Michigan healthcare employees report work-related violence
According to Fed-OSHA, healthcare employees are four times more likely to experience significant violence than the workforce as a whole, and the problem is compounded by the fact that hospitals are required to treat anyone seeking medical care, even those who have been violent with staff. Lansing, Michigan-area healthcare employees are asking state legislators to do something about the workplace violence they are experiencing. A veteran emergency room technician says two weeks ago, a patient punched her several times in the face and stabbed a doctor who tried to help her. Fox47
Michigan: Vetoed family farm fatality bill to be reintroduced
Under current law, if a fatality happens on a family farm and the family does not report it to Michigan OSHA within eight hours, the agency may issue a $5,000 fine. A state representative says she will reintroduce a modified version of her plan to protect family farmers from such rules and fees following the governor’s veto of her original plan. The legislation would have exempted family farm owners from reporting requirements in certain instances, such as one in which a farm owner died in an accident on his own farm in 2019, and would reduce the fine by 95 percent. WLEN
Man was not employee of Maine market where his arm was severed: Fed-OSHA
Fed-OSHA has concluded a 25-year-old Lewiston, Maine man, who was saved by city employees when they saw him walking down a street carrying his severed arm, was not an employee of the market where he was injured last month. The agency’s finding ended its investigation into the case because the lack of an employee-employer relationship left no grounds to investigate. Bangor Daily News
Texas explosions linked to same company
There have been four major incidents in Texas’ Burleson and Brazos Counties, reportedly involving Chesapeake oil well sites since January 2020. The most recent, a battery tank explosion Friday night, resulted in a driver being hospitalized after hitting a large piece of debris that landed on a road near Lake Somerville. KBTX
Connecticut VA says it has fixed most safety issues at facility
The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs said the agency has fixed 10 out of 11 safety violations at its West Haven facility, where a steam pipe explosion killed two employees. Fed-OSHA issued multiple notices of unsafe working conditions after the fatal explosion. The VA says it is still working on safety upgrades that prevent the uncontrolled release of steam. WSHU
Labor department urges businesses to apply for safety awards
The North Carolina Department of Labor currently is accepting applications from businesses that qualify for a workplace safety award. Henderson Dispatch [may require registration]