Quote of the day
"We suspect they are getting tougher. They're trying to save face, of course."
Safety engineer of a large Las Vegas general contractor, about Nevada OSHA's tougher posturing in the wake of a newspaper's recent critical reports
Critical News Reporting Seen as Influencing Nevada OSHA
Some contractors and union officials say Nevada OSHA appears to be getting tougher on construction companies in the wake of a Las Vegas Sun examination of how the agency has investigated construction deaths on the Las Vegas Strip. At least one steel contractor says Nevada OSHA is making an example of it by holding to its initial conclusions regarding the recent death of a safety engineer. By Alexandra Berzon, Las Vegas Sun
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Fed-OSHA Focuses on Teen Safety
According to Fed-OSHA, teenage workers make up a disproportionate percentage of construction deaths in relation to their numbers—mostly due to lack of training. As a result, safety seminars targeted toward the young workforce are popping up as summer job season approaches.
Go to the full story in WIVB-TV (Buffalo) [with video] Go to the full story in the Providence Journal [with photo] [may require registration]
Feds Fine Guam Contractor $135K
Fed-OSHA cites a construction contractor for alleged willful, repeat and serious safety violations at two Guam jobsites. In handing down more than $135,000 in proposed fines, Fed-OSHA’s acting regional administrator in San Francisco notes the “pattern” of safety violations by the employer. Guam Pacific Daily News
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In Developing Bangladesh, Most Factories Lack Safeguards
An NGO report finds that most of Bangladesh’s factory owners are indifferent to the safety of their workers and that, despite safety laws, there is no enforcement. Particularly exposed are workers in textiles, rice mills and steel re-rolling mills. New Nation (Dhaka, Bangladesh)
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Provincial Officials Say Blast Could Have Been Much Worse
Officials investigating the damage from a massive explosion that occurred last week in Nipawin, Sask., when a backhoe may have severed a gas riser pipe from the main gas line, contend that the blast could have been even more destructive. A father and son on a construction crew that remained near the site were killed in the explosion. By James Wood, Saskatoon StarPhoenix via Regina Leader-Post [with photo] Go to the Full Story…
Asbestos Results in Complaints, Fines to Sunshine State Contractor
An investigation into improper handling of asbestos pipe at a Bonita, Fla., construction site results in a $6,500 fine by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection against a contractor. Employees also complained to Fed-OSHA. By Charlie Whitehead, Naples Daily News
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Victims of Mountain State Rig Collapse Named
Authorities identify the two workers killed in a West Virginia gas well collapse. By Gary Mallonee, The Inter-Mountain (Elkins, W.V.)
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Blast Injures Texas Oil Rig Worker
A worker is injured in an explosion at an oil rig near Denton, Texas, while hooking up a supply pump. WFAA-TV (Dallas – Fort Worth) [with video] [may require registration] Go to the Full Story…
Maryland Steelworker Burned in Chemical Explosion
A young contract worker suffers serious burns in a chemical explosion at a Sparrows Point, Md., steel facility. The worker was burned by a burst of molten slag that he reportedly dumped into a pit of water. By Jaime Malarkey, Examiner (San Francisco)
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