Wednesday, March 11, 2015

1 WORKER DIES IN 35-FOOT FALL DURING TREE WORK IN ARKANSAS. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SAFETY HARNESS





MARCH 10, 2015

SALINE COUNTY, AR

 A man cutting down a tree died after falling 35 feet to the ground.
The Saline County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said Shelby Jackson, 46, of Pulaski County was one of the four people with Capital City Tree Services who was cutting down a tree at an Alexander home on Wildwood Road. The crew was using a bucket truck t assist in cutting the tree down in sections, starting at the top.
Around 11:00 a.m., a limb that weighed about 1,000 pounds, according to SCSO, was cut and freed from the tree. It fell quickly, which caused the truck to rock. Shelby was thrown from the bucket to the ground.
Home owners, James and Anita Hampton were home at the time of the incident. Mr. Hampton said he was across the way on his backyard patio when he heard a "loud thump" and thought it was just the tree limp. He said he hopped up and saw Jackson fall.
"I seen when he hit his head, [I] knew he wasn't going--he was too still," Mr. Hampton said.
Tuesday was the third shift the crew worked at the Hampton's house. They said every time they saw Jackson, he was wearing his helmet and harness, except for Tuesday.
"He wasn't wearing his harness and when he reached over to grab the rope he fell!" Mrs. Hampton said.
FOX 16 News reporter, Leah Uko, spoke with an employee with Capital City Tree Service over the phone. He said Jackson had 20 years of experience with tree service and was a great, valuable employee with them for five. He added that Jackson took safety measures very seriously and that this was the first time he hadn't worn his helmet and harness. He said he didn't know why Jackson wasn't wearing either while working.
Jackson was pronounced dead on the scene. The commotion at the Hampton's home has settled by late afternoon, but the incident still left them with deep empathy for Jackson's family, who they hadn't met.
"I wan to tell the family that if there's anything I can do, anything, just let us know<" Mr. Hampton said. "I feel bad because it's our property, you know? Accidents happen, but why now?
SCSO is is still investigating this accident for routine purposes, but said all witness accounts were consistent with one another.
Update (3:30 p.m.):

Police have released the name of a Saline County man who died when he fell while doing tree work.
Deputies say Shelby Jackson, 46, fell 35 feet from a bucket truck as a crew was cutting down a portion of a tree when the truck became unstable.
The Sheriff's Office says Jackson was not harnessed in or wearing a helmet when he fell.

Original Story (2:30 p.m.)
SALINE COUNTY, AR - A man has died in a fall while doing tree work.
It happened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on Wildwood Court in Alexander.
The Saline County Sheriff's Office says the victim's name has not yet been released.

Deputies say he was in a bucket truck as a crew was cutting down a portion of a tree when the truck became unstable.

Part of the tree hit the victim, who was not harnessed in or wearing a helmet, and he fell about 30 feet.

The man, Shelby Jackson, 46, was working from a bucket truck as part of a crew working for Capital City Tree Services. Police reports say that a tree limb had been attached to the boom so that it could be lowered to the ground, but it dropped further than expected causing a whiplash effect within the boom, which catapulted Jackson out of the platform, falling around 35 feet to the ground. He was declared dead at the scene.

The number of arborist fatalities while using boom lifts already this year is alarming, and almost invariably it has been due to poor work practice and a lack of a harness and short lanyard. If there was ever an application that absolutely demanded a harness it is when cutting or trimming trees. 

US tree or arborist associations/groups really do need to address the proper training of staff using aerial work platforms. They are substantially safer than climbing, as well as allowing slightly less fit and more experienced staff to continue working at height, but like all equipment they need to be treated with respect and basic training is essential.

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1 UTILITY WORKER DIED AFTER HE WAS ELECTROCUTED ON MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA









MARCH 10, 2015

MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA

An subcontractor working for Florida Power and Light was electrocuted on the 3200 block of South Tropical Trail in Merritt Island. Chris Bonanno. 3-10-15.
Brevard County Fire Rescue first responded around 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

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Yonkers roofing contractor cited for seven repeat and four serious violations after exposing employees to potentially fatal falls. OSHA proposes $73,920 in fines for Franco Roofing Inc.

MARCH 10, 2015

Employer name: Franco Roofing, Inc., roof construction contractor, Yonkers, N.Y.

Inspection site: 58 Edgemont Road, Katonah, N.Y. 10536 

Date inspection initiated: OSHA's Tarrytown Area Office began an inspection on Oct. 20, 2014, when OSHA inspectors who were driving by the worksite observed employees working without fall protection. 

Investigation findings: Franco Roofing, Inc. was cited by OSHA for seven repeat and four serious violations of workplace safety and health standards. These include lack of fall protection for employees during the replacement of a residential roof, which exposed employees to falls hazards of more than 23 feet. 
An additional fall hazard stemmed from the employer's failure to provide general safety and health training, such as scaffold safety, ladder safety or fall protection training, to employees.

OSHA issued repeat citations for this employer's history of fall protection violations. Franco Roofing, Inc. was previously cited by OSHA for similar violations in June 2011 and July 2012 for worksites located in Yonkers, New York, and Greenwich, Connecticut. 

Proposed Penalties: $73,920. 

Quote: "The penalties proposed in this case demonstrate the severe nature of the cited hazards and the negligence of this employer when it comes to worker protection," said Diana Cortez, OSHA area director in Tarrytown. "Falls, slips and other injuries can and should be avoided at all cost through the use of proper equipment and training, and OSHA will not tolerate companies that don't adhere to basic safety standards."

Next Steps: Franco Roofing, Inc. has contested its citations and proposed penalties to 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 Tarrytown Area Office at 914-524-7510.
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Advance Auto Parts exposes workers to asbestos, mold hazards Kansas City, Missouri, store receives 11 violations

March 10, 2015



KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

A worker alleging the existence of asbestos, mold and hygiene hazards led to an inspection of an Advance Auto Parts store in Kansas City, where the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found one repeated and 10 serious safety and health violations with fines of $60,000. 


"Exposure to asbestos is a dangerous workplace issue that can cause loss of lung function and cancer, among other serious health effects. When Advance Auto uses an older building with presumed asbestos-containing material, such as floor tiles, it has a responsibility to conduct periodic air monitoring and must post warning signs for workers," said Barbara Theriot, OSHA's area director in Kansas City. "The company also has a responsibility to maintain the building in a sanitary and safe manner. OSHA found persistent flooding, which caused mold growth and created lower-level slip and fall hazards. This is unacceptable."


OSHA inspectors tested bulk samples of furnace room floor tiles and found they contained 3 percent chrysotile, a form of asbestos. Sample air monitoring did not detect asbestos fibers circulating in the heating and air conditioning system. However, particles could become airborne from deteriorating tiles and persistent flooding, a consistent issue throughout the building. 


Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber used in some building materials before its health dangers were discovered. Asbestos fibers are invisible and can be inhaled into the lungs unknowingly. Inhaled fibers can then become embedded in the lungs. 


Inspectors also found electrical safety violations and blocked exit routes at the store, resulting in the 10 serious violations. 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 also noted a repeated violation for failing to provide inspectors with injury and illness logs. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, Advance Auto Parts was previously cited for this violation in a Delaware, Ohio, store in 2010 and a Lakeland, Florida, store in 2011. OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer was cited previously for the same or a similar violation within the last five years.


Advance Auto Parts 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 Kansas City Area Office at 816-483-9531.


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.
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OSHA fines Bluewater Thermal Solutions $42,000 for 8 safety violations

March 10, 2015



Employer name: Hi Temp Northlake LLC, operating as Bluewater Thermal Solutions in Northlake, Illinois, a subsidiary of Bluewater Thermal Solutions of Greenville, South Carolina. The company specializes in heat treating powder metal parts.


Inspection site: Bluewater Thermal Solutions, 75 E. Lake St. Northlake, Illinois

On Sept. 9, 2014, an inspection was initiated by the Chicago North Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration under its National Emphasis Program for Process Safety Management at chemical facilities, which contain specific requirements for managing highly hazardous chemicals in work processes.


Investigation findings: Workers at Bluewater Thermal Solutions were exposed to dangerous chemicals, such as anhydrous ammonia, which was utilized as fuel at the Northlake metal heat treating facility. Ammonia can be a health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs. It is also a flammable vapor.

A total of six serious violations were cited involve failing to:
  • Develop an appropriate process safety employee participation plan
  • Develop written operating procedures
  • Train workers on the hazards associated with chemicals used in the work process and protective measures
  • Identify safeguards to control hazards, such as a potential ammonia leak
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. 


Proposed Penalties: $42,000


Quote: "Exposure to anhydrous ammonia can cause severe health effects and must be prevented," said Angeline Loftus, OSHA's area director in Chicago North. "Workers should not be put at risk because Bluewater Thermal Solutions failed to implement the required protections."


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 Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines at 847-803-4800.
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58-year-old worker dies because Bridgeton, Missouri, manufacturer ignores safety hazards. OSHA cites Hussmann Corp. for 3 willful, 12 serious violations

March 10, 2015



BRIDGETON, MISSOURI

A 58-year-old maintenance worker was killed after he was pinned between a scrap metal table and a railing at Hussmann Corp.'s Bridgeton facility, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found. OSHA said the company failed to prevent the table from lowering unintentionally*. As a result, Hussmann received three willful and 12 serious safety violations after the Sept. 6, 2014, incident. The company was also placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program. 


"This tragic loss could have been prevented," said Bill McDonald, OSHA's area director in St. Louis. "OSHA inspectors found workers at risk of life-threatening hazards because Hussmann Corp. failed to train its workforce to prevent unintentional operation of dangerous machinery. This company needs to fix safety procedure deficiencies, so no other family is forced to suffer."


OSHA cited Hussmann Corp. for three willful violations for not placing devices on machinery to prevent the sudden startup or movement of equipment during service and maintenance, a procedure known as lockout/tagout. The company also failed to correct numerous problems related to its lockout/tagout procedures, such as using electronic gate switches as a substitute for an energy-isolating device.


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.


Hussmann Corp. also failed to train workers on safety procedures and lacked effective safeguards for moving parts on machinery. Inspectors identified unsafe practices related to powered industrial trucks, including allowing employees to work under a load held aloft by the vehicle, exposing them to crushed-by hazards. OSHA also discovered electrical safety hazards involving cabinets that were not closed properly to prevent contact with energized wires and using damaged electrical cables. In total, OSHA cited the company for 12 serious violations.


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.


OSHA has proposed penalties of $272,250. To view current citations, visit https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Hussmann_995311_030415.pdf*.

Hussmann Corp. employs about 5,000 workers worldwide and 580 at its headquarters in Bridgeton. The company's products include refrigerated and nonrefrigerated display merchandisers, specialty display cases, self-contained display cases, LED lighting, glass doors and lids, refrigeration systems and other related products. 


The company 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 St. Louis office at 314-425-4249. 


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.
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OSHA fines Martinsburg, W. Va., contractor more than $109,000 for fall hazards at Morgantown, W. Va., work site

March 10, 2015



Employer name and location: Framing, siding, and roofing contractor K&F Construction Inc., P.O. Box 6013, Martinsburg, W. Va. 25402


Inspection site: Suncrest Village, 1000 Suncrest Village, Morgantown, W. Va. 26505, where K&F Construction employees performed roofing operations as part of the construction of three-story townhomes.


Date investigation initiated: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated a planned inspection on Sept. 3, 2014, under the agency's Regional Emphasis Program* on falls in the construction industry. 


Investigation findings: OSHA cited the contractor for three alleged willful violations for not providing fall protection for an employee exposed to a fall of up to 25 feet while working from a platform insecurely placed on the forks of a forklift, and for two employees exposed to a 30-foot fall while installing felt paper on the roof. Additionally, K&F did not ensure workers wore eye protection while using a pneumatic nail gun to lay the felt paper. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.


One alleged serious violation was due to the company's inappropriate use of a forklift to support a scaffold platform that employees used while working on a wall structure. 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.


"In 2006, OSHA cited K&F Construction for the same violations found in this most recent inspection. This company is well aware of the necessary safeguards needed to prevent fall-related and other injuries or deaths," said Prentice Cline, director of OSHA's Charleston Area Office. "With falls the leading cause of death in the construction industry, it is critical that this employer immediately address the cited violations to ensure a safe and healthful workplace." 


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


Proposed penalties: $109,450


View the citation: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/KF994627_0302_15.pdf*
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2 FDNY FIREFIGHTERS INJURED AT STATEN ISLAND FIRE






WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 

STATEN ISLAND, NY

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling a three-alarm fire in Annadale Tuesday afternoon and were taken to Richmond University Medical Center for treatment.

The emergency call came in at 4:35 p.m. for a fire that ignited in the attic of the private home at 11 Kenmore Street. The blaze was quickly upgraded to a three-alarm at 5:12 p.m and was under control an hour later, according to an FDNY spokesman. 

Dozens of firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene just off Woodrow Road. Neighbors lined up the street after smelling smoke circulating the neighborhood.

"I just saw a bunch of flames coming from the top of the house," one neighbor said. "You could smell all the smoke from a few blocks over."

There were no civilian injuries, the spokesman said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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