Texas Sees High Rate of Clean Energy Injuries

Clean energy workers in Texas are seeing a high on-the-job injury rate, a new study shows.
The report from the Texas Climate Jobs Project, Cornell University and a group called Organized Power in Numbers, shows one in four survey respondents reported either seeing or experiencing a work-related injury.
The study reviewed working conditions of 1,224 people working in the solar, wind and clean energy manufacturing sectors in Texas.
Of those surveyed, 6.4% of solar and wind workers reported witnessing a fatality on the job site.
Some 70% of solar construction workers reported that they were not covered by workers’ compensation insurance.
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A semi-annual survey of Oregon employers concerning inspections conducted by state OSHA safety and health compliance officers gave the public employees high marks.
The state received 217 responses to its survey covering questions about compliance officer skills, knowledge, and attitude. The latest survey period was July 1, 2022-Dec. 31, 2022.
More than 85% of the responses for most questions were in categories such as “very good” and “good” or “very clear” and “fairly clear.”
Compliance officers were also given high ratings on a four-point scale for characteristics such as professionalism, respectfulness, responsiveness, and reasonableness.
According to the agency, the results are given to the Oregon Legislature and help guide the training of compliance officers to improve the effectiveness of its inspections.
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A new study of Ohio law enforcement officers found three out of 10 have experienced a work-related head injury, putting them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Researchers at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that 74% of the 381 officers surveyed had sustained at least one head injury or concussion in their lifetime.
Many more of these injuries went unreported than were treated by a health care professional, according to an OSU press release.
PTSD and depressive symptoms were more common among the officers with a history of head injury, “suggesting they need better resources” related to traumatic brain injury and mental health support, according to the researchers.
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