DEERFIELD, WI —
Within days of reporting improved safety results and zero fatalities in 2017, Caterpillar Inc. recorded the death of a production worker at a Wisconsin facility — the second fatality at the factory in seven years.
The 60-year-old employee sustained “traumatic crushing injuries” May 10 when he was struck by a steel plate in the weld shop area of Caterpillar’s South Milwaukee plant, according to the company and local authorities.
Steven E. Wade, a welder who worked at the plant for 23 years, died May 15 at an area hospital, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s office and local media accounts.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this employee’s family, friends and co-workers. The company has arranged for counseling to be available to employees who may request it,” the company wrote in a prepared statement.
The statement continued: “We strive each day to have a safe workspace for our employees, contractors and visitors. Caterpillar is a company firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees at the South Milwaukee facility and at all Caterpillar facilities around the world.”
Caterpillar’s annual sustainability report, which was published early in May, noted substantial reductions in workplace injury rates since base year 2003, with safety goals for 2020 nearly met or already exceeded in 2017.
The recordable injury frequency has declined 92 percent to 0.49 injuries per 200,000 hours worked in 2017 — already exceeding the goal of 0.60 by 2020. The rate of injuries resulting in lost time per 200,000 hours worked declined 94 percent to 0.17 in 2017, nearly meeting the goal of 0.15 by 2020.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the circumstances that led to Wade’s death, the only incident to involve OSHA at the plant since a 2011 fatality in the same area of the facility, according to the agency.
The other worker died in the weld shop at the plant in September 2011, about three months after Caterpillar took over the factory with its acquisition of Bucyrus International.
A 30-year-old crane operator, Jeffrey B. Smith, died at the plant
when a crawler frame unexpectedly pivoted and crushed him, according to
conclusions of an ensuing OSHA investigation that were later detailed in
court documents.
An exact cause of that accident was never determined, though OSHA concluded that Bucyrus International contributed to the death by not providing a workplace free of crushing hazards. The agency issued a fine of $7,000.
Under OSHA guidelines, the agency has six months from the date of the accident to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose penalties if safety violations have occurred.
===============================
==================
Medical examiner: Caterpillar worker injured on the job dies from his injuries
May 15, 2018
SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WI —
The Caterpillar worker injured after being struck by a steel plate Thursday, May 10 has died, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed.
The medical examiner’s office identified the man as 60-year-old Steven Wade of Oak Creek. He died from his injuries on Monday, May 14.
Officials say Wade was welding plates at the time of the incident.
Caterpillar released the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the death of our employee who was involved in an incident in our South Milwaukee facility on May 10. Our thoughts and prayers are with this employee’s family, friends and co-workers. The company has arranged for counseling to be available to employees who may request it.”
“We strive each day to have a safe workspace for our employees, contractors and visitors. Caterpillar is a company firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees at the South Milwaukee facility and at all Caterpillar facilities around the world.”
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been involved in the investigation of the incident.
OSHA has up to six months to complete its investigation, and issue citations and propose penalties if violations of health and safety regulations are found.
===================
Medical examiner releases the name of Oak Creek man killed in Caterpillar accident
Erik S. Hanley, Now News Group Published 12:14 p.m. CT May 15, 2018 | Updated 2:05 p.m. CT May 15, 2018
Buy Photo
(Photo: Erik S. Hanley, Now News Group)
SOUTH MILWAUKEE - The 60-year-old Caterpillar employee struck by a heavy metal plate May 10 has died.
Steven E. Wade of Oak Creek was pronounced dead May 14 as a result of his injuries, according to a report released May 15 by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.
Wade was admitted May 10 to Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., for "traumatic crushing injuries from a work-related accident," the report stated. He suffered several rib fractures, a collapsed lung, asphyxia, spinal fractures, and developed seizures, according to the report.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of our employee who was involved in an incident in our South Milwaukee facility on May 10," Lisa Miller, media relations for Caterpillar, said in a statement May 15. "Our thoughts and prayers are with this employee’s family, friends, and co-workers."
As the company did after the incident occurred, Caterpillar is again offering counseling to any employees who request it.
Wade was working in the weld shop at Caterpillar, Inc., 1100 Milwaukee Ave., when he was seriously injured by a heavy steel plate. Police received a call about the accident at 2:01 p.m., according to a news release from the South Milwaukee Police Department.
Following the accident, production employees were sent home for the day, Miller said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating along with the South Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
Within days of reporting improved safety results and zero fatalities in 2017, Caterpillar Inc. recorded the death of a production worker at a Wisconsin facility — the second fatality at the factory in seven years.
The 60-year-old employee sustained “traumatic crushing injuries” May 10 when he was struck by a steel plate in the weld shop area of Caterpillar’s South Milwaukee plant, according to the company and local authorities.
Steven E. Wade, a welder who worked at the plant for 23 years, died May 15 at an area hospital, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s office and local media accounts.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this employee’s family, friends and co-workers. The company has arranged for counseling to be available to employees who may request it,” the company wrote in a prepared statement.
The statement continued: “We strive each day to have a safe workspace for our employees, contractors and visitors. Caterpillar is a company firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees at the South Milwaukee facility and at all Caterpillar facilities around the world.”
Caterpillar’s annual sustainability report, which was published early in May, noted substantial reductions in workplace injury rates since base year 2003, with safety goals for 2020 nearly met or already exceeded in 2017.
The recordable injury frequency has declined 92 percent to 0.49 injuries per 200,000 hours worked in 2017 — already exceeding the goal of 0.60 by 2020. The rate of injuries resulting in lost time per 200,000 hours worked declined 94 percent to 0.17 in 2017, nearly meeting the goal of 0.15 by 2020.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the circumstances that led to Wade’s death, the only incident to involve OSHA at the plant since a 2011 fatality in the same area of the facility, according to the agency.
The other worker died in the weld shop at the plant in September 2011, about three months after Caterpillar took over the factory with its acquisition of Bucyrus International.
An exact cause of that accident was never determined, though OSHA concluded that Bucyrus International contributed to the death by not providing a workplace free of crushing hazards. The agency issued a fine of $7,000.
Under OSHA guidelines, the agency has six months from the date of the accident to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose penalties if safety violations have occurred.
Obituary for Steven "Steve" E. Wade
Passed
away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 14th, 2018 at the age
of 60. Loving husband of Bonnie (nee Stellwagen). Supportive father of
Jessie (Steve) La Rosa and Justin (Nichole) Wade. Cherished Big Papa of
Breanna, Logan and Antonio. Also survived by Louis (parrot), Jake (black
lab), nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at THE FUNERAL HOME on Saturday May 19th from 9am until time of service at 12pm.
Steve was a proud member of the United Steel Workers Local 1343. Steve loved to spend time on his Harley, be with his grandkids, boating and camping. A lot of the time you could also find Steve working on a welding side job.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) are appreciated.
The family asks that everyone attending who owns a motorcycle of any sort please ride it to the funeral home in honor of Steve.
A visitation will be held at THE FUNERAL HOME on Saturday May 19th from 9am until time of service at 12pm.
Steve was a proud member of the United Steel Workers Local 1343. Steve loved to spend time on his Harley, be with his grandkids, boating and camping. A lot of the time you could also find Steve working on a welding side job.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) are appreciated.
The family asks that everyone attending who owns a motorcycle of any sort please ride it to the funeral home in honor of Steve.
==================
60-year-old Steven Wade of Oak Creek, the Caterpillar worker injured after being struck by a steel plate Thursday, May 10 has died
Medical examiner: Caterpillar worker injured on the job dies from his injuries
May 15, 2018
SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WI —
The Caterpillar worker injured after being struck by a steel plate Thursday, May 10 has died, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed.
The medical examiner’s office identified the man as 60-year-old Steven Wade of Oak Creek. He died from his injuries on Monday, May 14.
Officials say Wade was welding plates at the time of the incident.
Caterpillar released the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the death of our employee who was involved in an incident in our South Milwaukee facility on May 10. Our thoughts and prayers are with this employee’s family, friends and co-workers. The company has arranged for counseling to be available to employees who may request it.”
“We strive each day to have a safe workspace for our employees, contractors and visitors. Caterpillar is a company firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees at the South Milwaukee facility and at all Caterpillar facilities around the world.”
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been involved in the investigation of the incident.
OSHA has up to six months to complete its investigation, and issue citations and propose penalties if violations of health and safety regulations are found.
===================
Medical examiner releases the name of Oak Creek man killed in Caterpillar accident
Erik S. Hanley, Now News Group Published 12:14 p.m. CT May 15, 2018 | Updated 2:05 p.m. CT May 15, 2018
Buy Photo(Photo: Erik S. Hanley, Now News Group)
SOUTH MILWAUKEE - The 60-year-old Caterpillar employee struck by a heavy metal plate May 10 has died.
Steven E. Wade of Oak Creek was pronounced dead May 14 as a result of his injuries, according to a report released May 15 by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.
Wade was admitted May 10 to Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., for "traumatic crushing injuries from a work-related accident," the report stated. He suffered several rib fractures, a collapsed lung, asphyxia, spinal fractures, and developed seizures, according to the report.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of our employee who was involved in an incident in our South Milwaukee facility on May 10," Lisa Miller, media relations for Caterpillar, said in a statement May 15. "Our thoughts and prayers are with this employee’s family, friends, and co-workers."
As the company did after the incident occurred, Caterpillar is again offering counseling to any employees who request it.
Wade was working in the weld shop at Caterpillar, Inc., 1100 Milwaukee Ave., when he was seriously injured by a heavy steel plate. Police received a call about the accident at 2:01 p.m., according to a news release from the South Milwaukee Police Department.
Following the accident, production employees were sent home for the day, Miller said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating along with the South Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.