Worker Dies After Falling Into Empty Barge In Winona, Minnesota

August 27, 2015

WINONA, MN

A Winona County man died in an accident at the city-owned dock at the Winona Commercial Harbor early Thursday.

Winona deputy police chief Tom Williams said the 23-year-old CD Corporation dock worker was in the process of moving the cover on a docked barge when he fell 12 to 15 feet into the empty barge.

An initial investigation indicated that the man fell when a hatch shifted unexpectedly as it was being closed.

Emergency dispatch was notified at 10:52 a.m. The man suffered a severe head injury and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has not been identified, pending notification of family members.

Winona fire captain Shawn Kohner said that the location of the accident posed particular challenges for rescue workers, due to lack of access.

They had to rig a ladder and lower the stretcher into the barge to attempt a rescue and ultimately bring the man’s body to shore.

“There’s no easy access for personnel in and out of an empty barge,” Kohner said.


Williams said that the accident is unusual and calls to the city dock are “few and far between.”

CD Corp., 978 Riverview Dr., is owned by Dan Nisbit. The business was started in 1993 and leases the dock from the city.

According to the company website, CD Corp. is a family owned and operated business started in 1993 with roots back to 1965. The company specializes in dry bulk handling and transportation of fertilizer, coal, grain, salt, aggregate and scrap iron. The company operates a barge loading and unloading facility with outdoor storage pads that can accommodate 200,000 tons of material and overhead storage of 800 tons.

The company was the focus of local controversy in recent years related to the trans-shipment of silica sand for the petroleum industry, a segment of the business that has fallen off sharply with the drop in oil prices.

An affiliated business, CD Transportation, owns 30 trucks and 40 trailers and transports all types of bulk products including scrap, garbage, demolition, coal, rock, salt, fertilizer, feed and grain.
//-------------------------------///

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (WCCO) —



A 24-year-old worker is dead after falling into a barge in Winona Thursday morning, according to police.

The fatal accident happened at CD Corporation on 978 Riverview Drive just before 11 a.m.

The victim, who has not been identified, was on top of a barge container when one of the hatches suddenly shifted while closing, causing him to fall inside. He suffered a fatal head injury in the fall.



The Winona County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating

Father, 94 and son, 47 killed in Gary, Indiana house fire

A father and son were killed during a house fire in Gary, officials said.

By Leah Hope

Thursday, August 27, 2015 04:19PM

GARY, Ind. (WLS) --

Officials are investigating after two people were found dead after a house fire in Gary.

John Berry, 94, and Darrick Berry, 47, were found inside the home, located in the 4200-block of West 21st Avenue, after crews responded to the fire around 4:40 a.m. Thursday, officials said. The father and son were pronounced dead at the scene.

"My dogs woke me up, and I see the smoke and I called 911," said Thomas Mosely, a neighbor. "I went over to knock on the door and it was wide open, nobody answered."

Regardless of the answers, a large well-known Gary family is grieving for two of their loved ones.

"When we got here and we saw how everything was, it was just overwhelming," said Sheila Williams, a family friend.

Benny Berry, the son and brother of the two victims, says Darrick had been taking care of his father for the last few years.

"My dad lost my mom, my brother has been with him, he stayed here with him for the last three years. He's been right here, they're like lock step together," Benny Berry said.

Many in the community know the elder Berry as Deacon Berry from Mount Olive Baptist Church.

"John was like a father, my father died when I was in my early 20s and John was always there," said Cynthia Lovick, a cousin.

"I know that he's where he'd rather be - if there's a God in heaven for real, he's there," Benny Berry said.

A spokesman for NIPSCO says natural gas has been ruled out as a possible cause as crews continue to investigate.

2 dead, 4 injured in hazmat situation near Des Plaines, Illinois

Firefighters responded to a hazardous materials situation at a home in unincorporated Des Plaines on Thursday afternoon.




By Rob Elgas
Updated 1 hr 58 mins ago

UNINCORPORATED DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- 

Two men are dead in connection with a hazardous materials situation that unfolded Thursday afternoon at a townhouse in unincorporated Des Plaines, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office has confirmed.

A third person from the home is in critical condition at a local hospital. Four Cook County Sheriff's officers also have been hospitalized.






Firefighters responded to a hazardous materials situation at a home in unincorporated Des Plaines on Thursday afternoon. Chopper7 HD

At about 4 p.m. Thursday, emergency crews responded to a home near the intersection of Dee Road and Harrison Street in the western suburb. The call for help indicated that there were people in distress in the garage.

Hours after the call, firefighters have been seen entering the home in protective gear, then being hosed off outside the home.

"Until our hazmat teams can clear the scene and deem it safe for investigators to go in there, we don't have any more information for you," said Richard Dobrowski, fire chief for North Maine Township Fire Department.

Dobrowski said his crew did not smell anything when they entered the home, which indicates that there was likely not a gas leak.

Stay tuned to ABC7 Eyewitness News and ABC7Chicago.com for more on this breaking news story.

Jury: Time Warner Cable largely responsible in fatal blast that leveled Kansas City restaurant

FILE - In a Feb. 19, 2013 file photo, firefighters are on the scene of a gas explosion and massive fire at JJ's restaurant at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo. Jurors ruled Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, that Time Warner Cable must pay nearly $6 million as part of a lawsuit alleging it was largely responsible for a fatal natural gas explosion that leveled the upscale Kansas City restaurant, JJ's. Brothers David and Jimmy Frantze's lawsuit was among several that were filed following the February 2013 explosion, which killed restaurant worker Megan Cramer and injured more than a dozen other people.(Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)


Associated Press 

August 27, 2015





By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Time Warner Cable must pay nearly $6 million as part of a lawsuit alleging it was largely responsible for a fatal natural gas explosion that leveled an upscale Kansas City restaurant, jurors ruled Thursday.

Brothers David and Jimmy Frantze, who operated the popular JJ's restaurant, were seeking more than $9 million in damages from Time Warner Cable and USIC Locating Services, which contracts with utility companies. Their lawsuit was among several that were filed following the February 2013 explosion, which killed restaurant worker Megan Cramer and injured more than a dozen other people.

The blast occurred after a crew for Heartland Midwest, a Kansas-based cable company subcontractor, breached a natural gas supply line with an underground borer. Fumes from that leak filled the building, then ignited.

Jurors ruled that Time Warner Cable was mostly responsible and ordered the company to pay $5.78 million. The jury decided USIC wasn't liable in the case.

"We know no court decision can undo this tragedy," Time Warner Cable spokesman Mike Pedelty said in an emailed statement after the verdict. "We'll take some time to review the court's decision before deciding our next step in this case."

The explosion, near the city's upscale Country Club Plaza shopping and entertainment district, also damaged two neighboring buildings.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Steven Emerson, argued that USIC incorrectly marked the location of underground utility lines. He also alleged that Time Warner Cable didn't appear to show sufficient interest in the drilling project, even though it was taking place in a dense urban environment with a multitude of subsurface utility lines.

"I think what the jury is saying to all the utilities is that you need to be more careful," Emerson said following the verdict.

Lawyers for Time Warner Cable and USIC sought to pin blame on Missouri Gas Energy, saying the utility's response to the gas leak was inadequate. The defendants also said the damages being sought were inflated and that JJ's staff shared some of the blame because they failed to turn off pilot lights.

Jurors found that Time Warner was 98 percent responsible, while JJ's was 2 percent responsible, which reduced the damages the cable company owed.

Emerson said the restaurant, which has since reopened in a new location, has made training changes.

USIC issued a statement calling the verdict clear vindication, saying: "Protecting the public's safety and our customers' underground facilities have been and will always be our top priorities."

Missouri Gas Energy and Heartland Midwest were dismissed from the case before the trial started last month. In a March settlement, Missouri Gas Energy denied violating safety rules but agreed to increase training and change some emergency procedures.

Video: Station Honolulu Response Boat Tows in Disabled Sailboat Ka Imi Ka that Caught Fire

AUGUST 27, 2015

A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu responds to a report of the sailboat Ka Imi Ka on fire near Honolulu Aug. 27, 2015. 

Coast Guard crews arrived on scene to find the fire extinguished by the five-man crew of the vessel. U.S. Coast Guard video by Lt. Kevin Cooper

Roof damaged after a boom truck crashed onto an apartment block in Hollywood, Florida, due to poor outrigger set up on weak asphalt surface.

There were no injuries Thursday afternoon, Aug. 27, 2015, when a crane collapsed onto the roof of an apartment building along the 1600 block of Lee Street in Hollywood (Photo courtesy of Hollywood police) 

By Doug Phillips and Emily Miller Sun Sentinel 

A crane collapsed Thursday afternoon on the roof of an apartment building in Hollywood.

There were no reports of injuries Thursday afternoon when a crane collapsed on top of an apartment building in Hollywood, police said.

Crews attempted to put an air conditioning unit on the roof of an apartment building along the 1600 block of Lee Street, Hollywood Police Officer Meredith Elrich said. About 1 p.m., the weight of the truck's support beam created a hole in the asphalt.

The support beam collapsed, causing the crane to fall onto the roof of the apartments, Elrich said. No one was hurt during the incident and damage was limited to the roof, she said.




The weight of a boom truck’s support beam created a hole in the asphalt, causing a crane to collapse onto an apartment building along the 1600 block of Lee Street in Hollywood. No one was hurt during the Aug. 27, 2015, incident. (Hollywood Police Department/Courtesy)

Crews were at the scene to stabilize the collapsed crane. Police advised motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area until the equipment was secured.



//-------------------------//
Boom truck overturn

August 28, 2015




A boom truck overturned onto an apartment block in Hollywood, Florida, yesterday due to poor outrigger set up/soft ground.



The boom came down onto the roof of the building.


The crane owned and operated by Link Lift was in the process of placing an air conditioning unit onto the roof of the building when the outrigger punched through the tarmac driver causing the rig to overturn, with the boom crashing down onto the roof of the building.



The weight of a boom truck’s support beam created a hole in the asphalt, causing a crane to collapse onto an apartment building along the 1600 block of Lee Street in Hollywood. No one was hurt during the Aug. 27, 2015, incident.




No attempt had been made to use a mat under the outrigger leg, in spite of the fact that the tarmac surface was clearly not substantial enough to support the weight on such a small area.

Thankfully one was injured in the incident.






The crane appears to belong to Link Lift, Inc. of Miami, Florida.


Here is some information on Link Lift, Inc.

Link Lift offers boom truck services and specializes in serving the HVAC industry in South Florida. We will pick up the A/C Unit at your supplier and will deliver it to your job site.


Licensed and insured, Link Lift offers same day crane services in Broward County, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. 

FLAT RATE PRICING FOR ALL 3 COUNTIES.

Roof Top Air Conditioning Placements and Removals are our specialty!
Call Al Link for reservations and quotes at 954-410-0087.

Australia: Stena Drilling pleads guilty in fatal rig explosion case

Three years after two workers were killed in an offshore explosion on a drilling rig in Australia, the rig’s owner has pleaded guilty.

Namely, in the Magistrates Court of Victoria yesterday, Stena Drilling Australia Pty Ltd, the owner of the Stena Clyde – the rig in question – pleaded guilty for breaching its specific duty, as the operator of the rig to take all reasonably practicable steps to implement and maintain systems of work that were safe and without risk to health.

The incident occurred during drilling operations in Commonwealth waters in the Bass Strait on August 27, 2012 and resulted in the death of Stena Clyde floorman Peter Meddens and toolpusher Barry Denholm.


Stuart Smith, CEO of NOPSEMA, Australia’s offshore oil and gas safety watchdog, said: “This prosecution has reinforced the requirement for an appropriate risk assessment system to be Implemented for all stages of work. Workers involved should have an opportunity to contribute to this assessment including consideration of factors such as stored energy; equipment design limits; and, impact of external conditions.”

He said communication was a key part of any work offshore and “supervisors should verify that all workers involved in any task understand their role and any associated risks.”

Smith added: “All equipment utilised in planned work should be fit for purpose and in good working order. If the equipment is not working correctly, a reassessment of the risks associated with the work or task should be conducted.”


Call for NOPSEMA overhaul


Marking the third anniversary of the tragic event, Michael Borowick Assistant Secretary at Australian Council of Trade Unions ACTU said:

“The families, friends and work mates of Peter Meddens and Barry Denholm have been waiting a long time to find out what happened to their loved ones on that terrible day in 2012.”

“We are calling for Federal Government to overhaul NOPSEMA and replace it with a full service regulator who can act quickly to prosecute to ensure the reasons behind an accident are identified without this extraordinary delay.”

“The ACTU is also concerned NOPSEMA is too close to the industry to act as an effective regulator.”

“Without a full and independent investigation into such tragedies we cannot ensure other workers will not be exposed to similar dangers.”

“Offshore safety legislation must be brought into line with national OHS standards – there is no justification for lower standards of protections for offshore workers.“



Offshore Energy Today Staff

Australia: Stena Drilling pleads guilty in fatal rig explosion case

Three years after two workers were killed in an offshore explosion on a drilling rig in Australia, the rig’s owner has pleaded guilty.

Namely, in the Magistrates Court of Victoria yesterday, Stena Drilling Australia Pty Ltd, the owner of the Stena Clyde – the rig in question – pleaded guilty for breaching its specific duty, as the operator of the rig to take all reasonably practicable steps to implement and maintain systems of work that were safe and without risk to health.

The incident occurred during drilling operations in Commonwealth waters in the Bass Strait on August 27, 2012 and resulted in the death of Stena Clyde floorman Peter Meddens and toolpusher Barry Denholm.


Stuart Smith, CEO of NOPSEMA, Australia’s offshore oil and gas safety watchdog, said: “This prosecution has reinforced the requirement for an appropriate risk assessment system to be Implemented for all stages of work. Workers involved should have an opportunity to contribute to this assessment including consideration of factors such as stored energy; equipment design limits; and, impact of external conditions.”

He said communication was a key part of any work offshore and “supervisors should verify that all workers involved in any task understand their role and any associated risks.”

Smith added: “All equipment utilised in planned work should be fit for purpose and in good working order. If the equipment is not working correctly, a reassessment of the risks associated with the work or task should be conducted.”


Call for NOPSEMA overhaul


Marking the third anniversary of the tragic event, Michael Borowick Assistant Secretary at Australian Council of Trade Unions ACTU said:

“The families, friends and work mates of Peter Meddens and Barry Denholm have been waiting a long time to find out what happened to their loved ones on that terrible day in 2012.”

“We are calling for Federal Government to overhaul NOPSEMA and replace it with a full service regulator who can act quickly to prosecute to ensure the reasons behind an accident are identified without this extraordinary delay.”

“The ACTU is also concerned NOPSEMA is too close to the industry to act as an effective regulator.”

“Without a full and independent investigation into such tragedies we cannot ensure other workers will not be exposed to similar dangers.”

“Offshore safety legislation must be brought into line with national OHS standards – there is no justification for lower standards of protections for offshore workers.“



Offshore Energy Today Staff

A core sample pulled from the concrete of the Cocoli Locks where cracks and leaks have appeared does not bode well for the Panama Canal expansion project

A Concrete Sample Was Pulled from the New Panama Canal Locks and It Does Not Look Good

August 27, 2015 by Mike Schuler


A core sample taken from the concrete of the new Cocoli Locks complex.



A core sample pulled from the concrete of the Cocoli Locks where cracks and leaks have appeared does not bode well for the Panama Canal expansion project, which is on a strict deadline for completion in April 2016.

The crack and subsequent leaks appeared recently in the concrete of one of the interior chambers of the new Cocoli Locks on the Pacific side of the waterway during testing of the new locks.

According to the ACP, the crack appeared in the “step”, or sill, of lockhead 3 (LH3), dividing the middle chamber from the lower chamber of the Cocoli Lock complex. 

Photo dated August 25, 2015 showing water leaking through cracks in the concrete of the new Cocoli Locks complex, located on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.



Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), the main contractor for the Third Set of Locks project, issued a statement last Friday acknowledging the leaks, but has since gone quiet.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the government agency responsible for the operation and management of the Panama Canal and the expansion project, has said that the based on preliminary information the crack is not expected to impact the opening of the new locks for commercial operations in April 2016 and that GUPC is solely responsible for the successful delivery and performance of the new locks ‘without defects’.

“GUPC has the obligation to ensure the long-term performance on all aspects of the construction of the locks and to correct this issue,” the ACP said in a statement earlier this week. “Moreover, GUPC’s contract with the ACP dictates that the group is responsible for modifications and corrections,” it added.

Neither the ACP or GUPC have gone into detail however about the scope of the issue or repairs needed.



The Third Set of Locks project, the main component of the $5.25 billion expansion project, involves the construction of new, bigger lock complexes on the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the Panama Canal, which will allow larger ships to transit and effectively double the capacity of the famous waterway.

For the two new lock complexes, a total of 4.4 million cubic meters of concrete had to be poured, more than the 3.4 million cubic meters used for the current Panama Canal. 

Water seeps through concrete in one of the chambers of the Cocoli Locks in the Panama Canal.



GUPC was one of three pre-qualified international consortium s bidding on the tender for the design and construction of the Third Set of Locks, a tender process that involved a thorough technical and pricing evaluation. The contract winner was selected based on the “non-negotiated best value proposal”, i.e. the one that obtained the highest combined score for their Price Proposal and Technical Proposal using a weighted model where the Technical Proposal was assigned 55 percent of the total score and the Price Proposal was assigned 45 percent of the total score.

Ultimately, GUPC was selected as the winner with the highest technical score and lowest total (fixed) price proposal at $3.221 billion. The contract for the project was awarded the contract on July 15, 2009 and work began the following month.

The opening of the expanded Panama Canal was originally scheduled for 2014 to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the opening of the existing Panama Canal, but cost overruns and delays have pushed the opening to April 2016… at least as it stands now.

GUPC is a consortium made up of Sacyr Vallehermoso of Spain as its head, with Impregilo of Italy, Jan De Nul of Belgium and Constructura Urbana, SA (CUSA) of Panama.

Below is some video of the leaks:

The "Mineral Faith" bulkcarrier ship ran aground at km mark 101 in the Suez Canal.

Thursday, 27 August 201

Grounding in Suez Canal Written by AdminSailor
 
On Aug 25, at 2.30 p.m. the "Mineral Faith" ran aground at km mark 101 in the Suez Canal. 

In the midday hours of August 26 the bulkcarrier was still aground, but the ship did not hamper passing traffic any more. The vessel was en route from Narvik to Suez.

1 dead, 3 injured after the research ship Urania heeled in dock in Livorno, Italy

Wednesday, 26 August 2015 12:59


 Written by AdminSailor




The "Urania", having been drydocked in a floating dock at the Azimut-Benetti yard in Livorno since Nov 30, 2014, suddenly heeled to portside and developed a list of 30 degrees on Aug 25, 2015, at 7 p.m. 

Everything unsecured inside the vessel fell or shifted, one worker from Naples, aged 39, was crushed and killed, 11 workers and crew members were trapped inside. 

One man from Gela, aged 45, was in serious condition. Eight crew members were transported to the emergency room, but had not suffered major injuries. 

Nine other seamen who were on board and were not directly involved in the accident were rescued uninjured. The ship suffered a breach and flooding, also the dock structure was damaged. 

The fire rescue was on scene with 16 units, also port pilots, the port authority, the maritime police with the patrol boat "CP 87" and five ambulences stepped in. 

The work was complicated due to the danger of further movements of the listing ship. The basin was barred off with booms.

 It was found out that a support block has given way while mooring operations were carried out at the dock, an investigation was launched by the prosecutor. 

Pending on the outcome the RPU called for a strike on the yard on Aug 26. The ship was in dock for the latest checks, after lengthening work on the hull. 

Italian reports with photos: www.lanazione.it/... www.ansa.it/sito/...

Coast Guard responded to a report of the sailboat Ka Imi Ka on fire off Honolulu

Coast Guard responds to boat fire off Honolulu
August 27th, 2015


A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew tows the sailboat Ka Imi Ka to Pier 38 in Honolulu after the vessel suffered a fire Aug. 27, 2015. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Quichocho)

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard responded to a report of a sailboat on fire off Honolulu, Thursday.

A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu towed the vessel with five people aboard to Pier 38 in Honolulu.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center watchstanders received a report at 9 a.m. from patrons at Aloha Tower of the sailboat on fire about a mile off Sand Island.

The watchstanders immediately diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau’s smallboat crew, already underway in the harbor for training, and directed the launch of the station’s RB-M crew. Upon arrival the rescue crews assessed the situation and found the crew aboard the sailboat had put the fire out with an extinguisher. No injuries or pollution were reported.

“I am proud of my crew and how quickly we responded,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Leah Zieber, crewmember of Station Honolulu. “We arrived within 15 minutes. After ensuring the fire was extinguished and the crew was no longer in imminent danger we were able to safely tow the vessel and its five passengers back to shore.”

The Coast Guard advises all waterways users to take required emergency gear with them on their voyages to better respond to any situation that arises. Due to the fact the crew operates the sailboat as a commercial fishing vessel; the Coast Guard is assessing the damage to the vessel and investigating the cause of the fire.

“Having safety equipment aboard and knowing how to properly use it is crucial for all mariners, especially fishermen,” said Charlie Medlicott, commercial fishing vessel safety coordinator at the Coast Guard 14th District. “Fishing vessels do encounter problems and sink. Although our waters are warmer fishermen have a much higher chance of survival if they’ve taken a commercial fishing safety drill course and are prepared for the worst case scenario.”

Fishermen are reminded Coast Guard fishing vessel safety exams become mandatory for commercial fishing vessels that operate beyond 3 miles from shore after Oct. 15.

54-year-old employee loses 4 fingers at Wahlco-D.W. Tool Inc. recycling plant. OSHA also finds combustible dust hazards that could have caused an explosion

August 27, 2015

54-year-old employee loses 4 fingers at Wahlco-D.W. Tool Inc. recycling plant.
OSHA also finds combustible dust hazards that could have caused an explosion

JACKSON, Mo. - When U.S. Department of Labor inspectors entered a baby diaper recycling facility, they were investigating how a 54-year-old team leader had four fingers amputated in a recycling machine. Inside the Wahlco-D.W. Tool Inc. facility, Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found conditions ripe for another tragedy: Extensive combustible dust and potential sources of ignition could have caused an explosion and fire at the plant.

On Aug. 17, OSHA cited the Jackson-based company for one repeated and 12 serious safety and health violations, including a lack of machine safety guards. Wahlco had been cited in 2013 for not having machine safety guards, which could have prevented the March 19, 2015, amputation. Proposed penalties total $74,480.

"One worker suffered a life-altering injury, and excessive combustible dust at Wahlco made for a disaster waiting to happen. An explosion could have injured dozens of employees," said Bill McDonald, OSHA's area director in St. Louis. "For the second time in two years, the company intentionally disregarded OSHA standards and requirements for machine safety - an unacceptable practice."

OSHA inspectors also found the company:
Failed to train employees about machine hazards and combustible dust.
Did not turn off machinery before servicing.
Lacked housekeeping to control dust.
Operated an inadequate respiratory control program.
Did not provide personal protective equipment for employees working with energized electrical parts.

Many of these violations are among OSHA's most frequently cited, and can result in death or permanent disability.

To view current citations, visit http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Wahlco-DWToolInc_1060335.pdf* and
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Wahlco-DWToolInc_1048428.pdf*

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 amputations, eye loss, 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 Area Office at 314-425-4255.

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.

Retriev Technologies Inc., a battery recycling company continues to expose workers to dangerous levels of lead, cadmium at Lancaster, Ohio, facility. OSHA cited Retriev Technologies for same hazards in 2012.

August 27, 2015
Retriev Technologies Inc., a battery recycling company continues to expose workers to dangerous levels of lead, cadmium at Lancaster, Ohio, facility.
OSHA cited Retriev Technologies for same hazards in 2012.

LANCASTER, Ohio - Two years after agreeing to reduce workers' exposure to lead and cadmium, a Lancaster battery recycling facility continues to expose workers to dangerously high airborne concentrations of the metals – a leading cause of workplace illness – which can cause long-term damage to the central nervous, urinary, blood and reproductive systems.

U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found Retriev Technologies Inc. failed to implement engineering controls and monitor employee exposure to these hazards. OSHA cited the company on Aug. 14 for eight repeated and one serious health violation. Proposed penalties total $74,250.

In 2012, the agency cited Retriev for similar hazards at the same facility, then known as Toxco Inc.

"Retriev Technologies must protect the long-term health of it workers," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA's area director in Columbus. "The company's compliance programs lacked information on controlling exposure levels, which harmed employees."

View current citations here*.

Retriev Technologies has headquarters in Anaheim, California. It has facilities in Canada, Ohio and Pennsylvania. 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 amputations, eye loss, 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.

South Florida's Latite Roofing and Sheet Metal LLC continues to expose workers to dangerous falls. Employer inspected 9 times in the last 5 years; nearly $137K in penalties proposed

August 27, 2015

South Florida's Latite Roofing continues to expose workers to dangerous falls
Employer inspected 9 times in the last 5 years; nearly $137K in penalties proposed

Employer name: Latite Roofing and Sheet Metal LLC, Pompano Beach, Florida 33069

Inspection sites: 7678 Bristol Circle, Naples, Florida 34120; Intersection of Southwest 82nd St. and Southwest 72nd St., Miami, Florida 33143; and 1371 S. University Drive, Plantation, Florida 33324.

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the employer on August 25 for three repeated and three serious safety violations.

Inspection findings: The three inspections were initiated as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction* after OSHA inspectors observed employees performing roofing work without fall protection. The violations involve allowing employees to work from heights of 10, 15 and up to 20 feet without fall protection and improperly using a step ladder.

The company has been cited nine times in the past five years. However, OSHA found that Latite Roofing is again exposing employees to the hazards of fall protection. A lack of adequate fall protection when working from elevations can result in serious or fatal injuries.

Quote: "Residential roofing work can be deadly when safety measures are not enforced. Latite Roofing has an extensive OSHA inspection history, but continues to expose employees to life-threatening safety hazards. Latite must assess its work practices immediately to ensure workers are protected," said Condell Eastmond, OSHA's area director in Ft. Lauderdale.

Proposed penalties: $136,500

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/LatiteRoofingSheetMetal_08-25-2015.pdf*

Latite Roofing is the largest commercial and residential roofing company in south Florida. The employer 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.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, 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 Ft. Lauderdale Area Office at 954-424-0242.

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.

Dump truck's fuel tanks ruptured after the truck ran over a box spring in Murray, Utah

Fuel spill forces I-15 closure in Murray
Posted August 27, 2015
by David Wells






Courtesy: Utah Department of Transportation

MURRAY, Utah — A dump truck’s fuel tanks ruptured as it traveled along northbound I-15 in Murray Thursday morning, forcing Utah Highway Patrol officials to divert traffic off the freeway.

It happened around 11:15 near 6600 S. Utah Department of Transportation officials said traffic was being diverted at 7200 S, but UHP has reopened the HOV lane and one other lane to allow traffic through.

The fuel tanks ruptured after the dump truck ran over a box spring. A haz-mat team has responded to the scene, but officials haven’t determined how long it will take to clean up the roadway.

Five businesses were completely destroyed by fire early Wednesday evening after a car crashed into the Poinciana Plaza strip mall, hitting a gas meter.

Explosion, fire destroys five Santa Clara businesses




Cellphone video caught a white car that apparently crashed into a strip mall before there was an explosion and damaging fire.






by Cornell Barnard
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 12:00AM
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) -- Five businesses were completely destroyed by fire early Wednesday evening after a car crashed into the Poinciana Plaza strip mall, hitting a gas meter.

Santa Clara police say they are looking for a hit-and-run driver, possibly female, and the car responsible. Video taken by a witness may have caught the driver on camera. The car looks like a white two-door Honda Accord.

Video sent to ABC7 News via Instagram shows the fire moments after a car crashed into the slide of the strip mall. It then shows a woman running near a white car, dangerously close to the flames. Seconds later, the car leaves the parking lot and drives away.



Fire engulfed the small strip mall and took five long-time businesses with it. PG&E capped the ruptured gas meter sometime late Wednesday night.

The Poinciana Lounge, KP Liquors, ABC Laundromat, Star Hair & Nails and the restaurant Sabor Salvadoreno at the strip mall have all been destroyed by the fire.

Carlos Ramirez was inside the landromat. He told ABC7 News, "I was washing my clothes, but I heard somebody say 'fire.'"

A family narrowly escaped the Salvadorian restaurant they've owned for 15 years. They managed to take the cash register with them, but everything else is gone.

"It's horrible. It's depressing. It's a lot of years of hard work," fire victim Debbie Hidalgo said.

Lawrence Expressway near Poinciana Drive was closed for hours in both directions between Reed and Poinciana while fire crews worked to put out the fire.

A person, who was not a firefighter, was transported to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation. A firefighter was taken to the hospital for dehydration and later released.

Santa Clara police are asking anyone with information about the hit-and-run to call them.

RAW VIDEO: Sky 7 HD over Santa Clara strip mall fire

RAW VIDEO: Santa Clara strip mall destroyed

Female pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash in San Jose, suspect at large

A woman was killed in a hit-and-run collision in East San Jose in the area of Huran and Clarive Drives.

By Matt Keller

Thursday, August 27, 2015 11:42AM

SAN JOSE (KGO) --

There was yet another hit-and-run accident in San Jose today. Tragically, a woman was killed early this morning at the same time a number of children were in the area walking to school or waiting for buses.

Neighbors say they're not surprised something like this happened here.



There was a gruesome and tragic display on Huran Drive and Clarice Drive just off of Tully Road in East San Jose. A woman, likely between 30 and 40-years-old was dead in the road. Police say she was killed when a male driver in a maroon sedan hit her and sped off. His car was abandoned in a residential neighborhood, several blocks away. No arrest has been made.

"This is a park, there's a school nearby. There were kids waiting for buses, those kinds of things. It's quite a tragedy and very dangerous -- very dangerous," said San Jose Police Lt. Mike King.

Parents walking their kids to nearby Katherine Smith Elementary School tried to avoid the scene.



"Today they wanted to walk front side and I said 'nooooo, we shouldn't go there.' We walked that way so they didn't have to see any of that," said parent Angelique Rosales.

This is San Jose's 31st traffic fatality of the year and the 14th involving a pedestrian. For Angelique Rosales and her family, the numbers are not surprising.

"There's been a few times I've walked my son across the street and almost been hit a few times, just by impatience. So I'm really concerned about that," said Rosales.

A man was killed in a hit-and-run this past Saturday on King Road in San Jose. No arrests have been announced by San Jose police.

Worker seriously injured in fall off Iowa BNSF railroad bridge near Flager, Iowa

Posted: August 27, 2015


FLAGLER, Iowa (AP) - 

A man working on a BNSF railroad bridge in south-central Iowa has been injured in a fall.

The accident occurred around 2 p.m. Wednesday near Flagler in Marion County. Authorities say the man was wearing a safety harness when he fell 7 to 8 feet onto his back in the rocky creek bed of English Creek.

The man was flown to a Des Moines hospital for treatment. His name hasn't been released.

Water from a sheared fire hydrant came in contact with high-voltage power lines Thursday morning resulting in a fiery Hollywood, CA explosion that sent firefighters running.

by Anthony Kurzweil and Steve Kuzj


Posted August 27, 2015



Water from a sheared fire hydrant came in contact with high-voltage power lines Thursday morning resulting in a fiery Hollywood explosion that sent firefighters running.


A transformer exploded as firefighters worked to shut off a sheared hydrant in Hollywood on Aug. 27, 2015. (Credit: KTLA)

The incident began when the fire hydrant was sheared just before 7 a.m. in the 6700 block of West Santa Monica Boulevard (map), Erik Scott with the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Aerial video from Sky5 showed a white car still sitting near the sheared hydrant as water was shooting roughly 50 to 60 feet into the sky, drenching a nearby power pole.

Chanell Blanson said she was driving that car when she lost control and hit the fire hydrant.

“I was going home. I was about to make a left on Highland when my brakes went out. I just got the brake pads fixed. It was either, go into the oncoming traffic, which may have killed me, or turn into the fire hydrant,” Blanson said.

At one point, while firefighters were working to shut off the hydrant, a column of fire and smoke exploded from two power conductors sitting atop a nearby pole, sending the firefighters and others running from the area.

“It just exploded, the pole exploded. So we just ran, ran, ran,” Blanson said.

Sky5 captured at least two other explosions as crews worked to shut off the water and power.

No injuries were initially reported in the incident.

Firefighters, along with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews, managed to cut the power to the overhead electrical lines and shut off water to the area by about 8:30 a.m., Scott said.

Police and Department of Transportation officials were handling traffic control in the area, Scott said.

1 pilot killed after a Piper PA-25-260 Pawnee small plane crashes north of Llano, California

A small plane crashed north of Llano, killing at least one person, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015.

Updated 13 mins ago

LLANO, Calif. (KABC) --

One person has died after a small plane crashed north of Llano in Los Angeles County Thursday, officials said.

The fixed-wing, single-engine plane was reported down at about 12:10 p.m. at Pearblossom Highway and 165th East.

The pilot, whose name has not been released, was declared dead at the scene.

The cause of the accident has not been determined. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. 

The PA-25 Pawnee was an agricultural aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft between 1959 and 1981. It remains a widely used aircraft in agricultural spraying and is also used as a tow plane, or tug, for launching gliders or for towing banners. In 1988 the design rights and support responsibility were sold to Latino Americana de Aviación of Argentina.

Date:	27-AUG-2015
Time:	-12:40
Type:	Piper PA-25-260 Pawnee
Owner/operator:	Southern California Soaring Academy Inc
Registration:	N4469Y
C/n / msn:	25-4872
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Airplane damage:	Substantial
Location:	Near Crystal Airport (46CN), Llano, CA -   United States of America
Phase:	Unknown
Nature:	-
Departure airport:	Crystal (46CN)
Destination airport:	Crystal (46CN)

Narrative:
The aircraft impacted open field terrain next to Crystal Airport (46CN), Llano, California. The glider-tow airplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources: 
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179059
http://abc7.com/news/small-plane-crashes-in-llano;-1-dead/959393/
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/08/27/pilot-killed-in-small-plane-crash-near-santa-clarita-area/
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=4369Y

EPA Releases Additional Data and Public Records on Gold King Mine Response

 

EPA Releases Additional Data and Public Records on Gold King Mine Response

Release Date: 08/27/2015
Contact Information: Melissa Harrison, harrison.melissa@epa.gov, (202) 564-8421 (office), (202) 697-0208 (mobile)
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new data trend graphs and additional public records on the Gold King Mine response.
What new documents are being released?
EPA is releasing a contractor's Draft Technical Memo of the August 5 incident, including photographs, an EPA On Scene Coordinator's description of the events depicted in the photographs, and an EPA phone duty officer's memorandum to the file about the incident and certain subsequent events. To view the documents: http://www2.epa.gov/goldkingmine/gold-king-mine-chronology
What is EPA posting today?
Today EPA is posting graphs to show the trending concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in surface water over time. These trend graphs were created from pre-event and post-event data posted to this website between August 10, 2015 and August 22, 2015.
These four metals are the primary contaminants of concern due to their potential to pose significant health risks.
We plan to post additional charts to show the concentrations of all 24 metals in surface water over the next weeks.
What do the trending graphs show?
EPA is posting 96 graphs to show the trending concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in surface water at the 24 sampling locations where five or more samples have been collected. EPA did not populate graphs for those sampling locations where fewer than five samples were collected because those locations had insufficient data to create a representative trend line. If a chart could not be generated, the data points are still available to review on the website. And, in the event that additional samples are collected for these locations, EPA will add more charts to this website.
For each metal, the trend graphs illustrate that concentrations are significantly lower than the Recreational Screening Level (RSL). The specific RSLs for each metal are posted on the right side of each trend graph. RSLs, established by EPA, are health-based concentrations for each metal based on exposure during recreational use.
The RSLs for both soil / sediment and surface water are based on recreational scenarios in which an adult or child hiker/camper is exposed to surface water and sediment.
For surface water, the recreation-based screening levels assume that the adult or child would receive all of their daily water intake (2 liters/day) from the river over a continuous 64 day period. For sediment, the recreation-based screening levels are based on a hiker/camper that may become exposed to sediments alongside the riverbank over a continuous 64-day period. These RSLs are conservative, representing levels that are not expected to cause adverse effects over an extended period of time, based on a continuous 64-day exposure. These screening criteria represent the most conservative scenario for recreational users.

The trend graphs shows the concentrations of dissolved metals rather than total metals, based on the pre-event and post-event data. Concentrations are expressed in the dissolved, rather than the total, form of the metal because the dissolved is a better predictor of harm to human health and the environment.
For samples with metal concentrations that were too low to detect, EPA plotted the Method Detection Level (MDL) value onto the trend graph. Please note that the trend graphs do not specify which values are MDLs. Please also refer to the analytical data tables to determine the exact values of the sample results.
Sampling results for metals that are close to or at the MDL show variability that is not seen for results at higher concentrations. This may be due to laboratory instrument sensitivity and/or variations in sampling. EPA notes that this variability may be observed in some of the trend graphs as a series of lows and highs.
What data was used to create the trend graphs?
The trend graphs were created from pre-event and post-event data that show the conditions of the Animas and San Juan watersheds. Each sample was analyzed for 24 metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
Pre-event samples were taken prior to the plume’s arrival to establish a baseline for water quality comparisons. Data for pre-event sampling were posted on August 10, 12, 13, and 15, 2015.

What do the sample results show?
Both sediment and water quality samples have been reviewed and compared to RSLs for metals.
The concentration of metals in all samples collected are below surface water, soil / sediment RSLs.
Based on the comparison of pre-event data with data collected over the past two weeks, the pre-event sampling data show that concentrations for all 24 metals in surface water are trending toward pre-event conditions.
EPA’s long-term concern is the effect of metals deposited in sediments in the entire watershed and their release during high-water events and from long periods of recreational use. EPA is establishing a longer term watershed monitoring strategy for the surface water and sediments that have been affected by the Gold King Mine spill to identify potential long-term impacts working closely with State and local officials.

To view the data map: http://www2.epa.gov/goldkingmine/data-gold-king-mine-response