Las Vegas bridge demolition incident injures construction worker
Part of a Las Vegas bridge on U.S. Route 95, several miles north of the Strip, collapsed Thursday during a demolition project, injuring a construction worker. Fed-OSHA will investigate. New York Daily News [with audio]
Employee falls to death in West Virginia mining accident
A 44-year-old man died last week in a mining accident in West Virginia. Local law enforcement says subcontracted employee fell about 30 feet while working above a belt line and died at the scene. Observer-Reporter
Employee dies in incident at South Carolina plant
One person was killed in an apparent workplace incident Friday morning at a plant in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, according to law enforcement. South Carolina OSHA may investigate. WPDE
Whistleblower alleges smoke shop owners fraudulently opened COVID-19 testing center
A whistleblower has filed a Fed-OSHA complaint alleging owners of smoke shops on Chicago’s Southwest Side fraudulently opened a COVID-19 testing site. The complaint spells out “questionable practices,” including that insurance information frequently was not recorded. The whistleblower also says her requests for personal protective equipment were ignored. WGN (Chicago)
Employee maimed in workplace incident in Maine
Fed-OSHA is investigating an incident in Lewiston, Maine in which an employee of a market suffered severe arm lacerations last week. The victim remained hospitalized on Friday. WMTW
Fed-OSHA investigating explosion at upstate New York marina
Fed-OSHA is investigating an explosion that injured an employee last week at a Coeymans, New York marina. A preliminary investigation by law enforcement indicates the employee was welding in a proximity to a waste oil tank which is the origin of the explosion. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is conducting an investigation as well. WRGB (Albany)
Widow of farmer discusses proposed MIOSHA rule changes
The widow of a Michigan farmer, who fell to his death in 2019 while repairing a barn roof, spoke with WLEN News last week about proposed changes to state law regarding reporting deaths on family farms to the state within a certain time frame, and incurring fines if they do not. WLEN [with audio]
Mechanics struggle to stay warm in freezing temperatures
Last week in Texas, some areas saw temperatures in the 80s; the next day, Central Texas dropped into the 30s. Mechanics are one cohort of employees who experience all temperature changes while working. The common types of cold stress are hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot. KVUE