MIOSHA Urges Employers to Exercise 'Extreme Care' -- Occupational Health & Safety

MIOSHA Urges Employers to Exercise 'Extreme Care'

The agency's Nov. 4 newsletter summarizes five October 2014 preventable occupational fatalities.

Nov 10, 2014

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, MIOSHA, opened its Nov. 4 "MIOSHA eNews" newsletter with a summary page about the 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th Michigan worker deaths this year. They occurred on Oct. 20, 7, 23, 24, and 29, and the summaries show all five could have been prevented. "Employers and employees are urged to use extreme care and safety diligence in all work activities," the agency urged.

Summary of incident #26: On Oct. 12 at approximately 3 a.m., a 48-year-old bartender went into the basement after closing the bar where she was allegedly overcome by leaking carbon dioxide. She was found unresponsive at 7 a.m. EMS was called and she was taken to the hospital, where she died on Oct. 20.
Summary of incident #27: On Oct. 7 at approximately 5 p.m., a 61-year-old employee/owner was in a lift device between two trees and made contact with a branch and got stuck. The branch let loose and shook the boom, throwing him from the bucket approximately 45-50 feet to the ground.
Summary of incident #28: On Oct. 23 at approximately 5:30 p.m., a 33-year-old farmer was crushed by a combine while trying to dislodge a stone.
Summary of incident #29: On Oct. 4 at approximately 9:15 a.m., a 47-year-old foreman was flagging traffic for a tree-trimming operation when a vehicle entered the work zone and struck him. He died of his injuries on Oct. 24.
Summary of incident #30: On Oct. 29 at approximately 12:05 p.m., a 59-year-old employee/owner was performing work in an excavation approximately 18 feet deep and was crushed when its sides caved in.

The newsletter reports there were 27 MIOSHA-related deaths in 2013 and in 2012. The lowest number was 24 in 2009.

The agency's Consultation Education & Training Division provides workplace safety and health training and consultations to employers and employees throughout Michigan free of charge, call 800-866-4674 or submit a request online at www.michigan.gov/cetrca.

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