Maine employee succumbs to injuries suffered in building collapse
A man died after being injured by a collapsed garage that was in the process of being demolished, in Rockland, Maine, on Saturday morning. Fed-OSHA is investigating. Bangor Daily News
How to recognize and stay safe from brown recuse spiders
Brown recluse spider activity typically increases in the summer as the spiders move into people’s living spaces to escape the heat from outside and from attics. People react differently to the bite of a brown recluse, and according to Fed-OSHA, the severity of a bite can differ. Wichita Eagle
Fed-OSHA says Honolulu firefighting system endangered employees
Fed-OSHA told the United States Navy earlier this year that it had engaged in two serious violations of workplace safety standards that, combined, would have resulted in nearly $30,000 in fines if they had happened in a civilian agency. Fed-OSHA says the violations occurred at the Navy’s underground complex of 20 fuel storage tanks and a series of pipelines and tunnels that deliver fuel to Pearl Harbor and other places. The facility, which can hold up to 250 million gallons of fuel, poses a “high potential for fire,” according to the military’s own assessment in 2014. Honolulu Civil Beat
Illinois plant where employee fell to death with has faced numerous cited violations
The Caterpillar facility in Mapleton, Illinois where an employee fell to his death Thursday has been cited numerous times in the past by Fed-OSHA, and was the site of another fatal fall less than six months ago. The most recent fatal incident occurred when a 39-year-old employee who was working near a crucible fell and reportedly died instantly. Fed-OSHA is investigating. WCBU
Nebraska healthcare employees’ advocate shares concerns of workplace violence
Employees in the healthcare industry are five times more likely to be a victim of workplace violence than those in other occupations, according to an advocacy group for these employees. These attacks have included name-calling, excessive profanity, threatening comments or actions, kicking, spitting, biting and sexual harassment, and can lead to post-traumatic stress for healthcare employees or cause them to leave the profession altogether. In response to recent hospital shootings in Oklahoma and Ohio, the Nebraska Hospital Association last week shared concerns regarding workplace violence in hospitals. KNOP
State of Oklahoma offering free OSHA training this month
June is National Safety Month, and the Oklahoma Department of Labor is offering free, confidential, limited and full-service workplace safety consultation services for businesses of all sizes. All services are confidential, and provide businesses an exemption from future Fed-OSHA inspections. KRMG (Tulsa)
Fed-OSHA requires meatpacking giant to implement disease preparedness measures at seven plants
Under a settlement announced late last week, Fed-OSHA is requiring JBS, one of the largest meatpacking companies in the country, to take steps to prevent future disease outbreaks at seven of its plants in Colorado, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Texas. Under the agreement, a team of third-party experts and company representatives will review the company’s existing procedures and occupational health system; develop recommendations for ventilation, employee and visitor screening protocols, cleaning, and other engineering and administrative controls; identify personal protective equipment needs and stockpile for potential future needs; and address other issues related to infectious disease preparation and response. Iowa Capital Dispatch