Steelworker killed in forklift accident at Michigan plant

A steel worker died after a January 11 forklift accident, marking the first workplace fatality in Michigan of 2022. The 29-year-old man was operating an extendable boom forklift to pick up pre-insulated metal panels when he leaned through the cab. The man was then crushed by the lift boom and suffered fatal injuries, officials said. MLive

Employee fatally pinned at Michigan business

A 61-year-old man was killed Monday morning while working at a Baraga Township, Michigan forest products business when he pinned between the loader arms and the frame of heavy machinery. According to MIOSHA, it is the second workplace fatality in Michigan in 2022. UpperMichiganSource.com/WLUC

CDC says natural immunity outperformed vaccines against delta strain

Natural immunity from prior infection granted stronger levels of protection against the Delta variant of COVID-19 than vaccination alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study released Wednesday. The study examined four categories of people: unvaccinated and vaccinated who survived a previous COVID-19 infection; and unvaccinated and vaccinated who had never been infected, in California and New York, between May and November 2021. Daily Caller

Hollister’s parent company responds to cold working conditions at Destiny USA location

Employees at a New York clothing store say the heat hasn’t worked in a year, and reportedly have been seen recently wearing parkas to stay warm on the job. The situation is now the subject of a Syracuse code violation. CNY Central

Inflation increase boosts penalty amounts

As a result of inflation, penalties for violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and other labor laws, including including the Construction Safety Act, Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), have increased 6.2 percent. National Law Review

Omaha business owners sentenced to prison for role in deadly 2015 railcar explosion

Two Omaha business owners were sentenced to prison late last week for violating safety standards before a 2015 explosion that resulted in the death of two employees. According to a federal indictment, on April 14, 2015, workers were removing petroleum residue from inside a rail tanker car in Omaha when a spark ignited and caused a deadly explosion. Despite that a safety data sheet identified the petroleum residue as highly flammable and containing benzene, according to prosecutors, employees were sent into the car without testing for benzene levels. Lexington Clipper-Herald