Georgia construction accident leaves two employees dead

A construction accident in Floyd County, Georgia resulted in the deaths of two employees when a flatbed truck that was being loaded with asphalt hit an excavator that was traveling downhill, striking another construction vehicle. Fed-OSHA is investigating. WSB

Construction company allegedly reported employee to immigration officials as retaliation

A 42-year-old construction worker who broke his leg when he fell off a ladder while working was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents moments after he picked up a payment from his boss for his injury, according to a civil lawsuit brought by the Department of Labor against the construction contractor. The government alleges the contractor and its chief executive officer retaliated after the employee reported the 2017 accident, triggering an investigation by Fed-OSHA. Boston Globe [may require registration]

Fed-OSHA starts new COVID-19 enforcement program

Fed-OSHA has announced that COVID-19 enforcement program, which will involve inspection of “high hazard” employers and further inspection of healthcare employers that have received COVID-19 complaints in the past, is the agency’s top priority for 2022. The agency says the goal is to mitigate spread of COVID-19 and future variants and protect healthcare employees by evaluating employer compliance efforts and abilities to handle any future surges of the virus. Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Washington has new heat exposure guidelines

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries recently released new emergency outdoor heat exposure and wildfire smoke rules, which are intended to better protect employees working outdoors, in comparison to last year’s guidelines, which which did not fully trigger until temperatures hit 100 degrees. The new rules, in place from June 15 through the end of September, will now kick in at 89 degrees for most employees and require access to cool water and shaded areas, as well as paid cool-down breaks every two hours. Wildfire rules require employers to monitor air quality and take protective action when employees are exposed to smoke. Seattle Times

New Jersey jewelry store employees injured in group robbery

A group of armed robbers stole from a jewelry store in New Jersey on Friday, and some employees of the store sustained minor injuries, according to police. The suspects forced the employees to the floor, smashed several glass display cases and took the jewelry inside before fleeing. PIX 11 (New York City)

Viral video shows construction workers balance on scaffolding without harnesses

Shocking footage that appears to show construction workers walking on a scaffold several stories aboveground without proper harness protection has gone viral. Newsweek [with video]