Engineer says designer of collapsed New Orleans hotel ignored calls for more steel supports

A key supplier of materials for the Hard Rock Hotel construction project in New Orleans tried to warn the builders they needed more steel supports on the upper floors, but those supports were never added before the partially built 18-story high-rise collapsed in October 2019, records show. The firm that designed the hotel has appealed cited violations, related to the building’s support structure of steel beams and columns on portions of its upper floors, to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. WWL (New Orleans) [with video]

 

Porch collapse injures Boston employee

An employee is being treated for injuries suffered when a porch collapsed at a home in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood on Monday. City officials say multiple people were working on the porch when it collapsed. Fed-OSHA has been notified. WCVB (Boston)

 

How will businesses manage different rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated employees?

Michigan OSHA released rules on May 24 that provide two sets of rules for the vaccinated and unvaccinated. The president of the Small Business Association of Michigan says the association had been hearing from businesses trying to find out what the rules are as they bring office employees back. WXYZ (Detroit)

 

Tank truck repair company owner pleads guilty of lying to Fed-OSHA

An Idaho man has pleaded guilty to lying to Fed-OSHA and to making an illegal repair to a cargo tanker in violation of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. He will be sentenced in August in connection with an August 2018 explosion during illegal cargo tank welding that severely injured an employee. According to the plea agreement, the employee’s welder flame pierced the skin of the tanker, which contained residual flammable material, resulting in the tanker exploding. Bulk Transporter

 

National survey of frontline healthcare employees finds fear, unsafe working conditions

A new report from researchers at George Washington University summarizes the findings from a national survey of frontline healthcare employees during the early days of the pandemic, finding that many reported unsafe working conditions and retaliation for voicing their concerns to employers. About 1,200 healthcare employees from all 50 states and the District of Columbia took the survey and the GW researchers analyzed the data collected during a two-month period from the beginning of May 2020 until the end of June 2020. Eurekalert

 

Can active self-defense save organizations money?

The direct cost from settlements and insurance to a healthcare organization when responding to the injury or death of an employee from violence is substantial. Above and beyond payment of workers’ compensation claims, liability claims for failure to provide a safe workplace are also expensive to litigate, regardless of merit, and may result in substantial settlements. Security Magazine