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Worker Touches Energized Receptacle
A worker was electrocuted when he contacted a live electrical circuit, a metal casing on the electrical outlet and a wet-mopped floor at the same time.
Twin Accidents Electrocute Five
Five farm workers were electrocuted in two nearly identical accidents when grain augers they were moving struck live power lines. The augers are about 50 feet (15 meters) long, have inflatable car tires and weigh
Brick Cleaner Tossed From Lift
A laborer cleaning and repairing a brick wall was thrown to his death from the elevated basket of an aerial lift. He was part of a crew of six cleaning, caulking and replacing brick. The
Warehouse Laborer Falls From Forklift
A man working in an electronics store warehouse fell six feet (two meters) to his death as he attempted to retrieve boxes from a forklift. The man was standing on a wooden pallet raised by
Cutting Torch Ignites Solvent
A worker died of injuries received in an explosion when hot material from a cutting torch ignited a can of solvent. The incident occurred in a metal products plant which was temporarily out of operation.
Chemical Reaction Was Unexpected GalleryChemical Reaction Was Unexpected
Chemical Safety, Education, English, Fatality Reports, Forestry, General Industry, Healthcare, Hospitality, Industry, Language, Lockout/Tagout, Manufacturing, Maritime, Mining, Oil and Gas, Retail, Topic, Transportation, Type, Utilities
Chemical Reaction Was Unexpected
Some workplace fire hazards are obvious. You toss a match into a pile of dry sawdust, and you get a fire. Other hazards are harder to recognize. Consider the chemical reactions which can result in
Employee Dies During Unauthorized Entry
An employee who was hired as a sweeper and handyman was discovered sitting in a deposit of blue sludge, on the bottom of a deep steel vat. The man had, in the past, cleaned tanks
Ladder Touches High Tension Wire GalleryLadder Touches High Tension Wire
Agriculture, Construction, Education, English, Fatality Reports, Forestry, General Industry, Healthcare, Hospitality, Industry, Ladders, Language, Manufacturing, Maritime, Mining, Oil and Gas, Overhead Hazards, Retail, Topic, Transportation, Type, Utilities
Ladder Touches High Tension Wire
A ladder touching a high tension wire - this scenario has caused countless fatalities in all kinds of industries and workplaces and homes. An employee of an aluminum siding company was electrocuted when the ladder
Brakeless Loader Rolls Into Ash Pit
A front-end loader was working on a dirt road beside a fly ash pit. The loader went off the road into the pit, turned over and pinned the driver under water, where he drowned. The
Veteran Lumberman Takes Fatal Shortcut
A worker filling a lumber order was fatally crushed when a beam fell on him, causing multiple traumatic injuries to his abdomen and pelvis.
Teen Worker Caught in Machine
A teenage worker died when his head became caught in the pasta-making machine he was operating. His job was to put the ingredients into the machine.
Forklift Flips and Crushes Driver
A forklift was travelling empty with its forks elevated ? creating a high center of gravity. When it went around a corner too fast, the forklift tipped. The driver was thrown out and crushed to
Large Steel Plate Drops on Signaler
A supervisor at a ship repair dry-dock was crushed to death by a large plate of steel as it was being lowered.
Prospecting Helper Dies in Wilderness
A new worker on a mining prospecting job became separated from his companions in the wilderness and died of exposure to the cold.
Tire Assembly Explodes and Kills Worker
An inexperienced truck maintenance man was killed instantly when a split-rim wheel assembly exploded with great force. He had apparently mismatched the lock ring on the multi-piece tire.
Airplane Propeller Claims Life
A worker in the air transport industry was riding as a passenger in a ground service vehicle. The driver parked the vehicle parallel to a stationary twin-engine airplane which still had both engines running. The
Tow Truck Driver Hit by Passing Car
A tow truck driver helping a stranded motorist on a busy freeway was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. The driver had stopped to help a woman whose car had a flat tire. He
Stairways Can Lead to Tragedy
Slips, trips and falls rank only behind motor vehicles as the leading cause of industrial deaths in North America. Many of these fatalities involve stairways. Here's an example from the oil and gas industry.
‘Copter Horseplay Claims Two Victims
A helicopter pilot and passenger were killed in a crash attributed to horseplay. Witnesses reported seeing two helicopters engaged in what appeared to be games or stunts in the air, dodging and weaving within a
Tobacco Worker Dies After Tractor Overturns
A migrant farm worker died after the tractor he was driving overturned on a country road. The victim, who had no experience driving on public roads, was pulling a load of tobacco when the wagon jack-knifed and broke loose from the tractor.
Laborer Drowns in Flooded Pipeline
On average, 5,000 to 6,000 workers are killed each year. Learn from the following reports of real workplace fatalities to avoid a similar fate.
Dream Buried Under Ton of Wet Dirt
Jose Vega, a 36-year-old construction worker, had a dream of one day reuniting with his little girl, a year after escaping Cuba in a boat.
Supervisor’s Arms Caught Between Rollers
A shift supervisor died after both arms were caught and partially amputated between two paper machine rollers.
Laborer Falls Through Inadequate Guardrail
Two construction companies have been hit with big fines for the death of a laborer who fell through an inadequate guardrail in 2003.
No Lockout Brings Death, Big Fine
A nightshift worker died because a giant mixer was not locked out. The needless fatality brought a $265,000 fine against the company.
800-ICW-SAFETY (800.429.7233)
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