Renovation worker critically injured and firefighter injured in fire at the ninth floor Sheraton hotel in Universal City, California

Worker gravely hurt, firefighter injured in fire at Sheraton hotel in Universal City
 

By City News Service


August 31, 2017



UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - A worker was gravely hurt and a firefighter suffered a non-traumatic injury Wednesday when a fire broke out at a high-rise hotel undergoing renovations in Universal City.

The fire, reported at 12:37 p.m. in a ninth-floor room at the 26-story Sheraton hotel at 10600 W. Universal Place, was held in check by the sprinkler system, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters extinguished the fire — there was no immediate word on the cause — and broke out windows to release heavy smoke, Stewart said.


An adult male worker was found in an adjacent room and taken, in grave condition, to a hospital, Stewart said.

One firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of a “non- traumatic” injury and was said to be in fair to serious condition, Stewart said.

No guests were staying on the ninth floor. Some of those staying on other floors self-evacuated and others were told to shelter in place, Stewart said.

The building sustained water and smoke damage from the ninth floor to the lobby and firefighters were performing salvage operations, trying to minimize the loss.



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A male worker is in grave condition and a firefighter was injured after a fire broke out at a 26-story hotel building in the Universal City area on Wednesday afternoon.


A firefighter cleans up after a blaze at the Sheraton Universal on Aug. 30, 2017, in a photo by LAFD’s David Ortiz.

The blaze on the ninth floor of the Sheraton Universal was reported shortly after 12:30 p.m.

When firefighters ascended the stairs to the ninth floor, which was under construction and hosting no hotel guests, they encountered heavy smoke, according to Margaret Stewart with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters had to break windows to let out the smoke after extinguishing the fire. As they searched the area, they found an adult male worker in the next-door room. He was taken to a hospital in grave condition.

A firefighter was also transported in “fair/serious condition with non-traumatic injury,” Stewart said.

Guests were ordered to shelter in place during the blaze, which was “held in check” by sprinklers, she said.



The smoke and sprinkler water damaged floors from the ninth down to the lobby and firefighters were working to clean up. They will be at the high-rise “for an extended period,” Stewart said.

Arson investigators are on scene.

Eldorado Gold contractor employee was killed aftre he was struck by a branch from a falling tree at the Skouries Project in Greece

Canada’s Eldorado Gold (TSX:ELD)(NYSE:EGO) said Tuesday a contractor employee at its Skouries gold and copper project in Greece was struck by a branch from a falling tree Monday, and the accident resulted in fatal injuries.

"Our deepest condolences and support go out to the individual's family, friends and colleagues at this time," George Burns, Eldorado's President and Chief Executive Officer, said in the statement. "Safety is our top priority at Eldorado Gold and we are committed to the well-being of our employees and contractors on all of our sites." The contractor employee was struck by a branch from a falling tree on Monday.

The Vancouver-based company noted an investigation related to the incident was already underway. 




Skouries is a high-grade gold-copper porphyry deposit located in the Halkidiki Peninsula in northern Greece. 

It will operate as an open pit and underground mine for about nine years, followed by approximately 15 years of underground mining.

Eldorado, which already operates one mine in the north of Greece — Stratoni —, has been trying to develop the Skouries and Olympias projects for years, but local opposition and an ongoing back-and-forth with authorities have delayed progress.

The biggest differences between the company and Greek authorities revolve around testing methods applied to comply with environmental regulations at Skouries, whose final permits are still pending. Last month, the company said production is now targeted for 2020, adding it had reviewed the project's capital spending.

Licensing for the company’s Olympias project is in the final stage and Eldorado had said it expects to begin production at the gold, silver, zinc and lead mine before year-end.



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Eldorado Gold Reports Fatality at its Skouries Project

August 29, 2017


VANCOUVER, Aug. 29, 2017 /CNW/ - Eldorado Gold ("Eldorado" or the "Company") today regrets to report that on the morning of August 28, 2017, during tree cutting operations at the Skouries Project in Greece, a contractor employee was struck by a branch from a falling tree resulting in fatal injuries. An investigation is underway.

"Our deepest condolences and support go out to the individual's family, friends and colleagues at this time," said George Burns, Eldorado's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Safety is our top priority at Eldorado Gold and we are committed to the well-being of our employees and contractors on all of our sites."

Additional Information

Additional information on Eldorado is available on the Company's website at www.eldoradogold.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Eldorado Gold Corporation

Development Approach

Eldorado plans to develop Skouries in a two-phased approach. Production is targeted in 2020.

Phase 1 (2020-2027)

Phase 1 is a combination of open pit and underground mining over 9 years, producing a total of 1.4 million ounces of gold and 620 million pounds of copper at average cash operating costs of -$255 per ounce of gold due to copper by-product credits. Development capital over the Phase 1 is budgeted at $710 million and includes all mine development and process facilities.

Phase 2 (2028-2042)

Phase 2 involves underground mining for a 15 year period once Phase 1 is complete. Total production during this phase is expected to be 1.7 million ounces of gold and 850 million pounds of copper at average cash operating costs of $165 per ounce of gold due to copper by-product credits. Development capital during Phase 2 is budgeted at approximately $460 million.
Benefits of this updated development plan include:

• An increased feed to the plant, allowing it to run at full capacity (8 Mtpa) for a 14 year period, starting in 2020.
• Higher grades from the underground earlier on in the development.
• A smaller environmental footprint and decreased sustaining capex over the life of mine due to improved filtered tailings approach. A best-practice technology, filtered tailings decreases the amount of storage needed which potentially eliminates the need for a second storage facility.
• Improved project economics through optimized mine and tailings plans.

5-year old Kamariya Shayla Long killed in crash after she was not wearing seat belt and her grandmother, Bernadette Walker, 57, ran off the right side of the road and hit a utility pole in North Carolina

LILLINGTON, North Carolina --

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says a 5-year-old girl has died after a car driven by her grandmother ran off a road and overturned.

The Fayetteville Observer reports the patrol said Kamariya Long of Broadway was pronounced dead at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford. She died on Wednesday.

According to the patrol, the car driven by 57-year-old Bernadette Walker ran off the right side of the road, hit a ditch and overturned, coming to rest against a utility pole.


The patrol said a 12-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl were also in the care. Neither they, Kamariya nor Walker was wearing seat restraints.

Walker and the other children were taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville to be treated for injuries the report said were not life-threatening.


The grandmother has blood on her hands for the death of this little girl.  RIP.
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LILLINGTON, NC — A 5-year-old girl died Wednesday after a car driven by her grandmother ran off Mt. Pisgah Church Road in Harnett County and overturned, the Highway Patrol said.

Kamariya Shayla Long, of Pineland Drive in Broadway, was pronounced dead at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, according to a report filed by Trooper D.E. Edwards.

The wreck happened at 8:24 a.m. about 11 miles west of Lillington.

The driver, Bernadette Walker, 57, also of Pineland Drive, was traveling south in a 2001 Mitsubishi Gallant when it ran off the right side of the road, the report said.

The car hit a ditch, overturned, continued traveling south and came to rest when it hit a utility pole, the report said.

Two other children, ages 12-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, were in the car.

Neither Kamairya nor the 4-year-old were in child restraint seats. The older child and Walker were not wearing seat belts.

Walker and the other children were taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, the report said.

Nancy McCleary 

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Kamariya Shayla Marie Long age 5, of 116 Char-Lin Drive Sanford, NC passed on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at Central Carolina Hospital, Sanford.

She is survived by her parents, Timothy Long and Chasity Petty; her siblings, Jaylen Tysor, Timothy Long Jr. "TJ", Treasure Long, Logan Alston and Maaliyah Morgan; her grandparents, Elsie and Johnny Petty, Joyce McNeill, Charlotte Long and Shurby Long.

Charles E. Gause, a, electrician with CIR Electrical Construction Corp. died inside an electrical closet at Kenmore West High School in Tonawanda, NY

GoFundMe page set up to help family of electrical worker killed in Ken-Ton accident
By Barbara O'Brien 

 Updated September 2, 2017
 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family of a subcontractor who died in an accident while working at Kenmore West High School Wednesday.

Charles E. Gause of Hamburg was working in an electrical closet as part of the district's capital project when the accident occurred.

The closet was off-limits to students and staff, and school was not in session that day. Power in the building was shut off for several hours, and restored later Wednesday, according to Patrick Fanelli, community relations coordinator for the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District.

Gause, 48, was married and the father of three children. Donations to offset the cost of the funeral and living expenses can be made to the GoFundMe page.===========================
Electrical Worker Dies at Kenmore West High School
By Mark Wozniak • 17 hours ago




The Kenmore-Tonawanda school district has announced that a worker in an electrical closet died in an accident before 7:30 Wednesday morning at Kenmore West High School.



Kenmore West High School


At this point the identity of the victim or the subcontractor employing the worker have not been released.

Electrical work was being done as part of the school district's capital project, in an area away from student and staff access.

Teachers had returned to the building Tuesday, but students won't be back until next week.

The Kenmore Tonawanda School District issued the following statement:

"The Ken-Ton School District was deeply saddened to learn that a worker with an electrical sub-contractor passed away Wednesday, August 30 as a result of an accident that took place while electrical work was being conducted in a district building.

The hearts and thoughts of staff are with the worker's family and friends, and our sincerest sympathies are extended to all those affected by this loss.

The district is fully cooperating with the investigation of this matter, and remains committed to ensuring that work on district property is performed safely and in accordance with all applicable workplace standards." 



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TOWN OF TONAWANDA, NY-- A contractor doing work for the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District died while performing work at one of the district's buildings.

The incident happened Wednesday morning while electrical work was being done at Kenmore West High School.

The district says they are cooperating with the investigation. The district did not identify the worker.

They issued this statement:

The hearts and thoughts of staff are with the worker's family and friends, and our sincerest sympathies are extended to all those affected by this loss.

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Electrician killed while working at Kenmore West High School
By Nancy A. Fischer
 August 30, 2017
 

A subcontractor working in an electrical closet at Kenmore West High School died in an accident early Wednesday morning, a school district official said.

The district has not identified the worker or the company for which he worked.

The incident happened prior to 7:30 a.m. as electrical work was being performed as part of the school district's capital project, said Patrick Fanelli, community relations coordinator for the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District.

Teachers returned to the high school on Tuesday, but no students were in the building at the time because they are still on summer break, Fanelli said.


The worker had been doing work in the electrical closet – a central hub for electrical services for the school – which is off-limits to staff and students, he said.

"Our hearts and thoughts of staff are with the worker's family and friends, and our sincerest sympathies are extended to all those affected by this loss," the Ken-Ton district said in a statement. "The district is fully cooperating with the investigation of this matter and remains committed to ensuring that work on district property is performed safely and in accordance with all applicable workplace standards."

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was notified and investigators from the federal agency were on the scene Wednesday morning, according to the district.



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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - An electrical sub-contractor passed away Wednesday after an accident at a Ken-Ton district building.

The contractor was doing "routine" electrical work at Kenmore West High School, part of the district's capital improvement plan, when the accident happened, according to a spokesperson for the district. The man was not an employee at the district.

OSHA is looking into the incident and had compliance inspectors on scene Wednesday, according to a spokesperson. The agency is inspecting CIR Electrical Construction Corp., the sub-contractor working the job at the school.

These type of investigations can take up to six months, according to OSHA.

7 Eyewitness News reached out to CIR Electrical and the worker's union, IBEW Local 41. Both declined to comment.

The district released the statement Wednesday morning:


The district is fully cooperating with the investigation of this matter, and remains committed to ensuring that work on district property is performed safely and in accordance with all applicable workplace standards. 

============

GAUSE, Charles E.

GAUSE - Charles E. Of Hamburg, suddenly August 30, 2017. Loving husband of Christy (nee Wingels); devoted father of Michael, Bailey and Gabrielle Gause; son of Uleda and the late Carlos Gause; brother of Preston (Debbie) and Paul (Linda) Gause; also survived by 10 nephews and 7 nieces. Charles will be greatly missed. Friends are invited to a Memorial Service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 4005 Baker Rd., Orchard Park, Monday at 10 a.m. Visitation at the DONALD M. DEMMERLEY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 21 Pierce Ave., Hamburg, Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Flowers declined. Donations may be made to https://www.
gofundme.com/support-Christys-family. Visit www.demmerleyfuneralhome.com

A Rightway Fasteners employee was injured after becoming pinned in a machine at the plant in the Woodside Industrial Park in Columbus, Indiana.

Worker injured at local plant: Employee freed from machine after incident

By Julie McClure -

August 29, 2017

Columbus, Indiana


A Rightway Fasteners employee was injured after becoming pinned in a machine at the plant.

Columbus firefighters responded to the industrial accident reported at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday at Rightway, 7945 S. International Drive in the Woodside Industrial Park.

The employee was believed to be cleaning bolts in the machine when the accident occurred, Columbus Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Ziegler said.

He was pinned in the machine and then extricated by other Rightway employees before the fire department arrived, Ziegler said.

The employee was treated for cardiac arrest at the scene by firefighters and ambulance personnel and transported to Columbus Regional Hospital, he said.

The employee’s identity and his condition were not available in the hours immediately after the accident, Columbus Fire Department spokesman Capt. Mike Wilson said.

Rightway Fasteners makes parts for the automotive industry, specializing in cold forming, thread rolling, heat treatment and surface treatment of high-torque tension bolts, shafts and pins as well as supplying specialty screws and cold-formed parts to the auto industry.

A call to Rightway seeking information about the accident was not returned Tuesday.

Rightway is Bartholomew County’s 13th largest employer with 339 employees, according to local economic development statistics.

The fire department has responded to two industrial incidents at Righway in the past few years, including two contract workers suffering severe electrical shock when the front-end loader and crane came into contact with a high-voltage power line. The workers, employed by Columbus-based D.L. Industrial Inc., were moving an 18-foot-tall air handling unit from one part of Rightway Fasteners to another when the accident happened in June 2015.

In March 2016, the plant was evacuated after a fire damaged a zinc plating building, although no injuries were reported.

Rightway, with its headquarters in Japan, invested $3.9 million in a new production line in late 2016 and received a tax abatement from the city for the project. Toyota is Rightway’s largest customer, according to the company.

Two Enerfab workers, Kevin Bachner, 34, and John Gorchock, 42, of Pittsburgh, are dead and three others were being treated for injuries after a hydrogen sulfide gas leak at the Bruce Mansfield Power Station in Shippingport, Beaver County

John Gorchock, 42, of Pittsburgh, is dead  after a hydrogen sulfide gas leak at the Bruce Mansfield Power Station in Shippingport, Beaver County

 

Kevin Bachner, 34, of Pittsburgh, dead, H2S poisoning

SHIPPINGPORT, Pa. (KDKA) – Two workers are dead and three others were being treated for injuries after a gas leak early Wednesday morning at the Bruce Mansfield Power Station in Shippingport, Beaver County.

Pennsylvania State Police say troopers and emergency crews were called to the power plant around 1:15 a.m. The plant is owned by FirstEnergy and employs about 350 workers.


According to State Police, the Enerfab workers were doing contract work with Penn Energy at the plant. They were working in a well-type area to remove an elbow joint from a pipe.

Two men were in a pit below, one was on a ladder and the other two were about 20 to 50 feet on a wall above.

When they removed the elbow joint, it released hydrogen sulfide gas.

“The line was not supposed to be charged, obviously. They got to the last bolt to crack it open and when they did so, this nauseous gas… hydrogen sulfide type mixture immediately incapacitates you,” State Police Lt. Eric Hermick said.

Two of the five workers were unable to make it out of the well and died as a result. They have been identified as Kevin Bachner, 34, of Pittsburgh, and John Gorchock, 42, of Pittsburgh.

Three other workers inhaled the gas, but were able to get out of the well. They were transported by helicopter and ambulance to nearby medical facilities.

They have been identified as Mark Wagner, 31, of Pulaski; Thomas Cantwell, 31, of Crafton; and Michael Gorchock, 43, of Pittsburgh.

One was taken to Heritage Valley Hospital in Beaver. The other two were being treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

News of the accident hit especially hard at the Boilermakers Union Hall on Banksville Road. John Gorchock’s wife, Lisa, is on the staff there.

Family friend Anthony Sabat says, “John was a great human being who loved his family. His wife Lisa and three kids were top priority, second to none. John was easy to get along with, funny, happy all the way around.”

As for Bachner, friends say he was about as “Pittsburgh” as you can get. He was a devoted husband and a proud father of two, ages 1 and 3.

His friend Tony Kostelnik says, “He loved his family, he loved all sports. He worked hard for this family and traveled a long ways for some jobs for them. So sad it had to end that way.”

Three members of the Boilermakers crew survived, including Gorchock’s brother, Michael, who is in Allegheny General Hospital along with Wagner, both are listed in stable condition at Allegheny General.

Cantwell was taken to Heritage Valley Beaver, where he was treated and released. Back home in Ingram, Cantwell is resting and not wanting to talk about what happened.

He said, “I really don’t want to think about it, I lost some very good friends today.”

“This plant has a terrific work history. They’re very safety conscious. It’s surprising that something like this happened. It must have been a real unexpected mishap,” Rohn Sambol said.

State police say first responders did all they could to rescue the men that were trapped, but it was too late.

“It’s probably second-worst type of situation to respond to because you want to help somebody that’s in a life-threatening situation. But, you already see that there’s people that are down that already tried to get over to them or that are close to it. That’s heart-wrenching. I compare that to going into a school shooting,” Lt. Hermick said.

FirstEnergy has released the following statement:

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who died in this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those who were injured, and we wish them a quick recovery.”

A FirstEnergy spokeswoman said there was absolutely no danger to other workers in the plant or people living in the surrounding area following the incident.

The Bruce Mansfield Power Station is FirstEnergy’s largest coal-fired power plant. It’s located along the Ohio River, approximately 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

OSHA will also be investigating the incident.


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I wish I could get on here and say it's not true. I wish this was a bad dream. I wish I could hug my best friend again, even for a split second. I wish I didn't have to tell my babies that the absolute best daddy in the entire world isn't here anymore. He was truly my other half my heart and soul.

I am completely numb and speechless about this whole tragedy. Kevin worked day in and day out like a dog to provide the best for us.

Thank you to everyone that had reached out. I will keep everyone updated as soon as arrangements are finalized.

Please keep my boys & the rest of our family in your prayers




 Kerri Bachner and Kevin Bachner


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I would like to give my condolences to the families of Kevin Bachner & John Gorchock. Plus the others who are in critical condition Mark Wagner & Thomas Cantwell & Micheal Gorchock. All who are my brothers in solidarity out of Boilermakers Local 154. A tragic day at Shippingport. Love y'all & I will miss y'all.

Anthony Lucas 


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These are the faces to this morning's accident at FirstEnergy's Bruce Mansfield Power Plant early this morning.

John Gorchock was a father to two little girls. Had countless friends and family who will miss him dearly. Family that's also praying for his older brother, Michael, who a friend tells me is in an Intensive Care Unit today. John Gorchock was 42.

Kevin Bachner was just 34 years old. As his picture shows, he was an avid Pirates fan and also a father to two little boys. Friends say Bachner worked incredibly hard to support his family.

Both men were killed when a pipe they were working on that was thought to have been de-activated spewed hydrogen sulfide gas out. Both men died at the scene.

Please keep their families and friends in your thoughts and prayers tonight, along with the three people who were hurt in this accident.