A volunteer firefighter and two contractors were killed Feb. 1 in the collapse of two cell phone towers in Clarksburg, West Virginia. News sources report that four workers were tethered to a 300-foot-tall tower while making repairs when the structure fell.
OSHA has released a new Fatal Fact resource on "Falls from Telecommunications Towers" (PDF*), illustrating how failure to plan, provide the right equipment, and train workers effectively can lead to worker deaths.
Company failed to train workers about heat hazards
February 3, 2014
OSHA has cited Cooper Tank & Welding Corp., doing business as Cooper Tank Recycling, for eight serious health and safety violations following the heat-related death of a 64-year-old worker at the Brooklyn recycling facility on 222 Maspeth Ave.
“Pinch points” are present in most mechanical devices that, in its operation, might pose a risk of injury to body parts. A pinch point is defined as any point where it is possible for a body part to be caught between moving and stationary portions of equipment. If a worker or any parts of the worker’s body occupies that space during the pinching movement, there is a high probability of injuries such as fractures, amputations, or even death.
The phrase “information at your fingertips” has never been truer than with today’s tablet technology. The ability to access email and the Internet, as well as record audio and video from nearly any location has forever changed how we communicate and do our jobs.
Currently a large number of staff working on the infrastructure are at risk from injury by not wearing hand or eye protection. To further reduce the incidence of accidents and injury, the introduction of a mandated policy for both hand and eye protection will be developed concurrently.
Hand injuries account for 80 percent of all occupational injuries. This is because the hands are engaged in almost all activities on the job. Can you imagine any occupation that does not make use of the hand? Hands are so important because of their utility.
Imagine life without the use of your hands. Suddenly, basic tasks in the workplace and at home – from operating a torque drill to turning the ignition key in your vehicle – become major obstacles. Clearly, our hands are vital tools for performing a myriad of essential life and work functions, not to mention the fact that they are one of our primary points of contact with the world around us.