POINT PLEASANT BEACH, New Jersey --
Authorities say a crash during a powerboat race at the Jersey shore has left one person dead and two others hurt.
News12 New Jersey reports that the accident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday during a small boat preliminary event in the Point Pleasant Beach Grand Prix.
The two boats collided in waters near Bay Head, though the cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
The remaining races in the event were canceled after the fatal crash occurred.
Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid said thousands of people had gathered to watch the races. He called the crash "very tragic."
Further details about the crash were not immediately available. The names of the person killed and those injured have not been disclosed.
11 hurt after deck collapses in Andorra section of Philadelphia
Saturday, May 20, 2017 11:15PM
ANDORRA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police say eleven people were hurt after a deck at an apartment complex collapsed in the Andorra section of the city.
It happened before 9 p.m. Saturday in the 8800 block of Ridge Avenue.
Action News is told 16 people were standing on the deck behind an apartment in the Anthony Lane complex when it gave way.
One of the injured was an off-duty police officer.
At least two were said to be in their 50s.
The extent of injuries was not immediately clear, though none were believed to be life-threatening.
Inspectors were on the scene working to determine what caused the deck to collapse.
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11 Hurt After Deck Collapses at Roxborough Apt. Complex
Police say 16 people were on a rear deck at an apartment complex on the 8800 block of Ridge Avenue at 8:45 p.m. when it suddenly collapsed.
By David Chang
Philadelphia, PA
Nearly a dozen people were injured after a deck collapsed at an apartment complex in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia Saturday night.
Police say 16 people were on a rear deck at an apartment complex on the 8800 block of Ridge Avenue at 8:45 p.m. when it suddenly collapsed. Eleven people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
L&I workers are currently at the scene as officials investigate the cause of the collapse
WYNNEFIELD (WPVI) --
Three people were killed and one injured in a house fire in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia.
It happened shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday on the 5400 block of Diamond Street.
Arriving fire crews found flames and smoke pouring out of the home.
Firefighters were able to quickly put the fire out.
There is no word on the condition of the injured person.
A cause of the fire has not been released.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA (WTXF) - 3 family members have died after a fire broke out in their home in the Overbrook section.
Firefighters say the flames broke out on the first floor of a home on the 5400 block of Diamond Street just before 5 am.
The fire was under control around 5:30 am.
They were able to rescue 1 person from the building, and is now recovering at the hospital.
Firemen also tell us they believe that the home did not have any smoke detectors.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Study Looks at Possible Health Risks in Fire Stations
When firefighters respond to a fire, their gear and other personal protective equipment protect them from exposure to dangerous chemicals. What protects them between calls, however, when they simply are sleeping or eating in the fire station? On the surface, the fire station seems like a safe environment, but it may contain hidden risks, according to a new NIOSH-funded study at Harvard with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Boston Fire Department, and Boston Firefighters Union Local 718.
The study started after the city’s deputy fire chief expressed concern that local firefighters were diagnosed with and dying from cancer at high rates. Of particular concern is diesel exhaust from fire trucks housed in truck bays attached to the fire station’s living quarters where firefighters eat and sleep during a shift. In some older fire stations, including some built in the 1800s still in use in Boston, these truck bays are next to the kitchen. In addition, firefighters returning from a call and parking the fire truck in the bay may let the truck idle briefly while attaching tubing to vent the truck’s exhaust outdoors. This routine task may occur frequently throughout a shift and involve being close to hazardous diesel exhaust each time.
Working with the Boston Fire Department, the scientists tested air samples in three older fire stations in Boston and compared them to air samples from a new station in nearby Arlington, Massachusetts. They also interviewed firefighters in the stations. Preliminary results identified fire trucks as a possible source of poor air quality in the stations. They also showed that installing washing machines and using them for gear could help reduce exposure to chemicals. When the study is completed, the investigators plan to use the findings to develop future research and, ultimately, interventions to protect firefighters.
In related research, last summer NIOSH and other federal and university partners released the results of a separate 5-year study of 30,000 firefighters. The study found an increased risk of certain types of cancer among firefighters, compared to other people. This increased risk may stem from exposure to toxic substances released in a fire when plastic and other synthetic materials burn.
More information is available:
Firefighters’ Workplace Cancer Risk Explored
Firefighters and Cancer: Dana-Farber Scientists Investigate
Findings from a Study of Cancer among U.S. Fire Fighters
Harvard Center for Work, Health, & Well-being
Harvard Education and Research Center
NIOSH Extramural Research and Training Programs
Research Suggests Link Between Work-related Styrene Exposure and Lung Disease
Reports have linked work-related styrene exposure to asthma and an irreversible lung disease known as obliterative bronchiolitis. Photo from Thinkstock
With more plastic-based products on the market than ever before, concern about the work-related risks of the chemicals used to make them is increasing. One of these chemicals is styrene, a compound used extensively in plastic and rubber for cars, food packaging, boats, and many other products.
Scientific studies have linked work-related styrene exposure to asthma and an irreversible lung disease known as obliterative bronchiolitis. This rare lung disease causes scar tissue and inflammation in the small airways, which eventually makes it difficult to breathe. NIOSH recommends a styrene exposure limit of 50 ppm, or parts per million, over an 8-hour workday to prevent adverse health effects.
To understand whether work-related exposure to styrene increases the risk of asthma and obliterative bronchiolitis, NIOSH investigators analyzed 55 published studies and 2 additional unpublished case reports, according to their paper published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. They considered three types of studies, including those that reported individuals with lung disease, those that calculated death rates from lung diseases, and those that collected information from study participants at one point in time, known as cross-sectional studies. Overall, they found 10 cases of obliterative bronchiolitis and 8 cases of asthma, with each case having had substantial styrene exposure. Among the cross-sectional studies, 87% had evidence that styrene exposure was associated with lung disease, and half of the death-rate studies had evidence that styrene exposure was associated with death from lung disease. In addition, 75% of the asthma cases reviewed had abnormal results following inhalational challenges to styrene. These findings suggest a relationship between styrene exposure at work and developing asthma and obliterative bronchiolitis. Although they do not prove cause and effect, the findings underscore the need for further research into the risk of styrene exposure at work.
More information is available:
Non-malignant Respiratory Disease among Workers in Industries using Styrene
NIOSH Respiratory Health Division
Cal/OSHA Urges Employers to Prepare For Sizzling Temperatures
Oakland, CA—As Northern California braces for triple digit temperatures, Cal/OSHA urges all employers to revisit their Injury and Illness Prevention Programs and their emergency response procedures to make sure they are thoroughly prepared for high heat. Sacramento’s National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures in the 90s today and through the weekend. Early next week temperatures will reach triple digits in much of Northern California, from south of Stockton up to Redding.
“During heat waves and whenever temperatures reach or exceed 95 degrees, employers must take additional steps to monitor workers for signs and symptoms of heat illness,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Water, rest and shade can protect workers from the heat.”
California’s outdoor workplace Heat Illness Prevention regulations require employers to take four steps to prevent heat illness:
- Training – Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
- Water – Provide enough fresh water so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour, and encourage workers to do so.
- Shade – Provide shaded areas upon request or when temperatures exceed 80 degree, and encourage any worker to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes to protect against overheating. Workers should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
- Planning – Develop and implement effective written emergency response procedures for complying with Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard.
Cal/OSHA will inspect outdoor worksites of industries such as agriculture, construction, and landscaping throughout the heat season. Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention program, the first of its kind in the nation, includes enforcement of heat regulations as well as multilingual outreach and training for California’s employers and workers.
Information on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials is posted on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page and on the “Water. Rest. Shade. The work can’t get done without them” educational campaign website. A Heat Illness Prevention e-tool is also available on Cal/OSHA’s website.
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from safety and health hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their safety and health programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.
Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.
Manchester, CT
Friends and acquaintances gather Saturday afternoon
Jordan Otero Sisson and Jesse Leavenworth
A Manchester High School student and two former students were killed in a one-car crash early Saturday on Center Street, police and school officials said.
Police did not identify the victims or reveal their ages. Two survivors were taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Police said they responded to the crash at 1:21 a.m. and found the car, which had hit a utility pole, engulfed in flames. The crash occurred in front of 600 Center St., which is R&R Plumbing & Supply Inc.
Several police officers tried to douse the fire with fire extinguishers from their patrol cars, but the fire was too intense and the small extinguishers "had no effect," Manchester police Sgt. Stephen Bresciano said. Firefighters finally put out the flames, he said.
Bresciano, the traffic supervisor for Manchester police, said excessive speed played a role in the crash, but it's too early to tell whether alcohol or drugs were factors. The point of impact was the rear door on the driver's side, he said.
The three passengers in the rear seat of the sedan were killed, said police Capt. Christopher Davis. He said police are working with the medical examiner's office to identify the dead.
"Obviously, this is an incredible tragedy," Davis said.
Three people died and two were injured after a fiery crash in Manchester early Saturday morning.
By Saturday afternoon, teens and adults had gathered at the crash scene, consoling each other. They made a makeshift memorial — a golden and silver crucifix surrounded by white candles and bouquets of roses — at the base of a slightly charred utility pole.
About 20 people — mostly young men — gathered around the site. Some knelt before the pole, fingertips pressed to their lips in silent contemplation. Others embraced each other, their eyes visibly wet with tears.
Others gathered around the periphery of the site, speculating on the details of what transpired.
Town and school officials said they were deeply saddened by the crash, which happened on the day of the school's prom.
Manchester Superintendent of Schools Matt Geary informed the school community in an email. He said a crisis team was at the high school during the day Saturday.
Geary noted that the school's prom is Saturday night.
"We are also adding staff to tonight's prom to be sure that we are supporting all students," he wrote.
Manchester High Principal Jill Krieger said the school will have counseling staff available for students next week also.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved," she said in a note to parents.
Center Street, or Route 44, is a busy road in Manchester, lined with many restaurants, package stores, auto repair shops and homes. The road curves where it intersects with Olcott Street, straightening out where R&R Plumbing sits.
Darwin's Theory of
Evolution is at play here. Speed kills; the ones who fail to recognize
it, reach their final destination at an early time.
=================
Manchester, CT
Three teenagers were killed and others were injured in a fiery crash on Center Street in Manchester early Saturday morning.
The car hit a utility pole and burst into flames around 1:20 a.m., according to Manchester police. The crash happened in front of R&R Plumbing at 600 Center Street.
Two people who were sitting in the front of the car escaped the fire, but the three passengers in the back seat did not, police said.
The two survivors were taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Police believe all who were in the car are in their late teens. Though the names have not been released, Manchester Public School Superintendent Matthew Geary sent a letter to families identifying one of the deceased victims as a current student, and the other two as former students of the district.
Evan Blaschik, a Manchester High School senior who knew one of the victims, said he expected a lot of people to be affected by the news.
“It’s just crazy that one day you like see them walking through the hallways and then you hear about this the next day,” he said.
“A senior feels like they’re invincible but we’re not.”
Justin Miller, also a senior, said that those involved were well-liked by classmates.
“Make sure you say I love you to all the people you love and all that because you never know the last time you’re going to see them,” he said.
The schools are offering support staff at Manchester High School until 3 p.m. Saturday. The district will also have extra support staff at prom, which is scheduled for Saturday night.
Police said they are looking at speed as a possible factor in the crash.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution is at play here. Speed kills; the ones who fail to recognize it, reach their final destination at an early time.
Montgomery Co. school bus fire causes $100K in damages
By Nick Iannelli | @NickWTOP May 20, 2017 1:04 am
WASHINGTON, DC — Fire investigators in Montgomery County, Maryland are working to determine the cause behind a costly bus fire at the Montgomery County Public Schools bus depot on Crabbs Branch Way near Shady Grove Road.
The fire broke out around midnight Saturday morning and it was extinguished about half an hour later.
“When units arrived on scene they encountered a school bus fully engulfed in flames,” said Pete Piringer, a spokesman with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.
One school bus was completely destroyed and others were damaged.
“There was some collateral damage to two buses that were parked nearby,” Piringer said.
Piringer described the bus depot as “a secure parking lot, monitored by cameras and videos.”
Investigators are still trying to figure out how the fire started, although Piringer said nothing suspicious has been found and the cause is believed to be accidental.
The fire caused more than $100,000 in damage.
The cause of fire is under investigation.
During the five-year period of 1999-2003, U.S. fire departments
responded to an estimated average of 2,210 bus or school bus fires per
year. These fires caused an estimated annual average of three civilian
deaths, 30 civilian injuries, and $24.2 million in direct property
damage per year. In 1999-2003, bus or school bus fires accounted for 1%
of the total reported vehicle fires, 1% of the vehicle fire deaths, 2%
of the vehicle fire injuries, and 2% of the vehicle fire property
damage. On average, six bus or school bus fires were reported every day.
Buses present a unique combination of heavy work cycles and the use of
various aftermarket electrical accessories that place them at risk for
fires. An important step in preventing future incidents is in
understanding what has caused fires in the past. The causes of bus fires
generally fall into three distinct categories: electrical, friction at
the wheel level, and engine component failures. Many of these incidents
could have been prevented with an improved maintenance and inspection
program.
RAMSEY, N.J. -- OSHA fined a Rockland County company $25,350 in connection with the death of a New City tree service worker killed by a falling limb last fall in Ramsey.
Oscar Salazar, a 30-year-old father of two, was working with Northern Tree Service of Stony Point, servicing the Peach Hill Townhouse Community, when the mishap occurred on Oct. 13, authorities said.
Members of the Ramsey Police Department and Ramsey Ambulance Corps administered first aid for upper body and head injuries, Ramsey Police Chief Bryan Gurney said at the time.
Salazar was then taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, where he was pronounced dead, he said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration last month issued two violation items, resulting in $25,350 in fines to Northern Tree Service.
OSHA cited equipment that "did not have sufficient rope wraps to properly control the descending limb" and improper head protection.
DEWITT, NY - Syracuse Haulers Waste Removal Inc. in DeWitt has been fined $17,397 by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration after an industrial accident claimed the life of a worker at the company in May 2016.
Joseph Correia, 58, of Syracuse, was working at Syracuse Haulers at 6223 Thompson Road in DeWitt on May 25, 2016 when he suffered a fatal head injury at about 7:45 a.m., according to police and OSHA findings.
Correia was steadying a steel container on the lift-gate of a 2005 Ford F550 when the container rolled off while he attempted to hold it back, OSHA said. The container then fell on the worker, crushing his head and leg. He died from head trauma, the report said.
OSHA originally proposed fines totaling $19,330 after citing Syracuse Haulers for two serious violations in connection with the incident, but reached a settlement with the company for $17,397, OSHA officials said.
A settlement includes the employer's acceptance of the citations, correction of the cited violations and payment of the penalties, said Ted Fitzgerald, speaking for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Fitzgerald said settlements often are reached to help ensure prompt and effective abatement of the cited hazards.
In this case, Syracuse Haulers has implemented detailed steps to address the hazards that were identified, and established a new procedure for the safe loading and unloading of vehicles, OSHA said.
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DEWITT, N.Y. -- Authorities have identified the employee who was killed last week in an industrial accident at a waste removal company.
DeWitt police said Joseph P. Correia, 58, of Syracuse, was working at Syracuse Haulers Waste Removal, 6223 Thompson Road, DeWitt, around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday when he suffered a critical head injury, police said.
East Syracuse firefighters and EAVES Ambulance responded. Correia was rushed to Upstate University Hospital where he died a short time later.
Police would not say what happened to Correia, but the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said an employee was struck by a piece of equipment.
Initial police scanner reports said a dumpster had fallen on a man; police declined to comment on those reports.
OSHA is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the accident.
OSHA records show no prior fatalities or serious accidents at Syracuse Haulers.
Following inspections in March and June 2015, however, OSHA cited Syracuse Haulers for five violations, three of which were later dropped. The company paid and $2,800 fine and corrected the problems, OSHA said.
