CONSTRUCTION WORKER FALLS 65 FEET TO HIS DEATH FROM ROUTE 520 BRIDGE IN SEATTLE

MARCH 12, 2015

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (AP)

A construction worker who fell 60 to 70 feet from the State Route 520 Bridge project Thursday died of his injuries, officials said.

Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg said Thursday night that the man was brought to the hospital in “very, very critical condition” and died shortly after arrival. He was not immediately identified.

Washington state Transportation Department spokesman Ian Sterling says the worker was on top of the east high-rise for the new bridge, where fixed highway spans extend toward the future floating bridge.

The Bellevue Fire Department said the worker fell 60 to 70 feet and that CPR was performed on the victim at the scene.

Washington State Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson issued this statement on the accident:

“This evening, I received the call I hoped I would never get as Secretary of Transportation. The call informed me about a loss of life on one of our construction projects.

I speak for everyone at WSDOT when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the contractor’s employee’s family and colleagues for their loss.

I’ve directed our WSDOT team to have employee assistance personnel and peer trauma support on site tomorrow to help anyone who might need assistance with this tragedy.”

A statement from the project contractor Kiewit-General Manson on the accident:

An employee of Kiewit-General-Manson passed away Thursday evening of injuries received as the result of a fall on the SR 520 Floating Bridge and Landings project. The safety of our employees is our most fundamental value and top priority. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with our employee’s family and many friends. Kiewit-General-Manson is investigating the incident and working with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Department of Transportation, and other appropriate agencies.

Sterling said that all work has been suspended Friday at the construction side at the East approach to the bridge.

It is obvious to us that this contractor(s) need to be fired.  Two falls and a near miss crane weight fall is too much.  They have already been fined by OSHA, yet they have another deadly fall.  They need to go.  No ifs or buts please, just go.

Source:www.komotv.com

TWO SECRET SERVICE AGENTS BEING PROBED FOR ALLEGEDLY CRASHING A CAR INTO WHITE HOUSE SECURITY BARRIERS AFTER A BOOZY NIGHT OUT DROVE RIGHT THROUGH A BOMB INVESTIGATION SCENE

MARCH 13, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC (AFP)

The secret is out.

 

Two Secret Service agents being probed for allegedly crashing a car into White House security barriers after a boozy night out drove right through a bomb investigation scene there, The Washington Post reported Friday.

As part of the latest embarrassment to the service, the officers drove right past the suspicious package, which turned out to be a book, the Post said, quoting current and former government officials.

If the driving under the influence allegation is confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of blunders to taint the agency, which provides US President Barack Obama's security team, following high-profile security breaches and a prostitution scandal.

According to the paper, two agents -- one of them a member of Obama's elite close protection detail -- crashed into the barriers on the evening of March 4.

The pair had allegedly been at a drinking party and agents at the scene had wanted to conduct a breath test to find out if they were inebriated, but were overruled by a commander who ordered the suspects home. 

Last month, Obama appointed Joseph Clancy as the new head of the Secret Service after a critical report into an incident in which a mentally disturbed veteran scaled the fence and burst into the White House with a knife.

The previous head of the agency, Julia Pierson, resigned after the incident.

She had initially been appointed to clean up the service after a dozen agents were found to have hired prostitutes during a 2012 presidential trip to Colombia.

In the March 4 incident the Post says a woman approached an agent at an entrance to the White House with an object wrapped in a shirt and said it was a bomb.

Agents tried to stop her, but she was able to drive away. Police cordoned off the area.

The agents who had allegedly been drinking showed up about half an hour later and drove through police tape and right next to the suspicious package, said the Post, which has had a series of exclusives on troubles within the agency.

The woman has been located and will face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, the Post said.

I guess we are in good hands, considering that the rest of the government did not burry their secret.  Fire them on the spot, please.

Source: www.washigtonpost.com

AN EXPLOSION AT AN AUTO SHOP IN CADOTT, WI HAS A LEFT A MAN IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. HE USED A BLOW TORCH TO OPEN AN OIL-CONTAINING CONTAINER

MARCH 12, 2015

CADOTT, CHIPPEWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN (WQOW)

An explosion at an auto shop in Cadott, WI has a left a man in the hospital with serious injuries.

The explosion happened just after 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon at Greener Acres Transmission in Cadott. Authorities say a 24-year-old man was trying to cut open a metal drum when it exploded.

Cadott Police Ofc. Daryl Pries said, "The male was attempting to utilize a blow torch to cut open a 55-gallon drum that appeared to have an oil type chemical in it."

Cadott police said the man was airlifted with life-threatening injuries.

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Chippewa County (WQOW)

An explosion occurred at Greener Acres Transmission, off of Highway 27 in Cadott, Thursday afternoon, according to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department.
News 18 spoke with the Cadott Police Department at the location of the incident. They said a 24-year-old employee of Greener Acres was trying to cut a drum in half that was still pressurized and it exploded. According to a press release, the male victim used a blow torch to cut open the 55-gallon drum, which caused the drum to explode. 
The employee of Greener Acres, who has not been identified, was injured. The Cadott Police called the injuries serious and life-threatening. A helicopter landed at the scene of the incident and airlifted the individual to an undisclosed medical facility for treatment of his injuries. 
The investigation into the incident is complete, according to officials

You need to clean the container, prior to cutting open using any type of heat or other method that could create a spark.  This is basic safety precautions that everyone should know by now, except this unfortunate individual.  Hopefully he and others will learn from this accident.   

Spread the word:  clean before you cut.

Source: http://www.wqow.com

UNION PACIFIC COAL TRAIN DERAILS OUTSIDE LUSK, WYOMING. 18 CARS CAME OFF THE TRACKS.

MARCH 12, 2015

LUSK, WYOMING

A Union Pacific train derailed Thursday afternoon about a mile and a half East of Lusk. No injuries reported. 

18 cars carrying coal came off the track. The train was headed to Missouri departing from Wyoming. 

The cause of the derailment is still under investigation by Union Pacific.