occupational fatality

OSHA cites two companies after employee’s fatal fall in Media, Pa.

March 3, 2020

OSHA has cited CLF Construction Inc. and Toll Brothers Inc. for exposing employees to fall hazards after a CLF suffered fatal injuries in a fall at a worksite in Media, Pennsylvania. OSHA proposed $170,560 in penalties for Philadelphia-based subcontractor CLF Construction, and $74,217 for Horsham, Pennsylvania-based general contractor Toll Brothers.

Oregon music fest turns deadly for workers: employer cited

Alarm devices were disabled

February 20, 2020

A popular and long-running Oregon music festival turned deadly last summer when two a boom lift tipped, killing two workers. That incident at the Pickathon Music Festival, an annual three-day extravaganza outside of Oregon that has been held every August since 1999, led to a state OSHA investigation and fines for the workers’ employer.

Australian crane operator pleads guilty in co-worker’s death

February 17, 2020

The operator of a crane involved in the death of a worker at an Australia construction site has pleaded guilty to reckless conduct exposing persons to a risk of serious injury or death. Michael Watts entered the guilty plea last week to the offense under the country’s Work Health Safety Act 2011. Watts had originally been charged with manslaughter under the Crimes Act.

S.D. city sued over deadly construction incident

January 15, 2020

The South Dakota Supreme Court yesterday began hearing arguments in a lawsuit filed against the city of Sioux Falls in the case of a 2016 building collapse that killed a worker and seriously injured another person. The suit was brought by the family of Emily Fodness, who was trapped in debris for several hours when a building being remodeled by Hultgren Construction, LLC collapsed. Construction worker Ethan McMahon died in the incident.

Seaman fired for cooperating with investigation into his brother’s death

Company found guilty of retaliation, ordered to pay

December 23, 2019

A whistleblower investigation by the OSHA has found that Bouchard Transportation Company Inc., B. No. 272 Corp – a petroleum barge company based in Melville, New York – and its officers violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Seaman’s Protection Act (SPA) when it retaliated against a seaman who cooperated with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

Jury awards millions in stuntman's death

December 20, 2019

A jury has awarded an $8.6 million dollar verdict in the death of an entertainment industry stuntman who suffered a fatal fall on the set of the TV show “The Walking Dead.” The jury found that AMC Networks' entity, TWD 8, and its production company, Stalwart Films, were negligent in Bernecker's death.

Family sues after worker dies on assembly line

December 16, 2019

The family of a Kentucky man killed in a workplace incident has filed a lawsuit against his employer, GE Appliances, and other parties. Steve Herring, who’d worked for the company for more than two decades, died in February after being pinned by machinery while working on a refrigerator-building assembly line. News sources are reporting that the state OSHA’s investigation into the fatality found that it could have been caused by an inadvertent activation of an improperly positioned gate interlock control.

Tree trimmer killed in incident at Mass. home

December 12, 2019

An employee of a tree trimming company died in a workplace accident Tuesday morning in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The 34-year-old man, whose name has not yet been released, suffered traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according a statement issued by Wakefield Police Chief Steven Skory, Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan, and Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Pa. company cited after confined space death

December 10, 2019

OSHA has cited Dana Railcare – based in Wilmington, Delaware – for confined space hazards after an employee fatality in Pittston, Pennsylvania. The railcar service provider faces $551,226 in proposed penalties. An employee was asphyxiated in May 2019, while servicing a rail car containing crude oil sludge. OSHA cited the company for four willful and three serious violations for failing to protect employees from the hazards of entering permit-required confined spaces, and inadequate respiratory protection procedures.

Construction overseers charged with manslaughter in death of Luis Sánchez Almonte

November 26, 2019

A construction company operator, foreperson and engineer responsible for the Sunset Park construction site where laborer Luis Sánchez Almonte was crushed to death by debris in September 2018 have been indicted for manslaughter, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced Thursday.