Workplace deaths decreased in 2011 … or did they?
Preliminary numbers from the federal government show the number of workers who died on the job in 2011 declined from the year before. But the report comes with a big asterisk.
Mining
Lack of safety training led to miner’s death
A report by the U.S Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) says an Alaskan miner died in a blast because of the company’s failure to adequately train its workers.
Mine superintendent charged in Massey mine disaster, could face prison
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against a superintendent of the West Virginia coal mine where an explosion killed 29 miners in 2010. Legal experts who have been watching the case say this means prosecutors are getting closer to potentially bringing charges against top executives who ran Massey Energy.
29 miner deaths ‘entirely preventable’ — root cause is ‘corporate culture’
Federal authorities blamed the Upper Big Branch (UBB) Mine disaster that killed 29 miners on “a workplace culture that valued production over safety,” and said the explosion was “entirely preventable.” Haven’t we heard this before about workplace disasters that claimed multiple lives?
Mine disaster: Hazards hidden, production over safety
An official from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) delivered a stinging indictment of the operators of the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine in West Virginia where 29 miners were killed in an explosion.
OSHA spared budget ax — for now
Through Sept. 30, OSHA’s operations should go on mostly unaffected by the new federal budget compromise. OSHA faces a slight budget reduction, but not the large one called for by House Republicans.
MSHA’s new tactic to issue fines: Watching TV
Usually, a business knows it’s being investigated by OSHA, MSHA, or any other safety agency because the inspector comes to the company’s facility. A recent safety citation shows that’s not always the case.
1 year after death of 29 miners: What’s improved?
One year ago today, 29 miners died in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine in West Virginia, owned by Massey Energy. In the last 12 months, what’s been done to make sure a disaster like UBB never happens again?
Does your safety training have the ‘dread factor’?
It really does matter how safety training is delivered to employees. New research shows the best training contains something called the “dread factor.”
