DOG ON I-5 CAUSES MAJOR CRASH, DIESEL LEAK IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON

Dog on I-5 causes major crash, diesel leak in Vancouver, Washington

Minor injuries reported

 An armored truck, two SUVs, a pickup truck and 1000 chickens were involved in a crash along I-5 caused by a dog that ran into the road, Dec. 29, 2014

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN 6) — An armored truck, two SUVs, a pickup truck and 1000 chickens were involved in a crash along I-5 caused by a dog that ran into the road.

The vehicles swerved, crashed and leaked fuel, bringing a hazmat team to the scene on the North Fork Lewis River Bridge.

Traffic was snarled for a while, and caused minor injuries to some of the occupants.

Tim Dawdy with Clark County Fire & Rescue told KOIN 6 News the semi truck pulling twin trailers was carrying about 1000 chickens at the time of the crash.

All the vehicles were pinned between the guard rail and the chicken truck, and at least some of the vehicles were leaking diesel. Rescuers first got the people out of the vehicles and then dealt with the diesel leaking into the river.

About 50-60 chickens escaped onto the road, but chicken wranglers were able to round them all up, Dawdy said.

The dog who caused the crash was also found. He was wearing a tag and was returned to his owners.

The people who needed treatment were taken to Vancouver area hospitals.

 

Jackson County, Oklahoma man killed in industrial accident, as he was hit by pipes

UPDATE: Jackson County, Oklahoma man killed in industrial accident, as he was hit by pipes

JACKSON COUNTY, Okla. – An accident at a drilling rig in Jackson County left one man dead, Thursday afternoon.

It happened about 1:15 p.m. at Big Giant Drilling, which is just northeast of El Dorado.
Right now, investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the OSBI are still on the scene.  No one knows for sure how it happened, but Jackson County Sheriff Roger Levick told 7News what workers there told him.

El Dorado emergency responders and firefighters waited solemnly on the ground, unable to help, as one firefighter climbed up the ladder of the Big Giant drilling rig where the worker was killed just hours before.  Workers and police stood by, shocked by what happened, still unclear as to exactly how.

"This is a dangerous business.  It's a terrible accident.  This kind of thing happens in this industry and it's terrible," said Levick.

The man was on a construction elevator about 90 feet in the air, connecting two 1,600 lbs pipes.  One worker told 7News that all he heard was a loud boom and the next thing he knew his co-worker was dead.  That worker did not want to talk on camera because he was too shaken up.

Authorities say, somehow, the pressure of the pipes caused some of the supporting equipment, called fingers, to bend, which sent one of the huge pipes back toward the worker.  It hit him and it appears that he was killed by the impact.  Authorities say this type of accident does not happen often in this area.

"Not here in Jackson County.  I haven't, because we don't have that much oil play here in Jackson County.  There's quite a bit now in the southwest part of the state."

Authorities have not released the name of the victim, but w7News does know he was wearing his safety harness, helmet and following proper safety procedures.
They are awaiting word from OSBI and OSHA to find out how this tragic accident may have occurred.

MASHPEE, MASSACHUSETTS MAN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION RESULTED FROM CLEANING CHEMICALS IN A SEPTIC SYSTEM

Mashpee, Massachusetts Man Taken To Hospital After Hazmat Situation Resulted from Cleaning Chemicals in a Septic System

December 29, 2014 

MASHPEE – MASS.  A Mashpee homeowner was taken to the hospital as a precaution after attempting to clean up an overflowing septic system.

Mashpee fire and a hazardous materials team responded to the scene on Back Road around 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon after the cleanup effort resulted in a mixture of chemicals that created a potentially hazardous situation.

The site has since been cleaned up.

The man has been released from the hospital.

DORNEY PARK AND WILDWATER KINGDOM FAIL TO PROTECT YOUNG WORKERS FROM HEAT HAZARDS AND ILLNESS, OSHA FINDS

Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom fail to protect young workers from heat hazards and illness, OSHA finds

Dec. 29, 2014

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Seasonally-employed workers, mostly teen employees, hired as outdoor and food stand staff at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, were exposed to heat hazards during their summer employment, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA cited Cedar Fair LP, operators of the Allentown amusement park, following a June 9, 2014, investigation initiated in response to a complaint alleging that a teen worker sustained burns upon collapsing near a fryer in a food stand.

"In summer temperatures, amusement park workers face an increased risk of heat-related illness and death," said Jean Kulp, director of OSHA's Allentown Area Office. "The threat of heat stress can be reduced significantly by establishing a heat illness prevention program for indoor and outdoor workers. The program should include effective training; consistently available water and shaded breaks; a thorough review of heat illness incidents; and acclimatization."

OSHA cited one serious violation of the agency's general duty clause for Cedar Fair's failure to develop and implement procedures for protecting employees while they worked outdoors in direct sunlight and in small food stands where heat sources exist. The company faces a proposed fine of $7,000, the maximum penalty permitted for a serious violation. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

An additional record-keeping violation was cited, with a $2,000 penalty.

OSHA has developed heat illness educational materials in English and Spanish. Additionally, a Web page provides information and resources on heat illness-including how to prevent it and what to do in an emergency-for workers and employers. The page is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.

Cedar Fair has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Allentown Area Office at 267-429-7542.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

OSHA CITES THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO. FOR AGAIN IGNORING VEHICLE ROLLOVER HAZARD LEADING TO FATAL INJURY OF TREE TRIMMER. COMPANY NOW IN OSHA’S SEVERE VIOLATOR ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM

OSHA cites The Davey Tree Expert Co. for again ignoring vehicle rollover hazard leading to fatal injury of tree trimmer. Company now in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program

Dec. 23, 2014

CLAYSBURG, Pa. – A 21-year-old tree trimmer employed by The Davey Tree Expert Co. was fatally injured after a utility task vehicle ran over him at a Claysburg work site.  First Energy Service Co. contracted the Kent, Ohio-based company to trim trees and remove other vegetation along power transmission lines.

A June 2014 investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the company had willfully put the employee and others at risk by using a UTV on a slope exceeding the 15-degree limit permitted by the UTV manufacturer.  At the time of the incident, the vehicle was operating on a 20-degree hill, which allowed it to roll over and fatally injure the employee. As a result, the company was cited for one willful violation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause and was placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.*

A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

“This tragedy could have been prevented by simply complying with the manufacturer’s instructions. After a previous UTV rollover incident in central Pennsylvania in July 2012, Davey Tree acknowledged the UTV’s slope limitations and the hazardous conditions associated with operating the vehicle on rugged terrain,” said Christopher Robinson, director of OSHA’s Pittsburgh Area Office. “Even with this knowledge, Davey Tree continued to expose workers to dangerous rollovers and permitted UTV use on steep slopes.”

Davey Tree provides residential and commercial tree and landscape services throughout North America. The company employs approximately 7,000 employees. OSHA proposed a $70,000 penalty for this violation.  

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citation and penalty to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Pittsburgh Area Office at 412-395-4903.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

PROFRAMING CONTRACTORS, INC., AN OHIO COMPANY, REPEATEDLY EXPOSES ROOFERS TO POTENTIALLY FATAL FALL HAZARDS

Proframing Contractors, Inc. repeatedly exposes roofers to potentially fatal fall hazards

GAHANNA, Ohio.  In the past eight years, Proframing Contractors Inc. was cited for 10 violations when it allowed employees to work on roofs without fall protection and then refused to pay the majority of its associated penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. On Oct. 24, 2014, OSHA inspectors again observed three company employees who worked at heights of up to 20 feet without fall protection on a commercial building in Gahanna. As a result, the Pickerington-based company was cited for two willful, two serious and one repeated safety violation. Proposed penalties total $68,200. 

“Proframing Contractors has shown repeatedly that it does not value the safety of its employees. There is no excuse when it comes to providing the necessary equipment to keep workers safe,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA’s area director in Columbus. “Falls are a leading cause of death in the construction industry, and many fatalities occur when a worker falls from a height of 10 feet or less.”

OSHA determined that on-site workers did not use basic protection, such as guardrails, safety nets, warning-line systems or personal fall arrest systems, while they installed roof framing and sheathing, a violation of OSHA’s construction safety standards. A second willful violation was cited for Proframing Contractors’ failure to train employees on fall hazards and procedures. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Employees also were observed using a nail gun without eye protection. The company was cited previously for this violation in 2012 at a work site in Dublin.

OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

In addition, a serious violation was cited for workers exposed to struck-by hazards from a damaged powered industrial vehicle used to move materials. An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

OSHA maintains a Web page with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page offers fact sheets, posters and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.

OSHA’s ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials on how to create a plan to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for workers and train employees to use that equipment properly. The campaign launched in 2012. It was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda program. 

Proframing Contractors has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Columbus Area Office at 614-469-5582.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.