‘I got bit by a spider at work: Pay me comp’
Apparently, there’s no end to the variety of injuries employees can suffer on the job, for which they want to get workers’ comp benefits. Today’s injury: a spider bite.
Animals
17-year-old killed in forklift accident
OSHA is investigating an incident in Omaha, NE, in which a 17-year-old boy died after a forklift he was operating fell on top of him.
2 dead, 17 injured in building collapse and fire
A fatal building collapse and fire in Omaha, NE, poses a safety question: What would your workers do during an emergency if the lights went out, sending them into pitch darkness? Would they be able to escape?
5,190 worker deaths in 2016, highest since 2008
More U.S. workers were killed on the job in 2016 than in any of the previous seven years.
Add another solvent to list with potential hazards
Recently, industry has increased the use of the solvent 1-bromopropane (1-BP) as a substitute for other banned substances. Now, scientists are looking into potential problems with 1-BP.
Bear spray discharges in Amazon warehouse, dozens of worker sickened
A word to the wise: The effects bear pepper spray have on the ursus animal family are the same for humans. Some workers at an Amazon warehouse found that out the hard way.
Bill would ban photos/videos of hazards on farms and at industrial facilities
A bill in the Indiana legislature would make it illegal to photograph or record video of a workplace hazard at a farm or industrial operation and use the pictures to defame or harm the business. What effect might this have on occupational safety and health?
Bizarre accident: OSHA investigates fatal killer whale attack
An OSHA investigation will determine whether any safety protocols were broken in connection with the drowning of a trainer by a killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando.
Bizarre accidents: Injured by cow; Gunslinger shot with a blank
Two recent incidents from our Bizarre Accidents File carry some real-life lessons for those involved. One concerns a charging 1,200-pound cow, the other an actor playing a gunslinger who was injured when he was “shot” with a blank.
Can OSHA enforce hazard abatement even during appeal?
Last summer, a judge affirmed fines and an abatement order against SeaWorld Orlando in connection with the drowning death of a trainer who was pulled underwater by a killer whale. SeaWorld appealed and in the meantime didn’t comply with the abatement order. Now a judge has weighed in again.
Can worker sue company for on-the-job spider bite?
An employee was bit by a spider at a construction site and suffered an infection. He didn’t sue his employer, but he did sue the owners of the site for negligence. Can the property owner be held liable for the spider bite?
Chimp attack won’t be covered by workers’ comp
A pet chimpanzee attacked an employee who had been summoned to her boss’ house. The worker sued her employer who countered that workers’ comp should cover this incident. Now, there appears to be a settlement in this case.
Chimpanzee sanctuary to pay $12K in OSHA fines: Employees’ fingers bitten off
A nonprofit animal sanctuary in Tumalo, OR, agreed to pay $12,520 in fines to Oregon OSHA, in connection with incidents in which employees suffered serious injuries while working with chimpanzees. But the state isn’t done looking into the sanctuary.
City to pay $26M because it didn’t let workers nap on their meal breaks
A tired worker is a potentially unsafe worker. So, you’d think it’d be more important to have well rested employees than to be concerned about images of workers sleeping during their meal breaks.
Company pays maximum OSHA fine in worker’s death
Tyson Foods has agreed to pay the maximum penalty for a willful violation of an OSHA standard resulting in the death of an employee.
Court says SeaWorld must follow order from OSHA
A federal appeals court has ruled SeaWorld must provide more protection for trainers working with killer whales at its Orlando park, as ordered by OSHA.
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