Construction lift overturns in Connecticut

A construction lift overturned behind the Garde Arts Center in New London, Connecticut, Monday afternoon, causing injuries. Fed-OSHA reportedly is investigating. NBC Connecticut

 

Crew ignites natural gas at Louisiana church worksite

Two people sustained minor injuries Monday when a construction crew ignited natural gas that had collected in a kitchen and cafeteria at a Baton Rouge, Louisiana church, triggering an explosion that sent sent shards of window glass into the street and lifted the roof off the structure. The Advocate

 

Some meatpacking plants may run faster line speeds

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has approved a pork packing plant in Coldwater, Michigan to run faster line speeds under a one-year trial program. The agency now has let four plants operate with faster harvesting line speeds, which could increase packing capacity and alleviate supply issues. Nine pork packing plants that had adopted the New Swine Inspection System were allowed to apply for the program, under which they need to collect data on the effects of the faster speeds on employees and share it with USDA and Fed-OSHA. Ohio Country Journal

 

State undermines Nashville bill intending to protect construction workers

Nashville-area safety organizers say OSHA data is undercounted. A local law attempted to hold construction contractors accountable for safety violations by preventing them getting city contracts for a few years, but the state undermined the city’s effort. WPLN

 

Washington senator spotlights discount chain’s treatment of employees

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington is reaching out to executives at Dollar General and Dollar Tree in her capacity as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, requesting they answer questions about allegations of unsafe working conditions and release more information about their labor practices. The Chronicle

 

Texas Mutual gives $100K safety training grant to Texarkana College

Texas Mutual Insurance Company has presented a grant to Texarkana College for $100,000 to provide safety training courses that benefit community employers, students, and the general public. The school is one of eleven community colleges in Texas that provides safety classes via funding from Texas Mutual. TXK Today