firefighter deaths
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has identified the top five causal factors of firefighter deaths and injuries, but one area that does not seem to be addressed is the fire department culture, writes Champaign, Illinois’ Fire Chief Gary Ludwig. Can NIOSH capture the impact of department culture rooted in unsafe actions? Fire Chief