Chicago neighborhood asks why smokestack was demolished during pandemic
Residents of the Chicago neighborhood Little Village are worried about what they may have breathed in Saturday morning, when a controlled implosion demolished an industrial smokestack and caused a huge cloud of dust to blanket the neighborhood. Neighbors are asking why a permit was given for the project during the COVID-19 pandemic. CBS Chicago
OR-OSHA plans to spot-check employers
Oregon OSHA is launching spot checks following a spike in complaints about businesses not complying with the social distancing requirements. New projections from health researchers estimate Oregon’s aggressive social distancing measures have prevented as many as 18,000 cases of COVID-19 and 500 hospitalizations. St. Helens Chronicle (St. Helens, Ore.)
Some advocates criticize Fed-OSHA’s response to coronavirus complaints
Fed-OSHA has not disclosed how many complaints it has received, but its position that it won’t crack down on businesses that fail to follow COVID-19 guidelines, including cleaning worksites properly, providing protective equipment or telling them when coworkers became sick with the coronavirus, has spurred criticism from some employees, unions and advocates. The agency this week issued new instructions but some advocates say it isn’t enough. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
According to Fed-OSHA, it takes from a few days up to about two weeks for the body to become accustomed to higher temperatures, which are on the rise in Phoenix after a cooler than normal spring. Phoenix has not had a 90-degree day so far in 2020. azcentral
Federal employee cases and deaths continue to increase
Coronavirus cases spiked at the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments over the weekend, Military Times and Stars and Stripes reported. Government Executive
Gas station chain fined $204K in fatal explosion
Fed-OSHA has handed down more than $200,000 in penalties in connection with a deadly gasoline tank explosion last September at a Speedway store near Binghamton, New York. An employee of a contractor at the site was draining brine water while he was inside a 10,000-gallon fiberglass gasoline storage tank, when a drill he was using ignited vapors. WNBF (Binghamton, N.Y.)
TB outbreak at Michigan agency probed
MIOSHA is investigating whether any health and safety regulations were violated in connection with an unprecedented bovine tuberculosis outbreak affected five technicians in Michigan’s Wildlife Disease Laboratory last year. The lab, which is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is responsible for monitoring the health of state wildlife. Bridge Magazine
Idaho meat plant worker killed in accident
Fed-OSHA is investigating the April 7 death of an employee at a Boise, Idaho-area meat-processing plant. Idaho Statesman [with video]