North Carolina club fined more than $46K after employee death

The North Carolina Department of Labor issued two separate fines totaling $46,200 to the Hound Ears Club this week after the death of a 47-year-old employee on May 31. According to the agency, preliminary information indicated the employee fell off of a roof. One citation alleges the employer did not ensure each employee on a surface with an unprotected side that was more than four feet off the ground was protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall protection systems. Watauga Democrat

Utah nurse calls for safety changes after alleged assault at state hospital

A Utah nurse is filing a lawsuit against the state after she says she was punched in the face by a patient while administering medications at the Utah State Hospital. The lawsuit claims the hospital is understaffed and, therefore, dangerous. KSL

Michigan Senate, House file brief opposing OSHA rules

The Michigan House and Senate filed an amicus brief last week in opposition to new Fed-OSHA’s emergency temporary standard intended to to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace. Companies ranging from law enforcement to fast food to healthcare are facing a shortage of employees. The brief says the legislature is concerned about being left out of the rulemaking process. Iosco County News-Herald

Oregon OSHA fines school district nearly $12K over workplace safety violations

After receiving multiple complaints alleging Oregon’s Adrian School District publicly announced refusal to comply with the governor’s mask mandate, the district was scrutinized by OR-OSHA and issued four citations and more than $11,000 in penalties. Argus Observer

Long Island employee dies of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning

A 30-year-old construction worker who was removing silt from the bottom of a 10-foot-deep drainage pipe in Fort Salonga, New York on Tuesday, died of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. A coworker tried to go down the pipe to rescue him, but he felt burning in his nose and throat and came back up, according to police. U.S. News & World Report

Study: Obese employees cost employers more than 2X healthy-weight employees

Employers bear a large share of excess costs attributed to obesity. In a newly-released study with important implications for both individuals and employers, researchers analyzed savings associated with weight loss among commercially insured adults with chronic medical conditions. BenefitsPro