Courts Find That Some Employers Are Risking the Safety of Their Employees

It appears that the Courts in Florida have finally recognized that some employers are risking the safety and even the lives of their workers by failing to meet the OSHA standards allowing workers to remove safety guards and failing to properly train workers in the safe way to use dangerous tools and equipment. It is about time! The employers in Florida have been allowed to jeopardize the lives and limbs of their workers without accountability.

 

            In the latest such case the Court found that a worker could sue his employer when his arm was crushed in a punch press machine when the guard was removed and he was instructed to dislodge a piece of metal in the press while it was still on.

Construction Worker Crushed to Death in El Paso

A 26-year-old employee of Noe Tapia’s Concrete in El Paso, Texas was killed Jan. 22 when crushed by a bull dozer. “Massive internal injuries” was the cause of death, according to El Paso Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Mario Hernandez said.

Noe Tapia, owner of the concrete firm which employed the deceased, said “"We don't know what happened," he said. The man had worked for Tapia for six months. Tapia had been subcontracted by the general contractor, C.F. Jordan, which issued this statement: "We are currently conducting our own investigation.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time."

The fire department’s Hernandez added, "He was involved in some kind of industrial accident." Firefighters performed CPR on the man who later was pronounced dead at Thomason Hospital.

Police Department spokesman Officer Chris Mears said no charges were yet filed. "We're still looking into how he died," he said.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials were en route to the construction site to conduct an investigation.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_8040102

Worker Falls to his Death from Scaffolding

<p>A masonry worker fell 40-feet to his death from scaffolding on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, according to Mlive.com.</p>

<p>The 32-year-old man was working at the university’s art museum when the accident occurred. The museum is closed to the public while a $35 million wing is under construction.</p>

<p>University officials did not release his name, but Pinckney Village President Rebecca Foster identified the deceased as Leo Felty, the husband of Pinckney Village Clerk Amy Felty. University police and staff from its environmental health and safety office responded to the scene, where the death was ruled an accident.</p>

Notice of Claim Filed in Fatal Manhattan Construction Accident

The first lawsuit is in the works from the March 15 New York City construction crane accident that killed seven people, demolished a home and damaged nearby office buildings in Manhattan.

 

Christopher Canzona, brother of Clifford Canzona, is suing the city for $30M for his sibling’s wrongful death, according to the Associated Press. Canzona was employed by Rapetti Rigging Service.

 

Attorney Alan B. Leibowitz filed a request in Manhattan's state Supreme Court for an order requesting access to documents relevant to the fatal accident.

 

Clifford Canzona was working on the site of a 46-story condominium when the crane toppled and caused Canzona and other construction workers to fall 18 stories to the ground. Canzona was found dead three days later under rubble and debris, his brother’s official notice of claim stipulates. The notice also said the accident was "caused, in part, by the negligence of the city" and its Department of Buildings for failing to inspect the construction site properly and in "ignoring obvious defects" in how the tower was erected,” according to Newsday.com.

 

Last week, a city construction site inspector was arrested after it was found he lied about inspecting the crane in question 11 days before the accident.

New York City Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said the city "will rely upon the findings of our forensic investigation to explore ways in which tragedies like this can be prevented," according to the New York Daily News.

 

Newsday reported the city made an immediate change in protocol involving crane operation. From now on, a buildings inspector has to be on site before a crane can be lowered or raised during construction.

 

 

Long but Required Reading for any Construction Worker

Following the link below will lead you to OSHA's rules and regulations regarding Safety and Health on construction sites.

Yes, it's long, and yes you might have to read it a few times. But knowing what is allowed and what is not on a construction site may help prevent an injury or even save a life.

Read it when you can.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_part_number=1926&p_toc_level=1

Maryland has the right idea

It didn't take long for Maryland to wise up after a fatal construction crane accident. Three months after a fatal crane accident in Annapolis, the state government is trying to enact some of the strictest training and licensing requirements for crane operators.

With the epidmic of crane accidents that have occurred this summer, it's refreshing to see someone taking action. Since we've had our share of crane accidents on Florida construction sites, let's hope the government in Talahassee does the right thing.

Workplace Safety Terms

By following this link:

http://www.safetyservicescompany.com/blog/common-workplace-safety-terms-part-1

you can see a site which will is basically a glossary of some of the workplace safety terms that are commonly used by OSHA personnel.