Fatality at Missouri agricultural plant under investigation
Fed-OSHA is investigating a workplace fatality that occurred Monday at a St. Joseph, Missouri soybean processing facility, when a 56-year-old worker reportedly fell from the top of a tank approximately 50 feet in circumference and 57 feet high. The agency conducted an inspection at the facility in November 2017, with no citations being issued. St. Joseph News-Press
Exec sentenced to prison for covering up circumstances of employee’s death
A man who was an executive at a Canada-based aluminum company when a 21-year-old worker was killed in 2012 at an Ohio plant has been sentenced to five months in prison for his role in trying to cover up circumstances surrounding the death. The incident occurred when two stacked metal racks tipped over onto the man and another employee as they were pushing the racks on a roller conveyor. A second ex-manager will be sentenced next week on similar charges. Youngstown Vindicator
Worker killed at construction site near Phoenix identified
Authorities have identified the 70-year-old construction worker who was killed when a piece of equipment tipped over at a Gilbert, Arizona worksite on Monday. ABC15 (Phoenix) [with video]
CSB: Philadelphia refinery explosion spewed 5,000 pounds of deadly chemical
A refinery explosion earlier this year in Philadelphia released more than 5,000 pounds of toxic hydrofluoric acid and launched pieces of shrapnel as large as a truck, according to investigators for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The acid can destroy tissue and bone, and has caused fatalities with skin exposures to as little as 2.5 percent of body surface area, according to the CSB. Herald-Mail
Texas A&M-Texarkana to hold fall protection course
Texas A&M University-Texarkana and the Department of Extended Education and Community Development will be offering an OSHA 3115- Fall Protection course at the A&M-Texarkana campus on October 23-25. This course covers the OSHA Fall Protection Standard for construction and an overview of fall protection methods. Course topics include principles of fall protection, components and limitations of fall arrest systems, and Fed-OSHA standards and policies regarding fall protection. TXK Today
Fed-OSHA releases annual “Top 10” violations
Fed-OSHA has released the top ten violations for fiscal year 2019, with fall protection, hazard communication and scaffolding topping out the list. National Law Review