Workplace Safety & Procedures

[CraKaJaX]

Being involved in the power industry, this story hit way too close and I had to post about it. I believe it's the same for most of the utility business. Taking shortcuts, listening to the "higher up" even though you know it may be wrong, saving time, doing it quicker .... hearing things like "We need this unit back ASAP!~" So you do whatever the hell you can to wire it in, weld that piece back on, make it fit, make it work. My company spends millions upon millions of dollars in safety a year. We have procedures for EVERYTHING. It goes so far as a procedure for "Bird Dropping Mitigation". No matter what, accidents happen. We are all human. However, there are some that can easily be avoided. This was one of those accidents.

We just had speaker Brad Livingston come in and give his speech. I will not regurgitate his story, but rather just link it. I'd categorize it under 'unbelievable' or 'miracle' .... mostly the latter. Sitting there listening to this guy tell his story was just TOO familiar sounding. And seeing him in the flesh made it that much worse (but really, better). The scars, his movement, his speech .... all from something that could have been avoided. You try to save 3 seconds to satisfy some asshole at work, and you pay for it for the rest of your life ... if it's not taken from you right then and there.

Brad's Story & Personal Site:
http://ehstoday.com/industrial-hygiene/human-fireball-story-brad-livingston
http://www.bradlivingston.com/

Has anyone had these close-calls at work? Anything where you know you're right, but do it the wrong way regardless because of some idiot?

 

[Ns1]

I once rushed the cover letter for a TPS report and gave myself a papercut. Fucking Bill, hate that guy to this day.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I once rushed the cover letter for a TPS report and gave myself a papercut. Fucking Bill, hate that guy to this day.

God damn paper pushers.

 

[IronWing]

I was working on a hazwaste landfill project. A water truck driver rolled his truck on the cap because he got careless turning on the slope. Pissed me off. The point of the project was to reduce 1:10,000 health risks to 1:1,000,000 health risks. Rolling a truck has a 1:1 health risk.

 

[Stopsignhank]

I find this interesting because I am an industrial safety guy. I am the idiot that makes procedures for everything. I then have to get people to try and follow those procedures. I have realized that my job is a constant battle. Including with the maintenance department when I try to implement something new. It is extremely frustrating. This guys accident is similar to an Arc flash accident. Trying to get them to wear their Arc flash clothing is no fun at all. Even though we had a small arc flash here.

The real problem with trying to do things the right way all the time is that you never know what you prevent. How do you know if you just saved someones finger because you told them to unplug something they are working on? They just grumble at me and hope I leave soon. Look at it this way, when you guys are working on some hardware, do you unplug the machine? Technically you should according to OSHA, or is that just too much of a problem to do because you have never had a problem before? It only takes once.........

I will now get off my soapbox.

 

[CraKaJaX]

There's some stuff that was not mentioned in the story I linked. Most notably, a shift supervisor swinging by and knowing that this job was not on the daily tasks.... but letting it happen anyway because it needed to be done. Apparently the guy found out that this accident happened, and in turn he couldn't deal with what he had caused. Turned into a massive druggie and alcoholic and actually died. Pretty crazy.

For you being in safety, this is just something that you simply can't write a procedure for. Human negligence just can't be stopped. The most notable thing I can think of regarding this is texting while driving. It started off as a brief fine, now it's upwards of $4-500 and points on your license. If the fine was $5k, $7k, $10k, jail time .... people would still do it. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in the US, yet people still do all this stuff. Why? You can't answer that question. It won't ever be answered and I don't think it will ever be stopped. Unfortunately some people pay a higher price than others.

 

[PowerEngineer]

My experience is similar to Stopsignhank.

Serious accidents like the one posted by the OP usually require an alignment of several unfortunate decisions and/or actions that function as a "key" to unlock the disaster. In almost all cases, one of these decisions or actions involve a "short cut" that someone takes in order to speed things up. These generally aren't directed from above, but are made by the very people that are endangered by them.

As an example, electrical line men working on distribution lines are supposed to install "personal grounds" at their work site to protect themselves against the chance that the deenergized equipment they are working on might be accidentally reenergized. It is surprising how often field crews will decide to skip this step and work without "personal grounds". The rationale seems to be that the grounds take too long to install and remove, so let's just quickly get the work done and move on. That works most of the time...

 

[LevelSea]

A guy got struck by lightning a few weeks ago. Before that, ammonium perchlorate.

 

[Squisher]

Had a coworker die, because management didn't want to shut down a machine and fix the electrical issue. Three days before we had all heard a noise coming from this machine that had come back online after overhaul. A buddy of mine discovered that the brake on the press didn't automatically disengage when the motor start button was pushed. Management decided to keep running the machine because it could run fine if someone pushed the brake off button manually. 3 days later, someone got put on this press that never ran it, the information about the brake was never told to him. After running for 1/2 an hour the 60 hp motor blew up and took the top of my coworkers head off. Was that the cause, who is to know for sure, but motors are not meant to run with the press brake on. When I talked to the coworker's cousin 2 years later she and her family were never told about the brake issue.

 

[Stopsignhank]

CJ,
I have lots to say, but don't want to threadjack. One major thing that I fight is the attitude that "accidents happen" I have a poster in my shop that says "Accidents don't happen, they are caused".

The accident that Brad was involved in could have been prevented by a "Hot work permit" one of the items on the permit would have been for them to check the level of the liquid in the tanks before they weld. I notice that his accident was in 1991. Things have changed an incredible amount in safety since then.

 

[quikah]

I had a management internship at an Aluminum foundry. Was an interesting experience. One of the big problems we had was the guys on the casting lines disabling the safeties so they could save a few seconds on each piece (they would drop the inserts in the mold then turn a nob to close it instead of using the double buttons you needed both hands for). Didn't take long for someone to lose a hand while I was there. Even after that incident a lot of the guys were bypassing the safety system.

 

[Imp]

Used to be a highway worker. I figured it out and how to keep myself safe after the first few months.

Fast forward a year or two and I get placed with a bunch of oldies about to retire, or others in their 40s -- all in "superior" positions than me. Fucking assholes almost got me killed time and time again, and one even gave me shit for being "unsafe."

 

[bruceb]

Never had an issue my while in telecommunications, but I do read Electrical Construction and Maintenance when it comes out each month (free subs) .. It has many stories about idiotic accidents that all could have been prevented, as well as showing a whole slew of what idiot installed something the wrong way, completely against NEC code and proper workmanship procedures. First rule is "always do it safely" ... After all, it is your life on the line. The boss can go to hell for all I would care. My safety comes first.

 

[herm0016]

I work in the oil industry, certified to handle chemical and electronic radioactive sources, pressures up to 15000 psi and explosives of several classes onshore, offshore and in several countries/states with their own licenses and training. Also, marine style Helo escape training where you get strapped into a helicopter body and dropped in a pool a bunch of times upside down, sideways, blindfolded, in a dry suit, etc. and am cert to work in H2S environments under scba.

I doubt i could count the number of hrs I have spent in training.

There are no Accidents and I have not seen anything go wrong without several "control points" being missed/skipped and multiple people making bad decisions that go against procedures/ local work methods.

ex: don't dislodge ice from the brakes of a semi-truck while it's in neutral.

everyone should read about Piper alpha and how permit to work process can in fact prevent catastrophes.

 

[CraKaJaX]

My experience is similar to Stopsignhank.

Serious accidents like the one posted by the OP usually require an alignment of several unfortunate decisions and/or actions that function as a "key" to unlock the disaster. In almost all cases, one of these decisions or actions involve a "short cut" that someone takes in order to speed things up. These generally aren't directed from above, but are made by the very people that are endangered by them.

As an example, electrical line men working on distribution lines are supposed to install "personal grounds" at their work site to protect themselves against the chance that the deenergized equipment they are working on might be accidentally reenergized. It is surprising how often field crews will decide to skip this step and work without "personal grounds". The rationale seems to be that the grounds take too long to install and remove, so let's just quickly get the work done and move on. That works most of the time...

All too familiar with this. I moved from T&D to Generation about three years ago (which is where I currently am). I can say the field crews generally worked pretty safely. It blows my mind for the few that bypass these very necessary steps that the company will provide you EVERYTHING to be safe - yet they just refuse to use some of it. "Hey man, you should grab your gloves before you do that ..." "Nah. They're back in the truck. This will be quick anyway." Bang.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

One of the issues regarding safety in the workplace is too little discussion about the dangers and situations to be avoided and too much mind numbing rote memorization of company policy designed by risk management to avoid litigation.

 

[Artorias]

Had a coworker die, because management didn't want to shut down a machine and fix the electrical issue. Three days before we had all heard a noise coming from this machine that had come back online after overhaul. A buddy of mine discovered that the brake on the press didn't automatically disengage when the motor start button was pushed. Management decided to keep running the machine because it could run fine if someone pushed the brake off button manually. 3 days later, someone got put on this press that never ran it, the information about the brake was never told to him. After running for 1/2 an hour the 60 hp motor blew up and took the top of my coworkers head off. Was that the cause, who is to know for sure, but motors are not meant to run with the press brake on. When I talked to the coworker's cousin 2 years later she and her family were never told about the brake issue.

That's sad and disturbing. Did the family sue and get compensation?

 

[Ns1]

how many fails lined up for this to happen?

On Oct. 11, 2012, Jose Melena, 62, entered a 35-foot oven at the company’s Santa Fe Springs plant to make a repair inside the machine, which is used to sterilize thousands of cans of tuna at a time.

Unaware that Melena was inside the oven, other plant workers loaded several carts that altogether held about 12,000 pounds of tuna, shut the door and turned on the oven, prosecutors said.

Temperatures peaked at around 270 degrees, and Melena cooked to death, prosecutors said. His charred remains were found by another plant worker.

 

[CraKaJaX]

how many fails lined up for this to happen?

Yea, there's a lot of things you would never think of happening ... and then they do, with a fatality to top it off.

OSHA Recordable's involving fatalities, Oct 2015 - Present:

https://www.osha.gov/dep/fatcat/dep_fatcat.html

The grain industry has a huge number of fatalities believe it or not. I can think of better ways to go besides being crushed by thousands of pounds of grain ..... or being cooked to death in a tuna oven. I'll take the six extra seconds and double check what I'm actually about to do if I even question something for a second.

 

[Ns1]

The grain industry has a huge number of fatalities believe it or not.

Isn't falling into a grain pit the equivalent of falling into this?

//edit

Worker cleaning out grain bin fatally engulfed by soy beans.

 

[Ns1]

https://www.osha.gov/dep/fatcat/dep_fatcat.html

holy fuckballs

Worker asphyxiated inside vertical pipe.
Worker asphyxiated while working in silo.
Worker at car wash struck and killed by vehicle.
Worker caught and fatally crushed between pick-up truck and semi tractor trailer.
Worker caught and killed by spinning steel rebar.
Worker changing oil on truck killed when vehicle lunged forward.
Worker cleaning out grain bin fatally engulfed by soy beans.
Worker cleaning silo fatally engulfed in cement.
Worker cleaning window killed in fall.
Worker clearing brush and ivy electrocuted after contacting power line.
Worker clearing power lines from tree killed in fall from bucket lift.
Worker conducting food prep killed in fall.
Worker covering underground tank killed when excavation collapsed.
Worker crushed by falling concrete form.
Worker crushed by tree trunk.
Worker cutting bomb killed when primer exploded.
Worker cutting telephone lines killed in fall from ladder placed on bed of pick-up truck.
Worker delivering mail killed when tree fell on vehicle.
Worker delivering pizza fatally stabbed during robbery.
Worker died after becoming caught in pumping unit.
Worker died after being caught in pin setting equipment.
Worker died after being caught in rotating drive shaft of concrete pump truck.
Worker died after being dragged by
Worker died after being ejected from ATV.
Worker died after being exposed to asbestos during abatement activities.
Worker died after being overcome by paint fumes.
Worker died after being pulled into seeder/spreader.
Worker died after entering gasoline fuel sump.
Worker died after falling and striking head on brick wall.
Worker died after falling and striking head.
Worker died after falling from ladder onto electrical junction box.
Worker died after falling into silo with furnace dust.
Worker died after falling on showroom floor.
Worker died after slipping and striking head.
Worker died after slipping on ice.
Worker died after slipping on wet floor.
Worker died after sustaining acid burn from pipes.
Worker died from atmospheric exposure to tank battery.
Worker died from burns after contacting energized cables in underground vault.
Worker died from burns caused by scalding water.
Worker died from burns suffered in diesel pipeline explosion.
Worker died from carbon monoxide asphyxiation after falling into pump well.
Worker died from chainsaw injury.
Worker died from heat exposure after first day of job on waste collection truck.
Worker died from heat stress-related illness.
Worker died from heat stroke while performing landscaping duties.
Worker died from heatstroke during training exercise.
Worker died from hydrogen cyanide exposure.
Worker died from hydrogen sulfide exposure.
Worker died from MRSA infection contracted from nursing home equipment.
Worker died from overexposure to heat in grape field.
Worker died from stress-induced asthma attack after being injured by extrusion machine.
Worker died of heatstroke while hiking.
Worker died of respiratory failure after leaving scaling room.
Worker directing trucks at loading bay struck and killed by vehicle.
Worker driving a front-end loader in sand and gravel pit killed when wall collapsed.
Worker driving company truck killed in motor vehicle collision.
Worker driving semi truck killed in vehicle collision.
Worker driving tanker truck killed in vehicle collision.
Worker driving tractor killed in collision with truck.
Worker driving tractor trailer killed in collision.
Worker drowned afer falling into waste water.
Worker drowned after becoming pinned under wheel of tractor in irrigation canal.
Worker drowned after falling from boat.
Worker drowned after falling into swimming pool.
Worker drowned after falling into waterfilled excavation.
Worker drowned in bottom of excavation.
Worker drowned in pond.
Worker drowned in pool.
Worker drowned in swimming pool.
Worker drowned when lawn mower slid into lake.
Worker drowned when lawn mower tipped over into retention pond.
Worker drowned when loader fell into sludge filled ditch.
Worker drowned when riding lawn mower slid into lake.
Worker drowned when trackhoe veered into river.
Worker drowned when tractor went into canal.
Worker drowned while power washing pool.
Worker drowned while responding to distressed boat caught in storm.
Worker electrocted while performing electrical work.
Worker electrocuted after contacting energized parts of switch gear.
Worker electrocuted after contacting energized substation.
Worker electrocuted after contacting energized utility pole wire.
Worker electrocuted after contacting energized wire.
Worker electrocuted after contacting live wires.
Worker electrocuted after contacting overhead power line.
Worker electrocuted after contacting power lines.
Worker electrocuted after contacting utility line.
Worker electrocuted after contacting with energized wires.
Worker electrocuted after falling from bucket truck and contacting power line.
Worker electrocuted and two hospitalized when ladder contacted
Worker electrocuted another hospitalized when ladder contacted power line.
Worker electrocuted by electric breaker system.
Worker electrocuted by energized conveyors on elevator motor.
Worker electrocuted by energized truck.
Worker electrocuted by fluorescent light balance.
Worker electrocuted by highway exit ramp light post.
Worker electrocuted by junction box wires.
Worker electrocuted by live wiring in transformer.
Worker electrocuted by power line.
Worker electrocuted by pump station electrical box.
Worker electrocuted by switch gear.
Worker electrocuted by underground wiring.
Worker electrocuted during power line removal.
Worker electrocuted from metal touching energized saw.
Worker electrocuted when aluminum extension ladder contacted power lines.
Worker electrocuted when boom contacted high voltage line.
Worker electrocuted when boom of oil well service rig contacted powerline.
Worker electrocuted when bucket truck contacted live wires.
Worker electrocuted when crane cable contacted overhead electrical wiring.
Worker electrocuted when crane contacted overhead power line.
Worker electrocuted when forklift boom contacted energized power line.
Worker electrocuted when ladder contacted high voltage line. Catastrophe 1089843 8/31/2015 Marcus Jones, Sizerock, KY 41762 Marcus Jones
Worker electrocuted when ladder contacted power line.
Worker electrocuted when truck crane contacted overhead power lines.
Worker electrocuted while changing out transformer.
Worker electrocuted while hanging cable.
Worker electrocuted while installing electrical line.
Worker electrocuted while installing light fixture.
Worker electrocuted while installing plumbing pipe in ceiling.
Worker electrocuted while leveling buidling foundation.
Worker electrocuted while moving power lines.
Worker electrocuted while performing pole work.
Worker electrocuted while plugging in jack hammer.
Worker electrocuted while pulling cable into switchgear.
Worker electrocuted while repairing downed power line.
Worker electrocuted while repairing generator.
Worker electrocuted while servicing arcade vending machine.
Worker electrocuted while trimming trees when cherry picker contacted power line.
Worker erecting aerial lift fatally crushed between frame and ceiling joist.
Worker erecting tower crane fatally crushed by frame.
Worker fatallly crushed underneath trailer while repairing brakes.
Worker fatally burned by barrel fire being used to provide warmth.
Worker fatally cruashed inside banding machine.
Worker fatally crushd between machine guard and metal lift post of conveyor machine.
Worker fatally crushed beneath forklift.
Worker fatally crushed between aerial lift basket railing and sprinkler pipe.
Worker fatally crushed between aerial lift bucket and steel beam.
Worker fatally crushed between an excavator and garage door.
Worker fatally crushed between automated crane and stationary object.
Worker fatally crushed between basement and elevator.
Worker fatally crushed between block wall and falling counterweights of suspension scaffold.
Worker fatally crushed between cab frame and overhead crane.
Worker fatally crushed between car and wall.
Worker fatally crushed between crane boom and railing.
Worker fatally crushed between crane boom and truck frame.
Worker fatally crushed between drill rig and pickup truck.
Worker fatally crushed between fabricated metal structure and work bench.
Worker fatally crushed between fence and motorized gate.
Worker fatally crushed between forklift and trailer.
Worker fatally crushed between ground and framework of ATV that flipped over.
Worker fatally crushed between house and truck backing up.
Worker fatally crushed between I-beam and basket control.
Worker fatally crushed between lift arms and skid loader.
Worker fatally crushed between logs.
Worker fatally crushed between moving vehicle and stationary object.
Worker fatally crushed between overturned boom truck and concrete jersey barriers.
Worker fatally crushed between plates in filter press.
Worker fatally crushed between poles in a kiln.
Worker fatally crushed between semitrailer and block wall at loading dock.
Worker fatally crushed between semitruck and loading dock.
Worker fatally crushed between skitter and log loader.
Worker fatally crushed between slabs of granite.
Worker fatally crushed between spools of tubing and forklift.
Worker fatally crushed between table lift and golf cart.
Worker fatally crushed between tow truck and car about to be towed.
Worker fatally crushed between trailer and dock platform.
Worker fatally crushed between trailer and loading dock.
Worker fatally crushed between trailer and trailer bed.
Worker fatally crushed between trailers.
Worker fatally crushed between truck and dock.
Worker fatally crushed between truck and loading dock.
Worker fatally crushed between two semi trailers.
Worker fatally crushed between vehicle and building.
Worker fatally crushed by air separator.
Worker fatally crushed by automobile that fell from forklift.
Worker fatally crushed by backhoe in excavation.
Worker fatally crushed by bale recyclable material.
Worker fatally crushed by boom arm.
Worker fatally crushed by bucket of skid steer loader.
Worker fatally crushed by bulldozer.
Worker fatally crushed by collapsing concrete wall.
Worker fatally crushed by compactor when it flipped over.
Worker fatally crushed by concrete panel that fell from semi-truck trailer.
Worker fatally crushed by demolition debris.
Worker fatally crushed by dump truck during brake check.
Worker fatally crushed by dumpster.
Worker fatally crushed by elevator while working in shaft.
Worker fatally crushed by elevator.
Worker fatally crushed by engine component of skid steer loader.
Worker fatally crushed by falling beam.
Worker fatally crushed by falling forklift carriage.
Worker fatally crushed by falling load.
Worker fatally crushed by falling rail.
Worker fatally crushed by falling tree limb.
Worker fatally crushed by falling tree.
Worker fatally crushed by forklift while unloading trailer.
Worker fatally crushed by forklift.
Worker fatally crushed by fracking storage tank that fell from trailer.
Worker fatally crushed by glass panels that fell from crate.
Worker fatally crushed by grain elevator.
Worker fatally crushed by iron gate.
Worker fatally crushed by machine arm used to move rolls of wire.
Worker fatally crushed by machinery.
Worker fatally crushed by marble slab that fell during loading.
Worker fatally crushed by marble slabs that shifted in container during loading.
Worker fatally crushed by metal frame that fell off truck during unloading.
Worker fatally crushed by motorhome while performing vehicle maintenance.
Worker fatally crushed by mower.
Worker fatally crushed by overhead door.
Worker fatally crushed by overturned logging equipment.
Worker fatally crushed by overturned skidder.
Worker fatally crushed by personal man lift that fell over while being erected.
Worker fatally crushed by pipe on street overpass.
Worker fatally crushed by railroad ties during inspection.
Worker fatally crushed by rebar that fell from truck.
Worker fatally crushed by robotic arm.
Worker fatally crushed by roof structure during demolition.
Worker fatally crushed by sand hopper that fell from forklift.
Worker fatally crushed by scissor lift.
Worker fatally crushed by service rig.
Worker fatally crushed by slab of granite that fell off truck.
Worker fatally crushed by soil compactor.
Worker fatally crushed by steel plates being unloadded from flat bed trailer.
Worker fatally crushed by truck wheels.
Worker fatally crushed by van that slipped off jack.
Worker fatally crushed by vehicle that fell from tow truck.
Worker fatally crushed by vehicle when jack stands failed.
Worker fatally crushed by vinyl liner during loading.
Worker fatally crushed during operation of machining equipment.
Worker fatally crushed frame of elevator leg tipped over and collapsed.
Worker fatally crushed in trench collapse.
Worker fatally crushed inside machine when it was re-energized.
Worker fatally crushed under 800 pound hay bale.
Worker fatally crushed under mower wheel.
Worker fatally crushed under tracks of
Worker fatally crushed under trailer.
Worker fatally crushed under wheels of cement truck.
Worker fatally crushed when electrical cabinet fell over.
Worker fatally crushed when elevated load fell from forklift.
Worker fatally crushed when excavator rolled over.
Worker fatally crushed when forklift overturned.
Worker fatally crushed when hay baler fell off jacks.
Worker fatally crushed when idling construction vehicle rolled down slope.
Worker fatally crushed when mobile home trailer fell off safety blocks.
Worker fatally crushed when mower rolled over.
Worker fatally crushed when semi-truck slipped and fell from jack.
Worker fatally crushed when tractor overturned.
Worker fatally crushed when trailer tipped over during painting.
Worker fatally crushed when truck fell off of jack stand.
Worker fatally engulfed by cotton seeds in back of truck.
Worker fatally engulfed by dirt from truck.
Worker fatally engulfed by gravel after falling into silo during cleaning operations.
Worker fatally engulfed by pile of ground corn.
Worker fatally engulfed in dry cement when steel storage silo collapsed.
Worker fatally engulfed in grain silo.
Worker fatally engulfed in grain storage bin.
Worker fatally engulfed in sawdust that filled cab of truck.
Worker fatally engulfed when grain bin wall collapsed.
Worker fatally injured by chain saw.
Worker fatally shot by assailant.
Worker fatally shot by client.
Worker fatally shot by co
Worker fatally shot by customer.
Worker fatally shot by former employee.
Worker fatally shot by robber.
Worker fatally shot by suspect.
Worker fatally shot during attempted robbery.
Worker fatally shot during robbery.
Worker fatally shot during store robbery.
Worker fatally shot.
Worker fatally stabbed by customer.
Worker fatally stabbed by fellow employee.
Worker fatally strangled when clothing became caught in power shaft.
Worker fatally stung by bees.
Worker fataly crushed by dump truck that rolled during brake maintenance.
Worker fell killed in fall from roof.
Worker felling tree killed in fall.
Worker flagging traffic struck and killed by truck.
Worker gate struck and killed by glass table-top blown from balcony by high winds.
Worker getting out of truck struck and killed when it rolled backwards.
Worker harvesting grapefruits killed in fall from ladder.
Worker hit head on ground after being struck by a golf cart.
Worker hospitalized with third-degree burns from ruptured natural gas line. Catastrophe 1073781 6/25/2015 Delta Contracting Company, LLC, Humboldt, TN 38343 Danny R. Sweat, Jr
Worker in aerial lift electrocuted after contacting live power source.
Worker in aerial lift fatally crushed between basket and steel beam.
Worker in aerial lift fatally crushed between lift basket and roof overhang.
Worker in aerial lift struck and killed by debris when building collapsed.
Worker in ATV killed in collision with feed truck.
Worker in basket of boom truck struck and killed by semi-tractor trailer.
Worker in bucket lift electrocuted after contacting power line.
Worker in swimming pool died after contacting electrical power source.
Worker in trench fatally crushed when equipment fell from platform.
Worker inspecting banner on side of building killed in fall.
Worker inspecting bridge swept away by water and drowned.
Worker installing decking struck and killed by lightning.
Worker installing drip edge along roof killed in fall.
Worker installing fence struck and killed by post.
Worker installing home security system fatally shot.
Worker installing insulation killed in fall from barn truss.
Worker installing reflective tabs in highway struck and killed by motor vehicle.
Worker installing roof trusses killed in fall.
Worker installing satallite dish killed in fall from ladder.
Worker installing sheetrock killed in fall from elevated platform.
Worker installing shingles killed in fall from roof.
Worker installing sign struck and killed by crane-arm.
Worker killed after becoming caught in asphalt conveyor.
Worker killed after becoming caught in machine.
Worker killed after becoming caught on rotating shaft of asphalt machine.
Worker killed after becoming caugt in machine rollers.
Worker killed after being caught in extruder machine.
Worker killed after being caught in power transmission shaft of concrete crusher.
Worker killed after being ejected from forklift
Worker killed after being pulled into mulching machine.
Worker killed after being pulled into paper machine.
Worker killed after being pulled through wood chipping machine.
Worker killed after being struck by nail gun.
Worker killed after falling from and being run over by road scraping vehicle.
Worker killed after falling into gravel blending machine.
Worker killed after falling into point of operation of drill cable line.
Worker killed after falling into wood chipper.
Worker killed after falling onto conveyor.
Worker killed after getting caught in brick setting machine.
Worker killed after getting caught in rotating shaft
Worker killed and another hospitalized after fall from aerial lift.
Worker killed and seven others hospitalized when six-story scaffold collapsed.
Worker killed by arc flash from electrical line.
Worker killed by arc flash while working near electrical cabinet.
Worker killed by auger after being pulled by machinery into empty chiller tank.
Worker killed by bees nesting in air conditioning unit.
Worker killed by ex-resident while walking to her car.
Worker killed by falling concrete beam.
Worker killed by fuel tank that fell from forklift.
Worker killed by hydraulic arms of skidsteer.
Worker killed by rotating tail rotor of helicopter.
Worker killed during robbery.
Worker killed in ATV collision.
Worker killed in barn fire.
Worker killed in distillery explosion.
Worker killed in explosion at mineral spirits facility.
Worker killed in explosion prior to fireworks show.
Worker killed in explosion while sorting shell castings.
Worker killed in fall after tripping on steel rod.
Worker killed in fall at residential construction site.
Worker killed in fall down elevator shaft.
Worker killed in fall down hole.
Worker killed in fall down stairs.
Worker killed in fall down steps.
Worker killed in fall down unguarded elevator shaft.
Worker killed in fall from a scissor lift.
Worker killed in fall from back of moving truck.
Worker killed in fall from balcony of building under construction.
Worker killed in fall from balcony.
Worker killed in fall from barge.
Worker killed in fall from basket of truckmounted aerial lift.
Worker killed in fall from boom truck.
Worker killed in fall from box elevated by terrain forklift.
Worker killed in fall from bucket lift.
Worker killed in fall from building.
Worker killed in fall from cab of truck.
Worker killed in fall from canopy truss.
Worker killed in fall from cellular tower.
Worker killed in fall from construction platform.
Worker killed in fall from crane.
Worker killed in fall from deck.
Worker killed in fall from decking.
Worker killed in fall from dump trailer ladder.
Worker killed in fall from elevated platform.
Worker killed in fall from elevated surface.
Worker killed in fall from flatbed trailer.
Worker killed in fall from flatbed truck.
Worker killed in fall from forklift.
Worker killed in fall from fourth floor window.
Worker killed in fall from from greenhouse roof.
Worker killed in fall from height.
Worker killed in fall from hoist landing.
Worker killed in fall from joist.
Worker killed in fall from ladder after receiving electric shock.
Worker killed in fall from ladder.
Worker killed in fall from ladder-jack scaffold.
Worker killed in fall from ledge.
Worker killed in fall from log loader.
Worker killed in fall from lumber bale.
Worker killed in fall from manlift.
Worker killed in fall from metal trellis.
Worker killed in fall from mountain while ice climbing.
Worker killed in fall from oil derrick platform.
Worker killed in fall from platform elevated by forklift.
Worker killed in fall from platform suspended below bridge.
Worker killed in fall from platform.
Worker killed in fall from roof dormer.
Worker killed in fall from roof during building demolition.
Worker killed in fall from roof.
Worker killed in fall from sand blast unit.
Worker killed in fall from scaffold inside water tank.
Worker killed in fall from scaffold platform.
Worker killed in fall from scaffold.
Worker killed in fall from scaffolding.
Worker killed in fall from scissor lift knocked over by collapsing wall.
Worker killed in fall from scissor lift platform.
Worker killed in fall from scissor lift that was struck by crane.
Worker killed in fall from scissor lift.
Worker killed in fall from second story steel beam.
Worker killed in fall from skateboard.
Worker killed in fall from steel structure.
Worker killed in fall from third floor.
Worker killed in fall from tie-beam.
Worker killed in fall from top of boat.
Worker killed in fall from top of crane cab.
Worker killed in fall from tractor.
Worker killed in fall from trailer.
Worker killed in fall from tree.
Worker killed in fall from truck trailer.
Worker killed in fall from truss.
Worker killed in fall from upper level of freezer.
Worker killed in fall from upper storage area.
Worker killed in fall from water tower.
Worker killed in fall from well service rig derrick.
Worker killed in fall from window.
Worker killed in fall from zipline.
Worker killed in fall in parking lot.
Worker killed in fall inside building.
Worker killed in fall inside water tower under construction.
Worker killed in fall on forklift.
Worker killed in fall on portable stairs.
Worker killed in fall on sidewalk.
Worker killed in fall on wet floor.
Worker killed in fall through 2nd story floor hole.
Worker killed in fall through ceiling.
Worker killed in fall through floor hole.
Worker killed in fall through floor opening.
Worker killed in fall through gap between jet and jet bridge.
Worker killed in fall through hole in floor.
Worker killed in fall through hole in landing.
Worker killed in fall through opening in roof.
Worker killed in fall through second floor opening.
Worker killed in fall through skylight.
Worker killed in fall when aerial lift tipped over.
Worker killed in fall when elevated platform collapsed.
Worker killed in fall when personnel hoist collapsed.
Worker killed in fall when scissor lift tipped over.
Worker killed in fall when section of form work gave way.
Worker killed in fall while performing tree cutting operations.
Worker killed in fall while performing tree trimming operations.
Worker killed in fall while repositioning motor.
Worker killed in fall while trimming palm tree.
Worker killed in fall while trimming trees.
Worker killed in fall while washing windows.
Worker killed in fall while welding.
Worker killed in fall.
Worker killed in falll from water tower.
Worker killed in fly ash fire.
Worker killed in forklift collision.
Worker killed in forklift rollover.
Worker killed in gas explosion.
Worker killed in hang glider crash.
Worker killed in hydrogen blast when water reacted with titanium liquid.
Worker killed in motor vehicle collision.
Worker killed in oil tank explosion.
Worker killed in plane crash.
Worker killed in presurized tank explosion.
Worker killed in scaffold collapse.
Worker killed in tank explosion.
Worker killed in trench cave-in.
Worker killed in trench collapse.
Worker killed in vehicle collision and fire.
Worker killed in vehicle collision with semi-truck.
Worker killed in vehicle collision.
Worker killed in vehicle collison.
Worker killed when aerial lift fell over.
Worker killed when aerial lift overturned.
Worker killed when arm was caught in pump truck.
Worker killed when ATV rolled over.
Worker killed when ATV struck tree.
Worker killed when automotive rack overturned.
Worker killed when back-hoe rolled over.
Worker killed when bulldozer flipped and tumbled down mountain slope.
Worker killed when bulldozer overturned on slope.
Worker killed when caught in screw auger.
Worker killed when clothes became entangled in shaft of hay bale elevator.
Worker killed when clothing became caught in machine drill.
Worker killed when compact tractor rolled over.
Worker killed when concrete wall collapsed.
Worker killed when crane went off road and rolled over.
Worker killed when crane's brakes failed.
Worker killed when disabled truck rolled over.
Worker killed when dump truck overturned.
Worker killed when dump truck tire exploded during inflation.
Worker killed when ejected from company vehicle.
Worker killed when farm tractor rolled over into pond.
Worker killed when forklift overturned.
Worker killed when forklift rolled over.
Worker killed when forklift tipped over.
Worker killed when hydraulic boom collapsed.
Worker killed when lanyard became caught in pump motor.
Worker killed when lawnmower overturned.
Worker killed when masonry saw kicked back.
Worker killed when pressurized cylinder exploded.
Worker killed when riding mower tipped over and caught fire.
Worker killed when scissor lift fell over.
Worker killed when storage tank containing sodium hydrosulfide exploded.
Worker killed when straw caught fire while being unloaded from trailer.
Worker killed when tractor fell into canal.
Worker killed when tractor rolled over.
Worker killed when tractor slid into ravine and overturned.
Worker killed when vehicle flipped over.
Worker killed when vehicle ran down embankment.
Worker killled in fall from attic window.
Worker loading car from tow truck fatally crushed by vehicle.
Worker loading pallets fatally crushed by forklift.
Worker loading truck struck and killed by falling propane tank.
Worker milling asphalt next to highway struck and killed by dump truck.
Worker mowing grass choked on lowlying tree.
Worker on bicycle killed in motor vehicle collision.
Worker on construction site killed in fall from ladder.
Worker on farm struck and killed by truck backing up in field.
Worker on order picker killed in fall.
Worker on roof died from overexposure to heat.
Worker on roof electrocuted after contacting electrical lines.
Worker on roof electrocuted when ladder contacted overhead powerline.
Worker on roof killed in fall through skylight.
Worker on snow-covered roof killed in fall through skylight.
Worker on stilts hanging drywall killed in fall.
Worker on top of truck electrocuted after contacting powerline.
Worker operating chipping machine struck and killed by falling limb.
Worker operating ice cream cart struck and killed by car.
Worker operating skid steer loader killed after being pinned by the bucket brace bar.
Worker operating street sweeper killed in vehicle collision.
Worker operating welding machine killed by arc flash.
Worker performing bridge demolition fatally crushed by falling ramp.
Worker performing bridge maintenance on river drowned when boat capsized.
Worker performing crossing guard duties fatally struck by car.
Worker performing farm labor died of heat-stress.
Worker performing framing operations killed in fall.
Worker performing highway work struck and killed by drunk driver.
Worker performing landscaping activities died from exposure to weed killer.
Worker performing landscaping activities drowned after falling lake.
Worker performing lawn maintenance drowned in swimming pool.
Worker performing logging operations struck and killed by tree.
Worker performing maintenance on metal shredder killed in fall.
Worker performing residential construction killed in fall.
Worker performing tree trimming operations killed in fall.
Worker pinned and fatally crushed between aerial lift and overhead structure.
Worker pinned and fatally crushed between boom and frame of outrigger.
Worker pinned and fatally crushed under hose cart while changing tire.
Worker pinned and fatally crushed under pipe fitting.
Worker power washing silo from boom lift killed in fall.
Worker pressure washing roof killed in fall through skylight.
Worker recovering disabled vehicle in breakdown lane struck and killed by truck.
Worker removing trees fataly crused by boom truck.
Worker repairing potholes struck and killed by semi-truck.
Worker repairing vehicle conveyor line struck and killed by a vehicle.
Worker replacing guardrails struck and killed by truck.
Worker replacing highway guardrails struck and killed by tractor trailer.
Worker replacing light fixture killed in fall.
Worker replacing transmission towers killed in fall from boom bucket.
Worker re-roofing residence electrocuted after contacting live wire.
Worker run over by trailer while repairing suspenion.
Worker setting trusses killed in fall.
Worker shot and killed by asssailant.
Worker slipped and suffered fatal fall on ice.
Worker strucjk and killed by pipe.
Worker struck amd killed by garbage truck backing up.
Worker struck and killed by a board while operating an edger.
Worker struck and killed by backhoe.
Worker struck and killed by backing up dump truck.
Worker struck and killed by boom of bucket truck.
Worker struck and killed by boom.
Worker struck and killed by bulldozer blade.
Worker struck and killed by bundle of steel.
Worker struck and killed by bushing ejected from hydraulic press.
Worker struck and killed by cage door that fell from semi-truck.
Worker struck and killed by car in highway construction zone.
Worker struck and killed by car that fell from lift.
Worker struck and killed by car.
Worker struck and killed by carriage of line machine.
Worker struck and killed by chain.
Worker struck and killed by chop saw blade.
Worker struck and killed by collapsed section of masonry wall.
Worker struck and killed by collapsed wall.
Worker struck and killed by collapsing roof.
Worker struck and killed by collapsing wall during demolition.
Worker struck and killed by concrete pier piling.
Worker struck and killed by construction vehicle.
Worker struck and killed by conveyer that fell from overhead crane.
Worker struck and killed by crane boom.
Worker struck and killed by crane.
Worker struck and killed by debris from pontoon boat explosion.
Worker struck and killed by diesel hammer.
Worker struck and killed by drill casing.
Worker struck and killed by drunk driver.
Worker struck and killed by dump truck backing down driveway.
Worker struck and killed by dump truck backing up.
Worker struck and killed by dump truck in roadside construction zone.
Worker struck and killed by dump truck tailgate.
Worker struck and killed by dump truck while patching potholes.
Worker struck and killed by dump truck.
Worker struck and killed by dumpster being emptied into garbage truck.
Worker struck and killed by elevator counter weight during demolition.
Worker struck and killed by equipment that slid off trailer during loading.
Worker struck and killed by explosive shot.
Worker struck and killed by falling crane boom.
Worker struck and killed by falling fan shroud.
Worker struck and killed by falling jib from boom of hydraulic crane.
Worker struck and killed by falling metal rails.
Worker struck and killed by falling pipe.
Worker struck and killed by falling pipes.
Worker struck and killed by falling tree first day on the job.
Worker struck and killed by falling tree.
Worker struck and killed by falling utility pole.
Worker struck and killed by felled tree.
Worker struck and killed by fire apparatus.
Worker struck and killed by flat bed trailer.
Worker struck and killed by forklift backing up.
Worker struck and killed by forklift delivering pallet of cement.
Worker struck and killed by forklift.
Worker struck and killed by garbage truck backing up.
Worker struck and killed by garbage truck.
Worker struck and killed by granite countertop slab.
Worker struck and killed by granite that fell from forklift.
Worker struck and killed by harvesting equipment.
Worker struck and killed by hay bale.
Worker struck and killed by heavy equipment.
Worker struck and killed by hopper that fell from forklift.
Worker struck and killed by hose.
Worker struck and killed by hydraulic arm.
Worker struck and killed by jersey barrier.
Worker struck and killed by kiln door.
Worker struck and killed by large piece of metal.
Worker struck and killed by large waste container.
Worker struck and killed by log during unloading.
Worker struck and killed by log while building corral.
Worker struck and killed by log.
Worker struck and killed by machine parts when drill line broke.
Worker struck and killed by machine that fell off forklift.
Worker struck and killed by metal cap propelled from pressurized sprinkler line.
Worker struck and killed by metal screen.
Worker struck and killed by milling machine during roadway construction.
Worker struck and killed by motor grader.
Worker struck and killed by motor vehicle that swerved into work zone.
Worker struck and killed by motor vehicle.
Worker struck and killed by object.
Worker struck and killed by pallet that fell from forklift.
Worker struck and killed by part of oil drill assembly.
Worker struck and killed by piece of rebar.
Worker struck and killed by pile driver.
Worker struck and killed by pin on oil and gas well drilling rig.
Worker struck and killed by pipe being uloaded from truck.
Worker struck and killed by pipe that fell from truck during loading.
Worker struck and killed by pipe under pressure.
Worker struck and killed by pipe.
Worker struck and killed by pipes that rolled off truck rack.
Worker struck and killed by plow.
Worker struck and killed by plug ejected from pressurized pipeline.
Worker struck and killed by power saw.
Worker struck and killed by rebar that fell from overhead rigging.
Worker struck and killed by rim of crane tire.
Worker struck and killed by roller that disengaged from hide fleshing machine.
Worker struck and killed by roller.
Worker struck and killed by rolling trailer.
Worker struck and killed by scaffold that fell from forklift.
Worker struck and killed by semi-truck .
Worker struck and killed by semi-truck.
Worker struck and killed by sheet piling.
Worker struck and killed by silo door.
Worker struck and killed by skid loader.
Worker struck and killed by skid steer attachment.
Worker struck and killed by steel load while operating forklift.
Worker struck and killed by steel tubes.
Worker struck and killed by steel.
Worker struck and killed by switchboard that fell from forklift.
Worker struck and killed by tire cylinder.
Worker struck and killed by tire during inflation.
Worker struck and killed by tire.
Worker struck and killed by top loader.
Worker struck and killed by tractor and
Worker struck and killed by tractor during maintenance.
Worker struck and killed by tractor that fell into drainage excavation.
Worker struck and killed by tractor trailer cab.
Worker struck and killed by tractor trailer.
Worker struck and killed by tractor.
Worker struck and killed by trailer being lifted by log loader.
Worker struck and killed by trailer tire.
Worker struck and killed by trailer.
Worker struck and killed by train car.
Worker struck and killed by train.
Worker struck and killed by tree being pulled by skidder.
Worker struck and killed by tree branch.
Worker struck and killed by tree during felling operations.
Worker struck and killed by tree limb.
Worker struck and killed by tree.
Worker struck and killed by trench plate.
Worker struck and killed by truck backing up.
Worker struck and killed by truck.
Worker struck and killed by trusses that fell off delivery truck.
Worker struck and killed by two motorcycles.
Worker struck and killed by two steel beams.
Worker struck and killed by van.
Worker struck and killed by vehicle during maintenance.
Worker struck and killed by vehicle gate.
Worker struck and killed by vehicle.
Worker struck and killed by warehouse storage rack.
Worker struck and killed by water tank when it ruptured.
Worker struck and killed by wood that fell from scissor jack.
Worker struck and killed by wrench.
Worker struck and killed wheel of trailer.
Worker struck and killed when chop saw kicked back.
Worker struck and killed when elevated concrete floor collapsed.
Worker struck and killed when pressurized air line exploded.
Worker suffered fatal burns in pump room.
Worker suffered fatal head injury in fall.
Worker trimming a tree killed in fall.
Worker trimming palm fronds killed in fall.
Worker trimming palm tree killed when tree collapsed.
Worker trimming tree electrocuted after contacting power line.
Worker trimming tree electrocuted when branch contacted powerline.
Worker trimming tree killed in fall from ladder.
Worker trimming tree killed in fall.
Worker trimming trees killed in fall from bucket lift.
Worker trimming trees killed in fall from bucket of aerial lift.
Worker trimming trees killed in fall from ladder.
Worker underneath bus fatally crushed when vehicle rolled forward.
Worker was killed in farm tractor collision.
Worker washing windows killed in fall.
Worker welding fuel tank killed when it exploded.
Worker welding on steel decking killed in fall.
Workers died from exposure to gases in manure pit.
Workers electrocuted when excavator boom contacted power line.
Workers killed fighting forest fire.
Workers killed in explosion at pyrotechnic plant.
Workers killed in explosion of tanker containing petroleum waste.
Workers struck and killed by motor vehicle.
Worker ashyxiated by gas in wastewater treatment system tank.

 

[IronWing]

CJ,
I have lots to say, but don't want to threadjack. One major thing that I fight is the attitude that "accidents happen" I have a poster in my shop that says "Accidents don't happen, they are caused".

I attended the memorial service for an employee who was killed when he distracted the driver of the truck he was riding in, leading to a roll over. The deceased was the supervisor of the inexperienced driver and should have known better. The preacher at the memorial service went on and on about how God had determined that it was the deceased's time to go and there was nothing that would have stopped this from happening. My company has developed a fairly strong culture of personal responsibility for safety and I thought that the longer the preacher talked about "this man's time to go" the more likely it was that the preacher was going to get punched. There was nothing preordained in this man's death, it was just a stupid waste.

 

[skyking]

I work in construction, operating heavy, unforgiving equipment. Today I was tracking up the haul road in a mini excavator, calling out my position on a handheld radio, and the haul truck driver still had to come to an unplanned stop. She had been looking for me, but I was behind a knob of dirt that obscured me. A little unsettling to see a 200,000 pound truck bearing down on you on a 15% slope.
I worked with the safety poster man for Puget Sound Energy back in 2000. He was sent out to supervise my digging around a 6" steel Intermediate Pressure ( IP) gas line. It was a 100% 'company man watching me' situation while I dug under and around the line.
He was working for Washington Gas a few years back and responded to a report of a gas leak in an alley. he dug down with a shovel, then laid down and reached into the hole. The leak was caused by an improperly abandoned temporary power service. The power ran up his arm and killed it. His arm was so much dead weight and was not coming back. He had burns on his face where it jumped to earth, a leg was weakened and partially atrophied. he'd limp on out there with his bad arm in a sling and probe for the steel line with a digging bar. Talking to him and working around him changed the way I looked at safety.

 

[John Connor]

Being involved in the power industry, this story hit way too close and I had to post about it. I believe it's the same for most of the utility business. Taking shortcuts, listening to the "higher up" even though you know it may be wrong, saving time, doing it quicker .... hearing things like "We need this unit back ASAP!~" So you do whatever the hell you can to wire it in, weld that piece back on, make it fit, make it work. My company spends millions upon millions of dollars in safety a year. We have procedures for EVERYTHING. It goes so far as a procedure for "Bird Dropping Mitigation". No matter what, accidents happen. We are all human. However, there are some that can easily be avoided. This was one of those accidents.

We just had speaker Brad Livingston come in and give his speech. I will not regurgitate his story, but rather just link it. I'd categorize it under 'unbelievable' or 'miracle' .... mostly the latter. Sitting there listening to this guy tell his story was just TOO familiar sounding. And seeing him in the flesh made it that much worse (but really, better). The scars, his movement, his speech .... all from something that could have been avoided. You try to save 3 seconds to satisfy some asshole at work, and you pay for it for the rest of your life ... if it's not taken from you right then and there.

Brad's Story & Personal Site:
http://ehstoday.com/industrial-hygiene/human-fireball-story-brad-livingston
http://www.bradlivingston.com/

Has anyone had these close-calls at work? Anything where you know you're right, but do it the wrong way regardless because of some idiot?

There's a in Soviet Russia joke here somewhere.

 

[z1ggy]

Safety is #1 !!!

I fully expect to get cancer of something from my job. They do a lot of painting and the fumes aren't really contained too well. Every now and then I can smell them when I walk into the printer room.

Who wants my stuff????