Chemical plant incident kills two workers near Houston
Two workers died the weekend prior to the new year as they cleaned a tank at a a chemical transportation plant in Pasadena, Texas. Fed-OSHA issued nearly $27,000 in penalties in 2019 to the company for four cited violations including hazard communications and employees working in confined spaces at the site. Houston Chronicle
Construction worker dies during Boston’s New Year’s Eve preparation
An employee of a staging and rigging contractor was killed on the Saturday prior to Boston’s First Night activities when a 3,500-pound ballast dislodged from a forklift and hit the man, who died on the way to the hospital. Fed-OSHA is investigating. Boston Herald
‘Tough year’ for measles and other infectious diseases in US
There were nearly 1,300 cases of measles in the U.S. through November, the most in 27 years. Hepatitis A and rare, fatal mosquito-borne disease also increased. However, some infectious diseases, including Legionnaires’ and West Nile virus appear to have decreased significantly compared to 2018. WSBT (Mishawaka, Ind.)
Fatal workplace injuries still rising: Study
New data shows fatal workplace injuries have spiked since 2017. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in December, the number of fatal workplace injuries increased in 2018. Transportation incidents are still the most common type of fatal workplace injury and violent events, including those caused by other people or animals, were the second most frequent type. Lafayette Sun
No citations against Iowa fire department after fatality probe
Iowa OSHA has declined to issue citations against the city of Clinton fire department in connection with a fireman’s death at the Archer Daniels Midland plant one year ago. A second firefighter also was critically injured in the fire following the explosion at the plant. Clinton Herald
Kansas aircraft plant explosion injures 15
Eleven people were taken to hospitals and four were treated at the scene after a nitrogen line ruptured at the Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas, causing part of the building to collapse, on December 27. The explosion was felt more than five miles away. Fed-OSHA is investigating. Boston Herald
Brothers killed in Minnesota silo accident
Two brothers died prior to Christmas at a Brandon, Minnesota farm after one tried to rescue the other from a silo. One of the brothers, a 47-year-old man, reportedly had been working with his 11-year-old son atop a silo at their farm when they may have been overcome by fumes from silage fermenting in the bin. The man’s brother entered the silo to rescue his brother and nephew and also was overcome by fumes. UPI
Majority of workplace assaults occur in healthcare: Fed-OSHA
Three-quarters of all workplace assaults happen to healthcare professionals, Fed-OSHA reports, and the problem is growing. Unlike other professions, there is presently no federal law requiring prevention, reporting, or action if a healthcare worker is assaulted while on the job. ABC News