40 incidents & 0 updates (5/19/13)

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returning from 2007	since 2004	since 2013	since 2008

2013 Fatality Tracker

Electrical

(2012 = 68)

(2011 = 81)

(2010 = 90)

(2009 = 100)

Forklift/Manlift

(2012 = 52)

(2011 = 84)

(2010 = 110)

(2009 = 88)

Mining*

(2012 = 92*)

(2011 = 248)

(2010 = 480)

(2009 = 586)

*no longer includes China accidents

Explosions

(2012 = 241)

(2011 = 218)

(2010 = 246)

(2009 = 302)

Cranes

(2012 = 52)

(2011 = 50)

(2010 = 50)

(2009 = 82)

Falls

(2012 = 99)

(2011 = 123)

(2010 = 139)

(2009 = 172)

(2008 = 250)

Work Zone

(2012 = 62)

(2011 = 54)

(2010 = 50)

(2009 = 69)
(2008 = 69)

Trenching

(2012 = 44)

(2011 = 36)

(2010 = 54)

(2009 = 48)
(2008 = 90)

LOTO/Guards

(2012 = 44)

(2011 = 64)

(2010 = 51)

(2009 = 68)
(2008 = 66)

Confined Space

(2012 = 54)

(2011 = 62)

(2010 = 112)

(2009 = 73)
(2008 =137)

The numbers above are obtained from the news sources used to compile the Incident Alerts. They are NOT official numbers published by any government agency. They are derived SOLELY from my search engine search strings.

INDUSTRIAL

MINE FATALITIES Freeport mine collapse toll climbs to nine (the death toll from a mine collapse has risen to nine as rescuers retrieved the bodies of four more workers – there are still nineteen other workers missing or feared dead – ten injured workers were saved – the underground training facility mine collapsed when 38 workers were training in a classroom – rescuers found three bodies overnight under tonnes of dirt and rock – a fourth worker’s body was found late Sunday)

SANITATION FATALITY Falling tree limb kills Moundsville city worker, accident investigated (authorities are investigating the death of a city sanitation worker who was hit by a falling tree limb – a garbage truck brushed the limb, causing it to break loose and hit the worker – he suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at an area hospital – the limb had been damaged by recent storms)

SUPER SACK STRAP FAILS Investigations underway after worker injured at Sauget factory (worker is in the hospital and a company is investigating after a workplace accident – workers were lifting a bag of processed powdered chemicals – the bag, which weighed 3,675 pounds, was hoisted by several straps designed to bear the load – during the operation, one of the straps failed, causing the bag to drop – a worker’s arm and head were wedged underneath the bag while others worked to free him – employee was taken to a Hospital with broken ribs and scrapes, but remarkably did not suffer any serious injuries)

Longshore worker taken to hospital after injury at Port of Tacoma (a longshore worker was injured when a bar he was using to remove lashings from containers on a ship hit him in the eye and cheek – he was taken to a Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening – the injury is the fourth to a longshore worker at the port in recent months)

CRANE Steel workers stable following crane accident in Wilmington (two steel workers are in stable condition following a crane accident – a mechanical failure on a crane caused a crane block weighing approximately 2,300 pounds to fall about 30 feet and brush the 2 workers on its way down – the workers, men ages 43 and 54, were working on a platform assembling a crane tower and were about 40 feet off the ground when the accident occurred – they were able to extricate themselves from the platform and climb down to the ground)

ELECTRICAL BURNS Officials: Sun City West worker suffers electricity burn (a worker, 45, suffered serious burn injuries when he came in contact with electricity – he was changing a light assembly when he came in contact with electricity – worker received severe burns and his blood pressure dropped – he was transported by air to the burn center to an area hospital)

HAZARDOUS WASTE FLASH FIRE Amgen hazmat fire burns worker in South San Francisco (a worker was seriously burned in a fire at biotech firm while he was collecting hazardous waste – he was involved in a quick, hot “flash fire,” around 12:15 p.m. that resulted in him being rushed to the burn unit – he works for waste disposal and cleanup company and was in the hazardous waste collection room of the facility when the fire happened – the worker’s burns were “significant” – workers were evacuated during the incident, but the building didn’t catch fire and no one else was hurt)

FATAL MINE EXPLOSION One miner killed in mine explosion (a worker, 47, was killed at a coal mine explosion – he was killed by the explosion that took place at noon at a coal mine – another 15 workers escaped the blast)

FATAL EXPLOSION Dombivli chemical factory explosion kills worker (3 suffer burn injuries; firemen blame old distillation unit for mishap – a worker was charred to death and three others sustained serious burn injuries after an explosion took place at a chemical factory – the blast took place in the distillation unit at around 6am – there were four-five workers in the dye factory when the incident took place)

FATAL CYLINDER EXPLOSION Worker killed in Kanpur as oxygen cylinder explodes (a worker, 30, was killed when an oxygen cylinder exploded – two other laborers, working at the unit, however, escaped unhurt – police suspect the cylinder explosion was due to snag in the safety valve of the cylinder)

FATAL WELDING EXPLOSION Welder dead in fire, explosion at Vegas auto shop (one worker is dead after an explosion and fire at a truck repair business at about 11:15 a.m. – crews found one employee dead and the roof blown off the building – the employee had been welding in a service bay when vapor or fuel from a tanker ignited – company described the victim as an experienced welder who worked part-time at the company – no other injuries were reported)

HOTWORK on DRUM EXPLOSION Explosion Injures One at Durham School Services (a worker suffered burn injuries – the man was welding a barrel, which still contained a combustible substance – the top of the barrel exploded in the man’s face, giving him serious burn injuries – there was a small fire, which was quickly extinguished)

ACETYLENE CYLINDER PLANT EXPLOSIONS Highly flammable gas acetylene explodes at W.Va. distributor; 2 workers injured (two workers were injured when highly flammable gas used in welding exploded at an industrial site at about 3:20 p.m. – the explosion involved about 50 tanks of acetylene that were waiting to be refilled – what caused the tanks to explode wasn’t known – four cylinders continued to burn and that crews were letting them “burn out” – they were dousing other tanks with water to keep them from exploding – the tanks were being stored in a bay behind the facility – after the first tank exploded, “it was like a chain reaction” with fireballs shooting 100 to 150 feet in the air – a nearby business was evacuated, and windows were shattered in the back of the plant)

ELECTROCUTION Man electrocuted at St. Louis Co. plant (a worker is dead after being electrocuted at a manufacturing plant – an employee arrived shortly after 4 a.m. and found the worker, 55, on the ground – he was taken by ambulance to a hospital and pronounced dead – he was found next to an electrical box and burnt strands of hair were found on one of the coils)

HOTWORK Workers set off tire fire at warehouse (a warehouse tire fire sent smoke into the air but caused no injuries – workers were welding a tire shredder but forgot to remove tires from under the machine, which sparked the fire just after 10 a.m. – the fire was limited to a small pile of tires but caused significant damage to the shredder – fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze within about 10 minutes by using foam)

REFINERY FIRE Fire in HPCL refinery, no casualties reported (fire broke out in a refinery in one of the crude distillation units – it was brought under control and extinguished by early the next morning – there were no casualties or injuries)

ELECTRICAL 4 contractors injured in accident a BASF plant (four contractors doing routine maintenance were injured – the workers, certified electricians, received first- and second-degree burns that were not life-threatening after an “electrical incident” about 11 a.m. – the electricians were working on the plant’s power distribution system, which is not part of any specific unit but serves the entire 700-acre complex)

TANK LEAK Tank ruptures, leaks chemical into southeast Houston gully (there was a chemical leak – investigators tracked the chemical back to a biodiesel company – one of their tanks had ruptured and was leaking the chemical into the water – the company is bringing in equipment to contain the chemical and to clean it up – the container could hold up to approximately 20,000 to 30,000 gallons – it is not yet clear why the tank ruptured)

NITROBENZENE Toxic chemical cloud drifts over Frankfurt (a cloud of nitrobenzene escaped after an accident at a chemical plant – the leak was only stopped after half an hour – measurements outside the park suggested there were no immediate health risks – the cloud drifted over districts, where residents were told to stay at home and keep doors and windows shut during the afternoon – police also closed off the centre and shut down a local railway station – the all-clear was given in the early evening – the cause of the accident and the exact quantity of the chemical released were not initially revealed)

CONSTRUCTION

FALLING BEAM FATALITY Death of construction worker hit by falling beam ruled accident (the death of a construction worker, 57, struck by a falling beam has been ruled an accident – he died from multiple injuries after he was hit by the 16-foot, 70-pound beam at the construction site)

FALL Worker transported to hospital after fall at Peoria construction site (a construction worker, in his early 40s, fell between 7 and 15 feet – he was transported to a hospital in stable condition)

DEMO FATALITY Worker killed in Scottsdale construction accident (a construction accident has claimed the life of a worker, 49, when he was struck by a tree – the accident occurred at a former hotel site as debris was being removed)

BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA FATALITY CAFB Worker Dies from Injuries (a contract worker, 24, involved in an accident at an Air Force Base has died from his injuries – he was working on a runway project on the base when he was injured – it appears he died from blunt force trauma – workers are tearing up and rebuilding almost the entire center runway at the base)

CRANE FATALITY Worker killed by falling steel beam (a construction worker, 53, died after being struck by a large steel beam at about 3:45 pm – emergency services arrived to find the man on the ground floor, unconscious and bleeding after being struck in the head by a steel beam – an on-site worker and ambulance staff tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene at about 4.05pm – it is understood the man suffered severe head injuries from the heavy beam which was being prepared to be put into place by a lifting machine)

SCISSOR LIFT Workers hurt in lift accident at Portsmouth Middle School (two workers suffered non-life threatening injuries in an accident at the renovation and reconstruction project – the construction workers were moving drywall when a lift they were standing on apparently developed a mechanical failure at about 11:16 a.m. – they were then struck by pieces of drywall – they were using a hydraulic scissor-jack type of scaffolding to bring materials up to the building, and for some reason something failed causing the jack to come down, and the load to shift – the two men both suffered injuries to their lower extremities – both were conscious and alert at the scene)

FORKLIFT FATALITY Construction worker killed in industrial accident identified (a construction worker, 38, has been killed in an industrial accident – he died at the scene after a forklift he was operating flipped over and pinned him – the forklift had tipped over, almost upside down, into a trench, landing on top of the worker)

TRENCH FATALITIES Two Indians buried alive in sand collapse accident in UAE (two workers, 35 and 28, were buried alive in the trench of a sewage system project in a sand collapse accident)

SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSE Two hurt in Federal Building accident (two contract workers were injured after falling about 15 feet from scaffolding just before 3:30 p.m. – two workers were injured, but officials do not know to what level – the men were contract workers involved in several renovation projects at the building – the men fell into an outside concrete hole they had been walking over on the metal scaffolding – the men were injured when the steel fell on top of them after buckling – the men were pouring the concrete for a new pad for the generator in the basement of the building)

FATAL EXPLOSION Construction accident kills two north of Beirut (two construction workers were killed and several others wounded when an explosion rocked a construction site – the explosion appeared to have been an accident involving a diesel fuel tank)

Workers injured at site of new library (two construction workers were injured during an industrial accident around 2 p.m. – firefighters found the workers, who were conscious and alert – the two were working on a steel support plate for a doorway when it fell – the plate weighed about 700 pounds – neither worker suffered life-threatening injuries)

FALL Worker falls from roof at Merrimack College (a worker, 22, fell 18 to 20 feet from a roof at a College – he was transported to a Hospital at 4:24 p.m. – while it could not be definitely established last night if the man was working on a roof, there is a great deal of construction activity at the college, which is building dormitories for an increasing number of students and expanding the Athletic Center)

FALL from SCAFFOLDING Construction Worker Injured After Fall At Steven Tyler’s House (a construction worker, 30, fell from a 15-foot high scaffolding – the man is currently in serious condition)

FATAL FALL through SKYLIGHT Worker falls to death (a worker, 43, fell through a roof skylight to his death at at 11 a.m. after falling 30 feet – emergency responders reported they found the victim has passed away due to his injuries from the fall – he had been working for a contractor on the roof of the facility and was taking measurements and pictures of the work area on the roof – it appears the victim slipped and fell backwards, breaking through the skylight and falling the 30 feet to the foundry floor)

FALL Man Injured While Working On Busway (a construction worker was injured when he fell about 10 feet and hit his head – he was working on the busway about 7 a.m.)

FORKLIFT FATALITY MURRIETA: Riverside man killed in forklift accident at work (a man, 38, was killed when his forklift overturned and trapped him underneath while working on a construction site – he was ejected from the forklift and pinned when the machine flipped over – the worker was already dead when firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after 6:30 a.m., despite efforts by his co-workers to try to save him – he was part of a crew working on a flood control project)

MISCELLANEOUS

BURN BARREL Minden fire causes $100,000 in damage at company (a fire caused more than $100,000 in damage – the fire started about 4:30 p.m. – it took 45 firefighters four hours to put out the fire, but it was under control within an hour – more than 1,000 pallets were damaged in the fire, as were two outbuildings and a Quonset – a burn barrel without a proper covering caused the fire, and the owner was cited)

HOTWORK Fire breaks out on large boat near Fisherman’s Terminal (investigators are blaming a welding accident for sparking a fire aboard a 100-foot fishing boat – a crew member was using a welding torch below deck near the ship’s stern when he accidentally ignited a fuel line just after 6 p.m. – crew members were able to seal off the area and get above deck, and firefighters arrived moments later and flooded the area – a vacuum truck then sucked out all the water and fuel – none of the ship’s eight crew members were injured in the fire – it’s unclear how much damage was done to the ship)

What’s New @ SAFTENG.net

Compliance Tip: HAZCOM Labeling (Photo)

1910.144 Safety color code for marking physical hazards

2013 Video of the Week #20 (Bridge… we don’t need no stinking bridge!)

2013 Photo of the Week #20 (Another bit of Safety irony)

Boiler & Pressure Vessel accidents by year (from NBIC)

What differentiates a GREAT PSM/RMP audit from a “so-so” audit?

Large rolloff type TRASH COMPACTORS are PRCS’s

House Dems Ask GAO to Examine Oversight Gaps at West, TX & Similar Facilities Nationwide

OSHA cites industrial cleaning contractor after worker dies while cleaning storage tank at a chemical manufacturer

EPA RMP citations @ Ethanol Plant – Startup w/o RMP in place ($30K)

EPA RMP citations @ Food Warehouse ($1,800)