All of those injured in a circus performance Sunday in Rhode Island are reportedly recovering from their injuries. The Ringling Brothers circus accident occurred when a circular metal platform suddenly fell from the rigging, causing the eight performers who were suspended from it by their hall to fall 35 feet to the ground.
“There’s a sense that a new guy’s life isn’t worth as much ‘cos he hasn’t put his time in yet.” Chris Taylor, Platoon. “Temp” as in temporary; a temporary person. The designation shows how much value we tend to place on those in the workforce who won’t be around very long.
Work-related falls from ladders caused 113 deaths and almost 15,500 nonfatal injuries that resulted in at least one day away from work in 2011, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A fatality at Pennsylvania paving contractor prompted an OSHA inspection of the company that resulted in 17 safety violations – nine of them serious. Proposed penalties total $23,800.
OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is fast approaching. From June 2-6, contractors, construction workers and a variety of government agencies will take time out from their regular tasks to focus on preventing falls – the top cause of fatalities in the industry.
The median number of days away from work due to amputations in 2005, the latest year studied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was 22 days – or more than four work weeks.
ISHN posted this commentary from Dr. Howard earlier in April. Given Dr. Howard’s long tenure at NIOSH and his visionary perspectives on worker health and safety, we want to “rebroadcast’ it as an ISHN blog.
Organic Dust Fire and Explosion: Massachusetts (3 killed, 9 injured). In February 1999, a deadly fire and explosion occurred in a foundry in Massachusetts. OSHA and state and local officials conducted a joint investigation of this incident.
Registered nurses are among those keeping close watch on a California measure to protect the state’s healthcare workers from work-related violence as it moves from one Senate committee to another this week.
OSHA has just published a new booklet that outlines safe procedures for emergency responders who may face fires and explosions caused by combustible dust. "Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust"describes how combustible dust explosions occur and uses historic incidents to illustrate how firefighting operations can prevent combustible dust explosions.