Worker at Iowa tire recycling facility suffers serious arm injury
A man suffered a traumatic injury Thursday morning at a Des Moines, Iowa tire recycling facility when his arm became entangled in machinery. The company previously was fined $27,500 by IOSH following an investigation into a 2016 workplace incident at the same location. Des Moines Register
Minnesota conservation was not wearing life vest before drowning
The Minnesota conservation officer who died after falling from a boat in April was not wearing a life jacket at the time, according to local officials. The water temperature was about 40 degrees and neighbors reported seeing large chunks of ice floating on the lake. An inspection did not find anything unusual about the boat that would have contributed to the accident. Minnesota Public Radio News
Indiana: Volunteer fire chief dies in unspecified accident
A 47-year-old volunteer fire chief died last week while working for an excavating business in Warsaw, Indiana. A human resources officer for his employer would not provide details about the accident but said the company reported it to occupational safety and health officials. Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
How cocoons, sandwiches, toilets can improve construction worksites
Sixteen New York City construction workers have died on the job in the last year—a third higher than the rate five years ago, according to CBS News, which analyzed city data. And worksite injuries have risen 221 percent over that period. At a recent construction safety forum, panelists from major construction firms said they were turning to technology to improve safety and comfort for front-line workers. Commercial Observer
Boston-area auto auction owner pleads not guilty
A Billerica, Massachusetts auto auction and its operator have been charged with manslaughter in connection to a crash inside the building that killed five people in 2017. Three people were killed in the crash and two of the nine people injured died. Fed-OSHA cited the business for a range of infractions, including blocked exit routes, electrical hazards and record-keeping deficiencies and recommended $267,000 in fines. Boston 25 News
Fed-OSHA cites Kansas manufacturer for hexavalent chromium exposures
Fed-OSHA has cited a Kansas-headquartered aerostructures manufacturer for allegedly exposing employees to carcinogen hazards and fined it more than $193,00 for two repeated and four serious violations. Charges include failing to implement feasible engineering controls to limit employee exposure to hexavalent chromium and conduct periodic monitoring of employee exposure. KSN (Wichita)
Construction company fined $261K after Montana highway workers burned by oil
Fed-OSHA has fined a Montana construction company $261,000 after three of its workers were burned by hot oil at a mobile asphalt plant in October. The contractor was hired by the Montana Department of Transportation to complete highway work. The employees suffered second- and third-degree burns while pouring oil into a heating container used as part of the asphalt-mixing process. Billings Gazette