Code enforcement officer murdered in Georgia; suspect arrested
A suspect has been arrested in the murder last week of a Richmond County, Georgia Code Enforcement Officer who was shot to death while working for the agency that assists in cases connected to tax delinquency, blighted homes, and overall safety of buildings and structures. The victim reportedly was not the officer serving the papers. WRDW (Augusta, Ga.) [with video]
Oregon OSHA launches free online training for construction fall protection
In Oregon, from 2014 to 2018, there were 6,187 accepted disabling claims in construction because of falls to a lower level. In response, OR-OSHA has produced an online video training course designed to help employers and employees comply with fall protection standards. The course covers a comprehensive set of fall protection topics in construction including the purposes of fall arrest and fall restraint systems; fall clearance calculations; scaffolding; guardrails; leading edge work; and holes and openings. KTVZ (Bend, Ore.)
Dallas-area construction supervisor killed while training co-worker on tractor
A construction supervisor was killed in an accident in North Arlington, Texas on Thursday afternoon while training a co-worker on how to operate Bobcat machinery, when the vehicle’s bucket struck him. CBS DFW
Michigan businesses cited for allegedly violating COVID-19 safety order
MIOSHA has cited six businesses including a financial services company, a package distribution facility, and a gym, for allegedly failing to comply with COVID-19 related health and safety regulations. NBC25 [with video]
Anti-mask group sues city of Tulsa, alleges masks cause oxygen deprivation
A Tulsa optometrist and a group of business owners have filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the city of Tulsa’s mask mandate, on grounds it creates an “oxygen deficient atmosphere” under Fed-OSHA guidelines. The suit further charges that forcing individuals to work in such an atmosphere has been proven to cause “irreparable physiological damage” after only 15 seconds of wearing a face covering, despite a July report from the Mayo Clinic that stated such concerns were inaccurate. Tulsa World
IG says Fed-OSHA must expedite its handling of whistleblower complaints
The U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General last week found the number of whistleblower complaints Fed-OSHA has been receiving climbed significantly during the pandemic, while its whistleblower program full-time employment has decreased. Moreover, a potential exists for even greater delays than before the pandemic in closing investigations, according to the inspector. Becker’s Hospital Review
Eight critical trench box safety tips
Trench work is inherently dangerous. Here, United Rentals, Inc. shares eight trench box safety tips to help contractors and utilities promote safe work practices in trenching and excavation operations. For Construction Pros
Fed-OSHA, FDA publish pandemic checklist
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Fed-OSHA recently developed the “Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist for Human and Animal Food Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” It is intended to be useful to various FDA-regulated food establishments that grow, harvest, pack, manufacture, process, or hold human and animal food (such as produce, seafood, milk, eggs, grains, game meat, raw materials or ingredients, and resulting food products). National Law Review