Flash: Coronavirus: Don’t Panic, but Be Prepared

A scary outbreak in China has health authorities on alert. Here’s what we know, and the best way to protect yourself and your workplace. Cal-OSHA Reporter

Wisconsin first responders honored for successful grain bin operation

The Sheboygan County Technical Rescue Team was recognized recently at the Wisconsin capitol after an inventive grain silo rescue in which they used a bucket to prevent a trapped worker from suffocating. Sheboygan Press

Former employee speaks out about dangers at Houston plant

A former employee of a northwest Houston industrial plant that exploded last week, killing two workers and damaging over 200 homes, says he isn’t surprised by the incident and that he filed a formal safety complaint against the company with Fed-OSHA in 2006. Houston Chronicle [may require registration]

Top 20 most physically demanding jobs

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that employment for construction workers and hand laborers/movers has grown faster than employment in STEM jobs over the past five years. The 5 million employees in the 20 most physically demanding jobs make up about 3.5 percent of the nation’s 145 million workers. KMVU (Medford, Ore.)

Pipe crushes Texas man on North Carolina beach

A 47-year-old Texas man who was delivering piping for a beach nourishment project in North Carolina was killed Monday when one of the large pipes rolled onto him as it was being unloaded from a trailer. Fed-OSHA is investigating. JDNews (Jacksonville, N.C.)

Ohio ammo company fined $211K following fatal explosion

Fed-OSHA cited a Hamilton, Ohio business ammunition business with with 19 serious safety and health violations and fined it more than $211,000 after an employee was killed in an explosion and fire last summer. Cited hazards include failure to remove bins of waste ammunition powder from the sorting department before employees began doing maintenance work. Local 12