Expert offers insight into recent crane collapse

• Koshy Koshy, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and center manager for the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Workforce, offered insight into the recent New York City crane collapse.
• A crane caught fire high above Manhattan, then partially collapsed onto the street below, injuring 12 people.
• “We do not have all the facts, but I’m sure the City of New York OSHA is investigating since there are reported occupational injuries,” she said.
• Koshy added: “Federal and local codes for cranes and derricks are some of the most protective standards for one simple reason: Cranes don’t fail small. When cranes fail, it’s very rarely a minor incident.”
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Unpaid OSHA violations

• Several employees were injured in a fiery blast at Iowa-based C6-Zero, which has failed to pay a nearly $96,000 fine for workplace safety violations.
• C6-Zero was attempting to recycle roofing shingles when the explosion happened and agreed in May to pay $95,711 as part of a settlement with the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
• The company did not pay the fine by the mid-June deadline and still hasn’t paid, according to Iowa OSHA.
• The plant, which had about 30 employees, was in a pilot phase when a spark ignited flammable vapor and caused an explosion that injured nine employees, at least two seriously.
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Safety hearing for Amazon in Washington State

• Washington state and Amazon are squaring off over workplace-safety citations totaling $81,000 issued against Amazon warehouse facilities in DuPont, Sumner, and Kent.
• The state’s Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals will hear arguments from attorneys representing the two sides.
• The case focuses on four citations issued to Amazon 2021-2022 under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act by the state’s Department of Labor and Industries.
• The case is considered Amazon’s first major test in the state under OSHA-WISHA that challenges its workflows and rate of workplace injury claims.
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OSHA offers guidance for heat in the workplace

• OSHA shared how the organization navigates extreme temperatures in the workplace.
• When inspecting for heat-related infractions by companies, the agency says considers three factors for employees: water, rest, and shade or a cool space indoors.
• Workers need to report to their employers if the air conditioning stops working or if employees are not getting enough water or breaks.
• If employers do not respond, then the worker should file a formal complaint with OSHA.
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