BLS said the economy "played a major role" in the drop from 2008's final count of 5,214 workplace deaths to its preliminary 2009 total, 4,340. Almost every sector and type showed an improvement, notably construction and mining.
"If OSHA's standards regarding proper trench sloping, shoring, and shielding were followed, it is possible this tragedy could have been avoided," said Michael Rivera, OSHA's area director in Corpus Christi.
It was one of the five large unions to join the Change to Win Coalition in 2005, targeting high-growth occupations in the U.S. economy, including health care, transportation, and hospitality.
Last year's event in San Antonio, Texas (pictured), drew 2,836 attendees representing all areas and professions affiliated with the safety and health industry. For this year's conference in Orlando, organizers are expecting to up that number to at least 3,000.
The two Canadian companies involved, the contractor and a drywall/stucco subcontractor, both pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the injured worker was protected by a guardrail.
The company received repeat citations for failing to make a reasonable estimate of employee exposure to hazardous chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide; it received willful citations for failing to implement confined space entry procedures.
The company's "refusal to honor the requirements of this agreement reflects an irresponsible approach to worker safety and health, leaving workers vulnerable to injuries and possible fatalities," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York. "This situation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
"While it is fortunate that no one was injured here, good luck is never an acceptable worker safeguard,” said Patrick Griffin, OSHA's area director for Rhode Island. “For the safety and well-being of its workers, this employer must take effective, ongoing action to prevent these hazards from recurring."
Here's how to improve the overall fall protection program and prepare returning workers to get back in the fall protection habit.
The new standard has been a long time coming, having begun with a July 2002 announcement of the intent to set up a negotiated rulemaking committee.
"The gravity of this type of hazard cannot be overstated," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's acting area director in Hartford, Conn. "The collapsing walls of a trench can crush or bury workers in seconds.”
According to DOT, about 25 percent of rail traffic in the United States travels through the Chicago region, in some instances taking longer to transit the city than the time it took to reach it from the east or west coasts.
When completed in 2013, the project will replace the 73-year-old Doyle Drive southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge. The project will also result in structural and seismic improvements to the Presidio Trust and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area nearby.
Dry, hot skin with no sweating is not a good sign; it’s one of the symptoms of heat stroke and can be deadly. When working in the heat, try to have a cool cup of water every 15 minutes.
William Rapetti, a rigging contractor who was the only person criminally charged in the March 2008 collapse of a tower crane that killed seven people, was acquitted Thursday by Supreme Court Justice Roger Hayes.
The retail giant received two notices of failure to abate after a new inspection found that workers in the store's painting and plumbing departments still lacked suitable emergency drenching facilities and methylene chloride information and training.
An inspection earlier this year resulted in the St. Louis company receiving five repeat citations, mainly for problems involving its use of scaffolds, plus two other serious allegations.
Companies have until Sept. 15 to submit their best workplace improvements, highlighting the implementation of a creative, sustainable, and high-impact ergonomic solution.
The new office will aim to connect employees, employers, and community-based organizations with the resources and assistance needed to ensure that workers in low-wage industries -- including laborers on federal construction and service contracts -- are paid fairly for all hours worked, DOL said.
If electrical equipment is used in ways for which it is not designed, you can no longer depend on safety features built in by the manufacturer. This may damage your equipment and cause employee injuries. Here are some common examples of misused equipment.