An offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico was the site of a helicopter accident that killed one passenger and seriously injured the pilot. The helicopter (carrying a pilot and three passengers) crashed while attempting to land on an offshore platform. While everyone was able to exit the helicopter, one passenger died as a result of the accident. Although the exact cause of death wasn’t determined immediately, it was reported the victim may have been struck by the helicopter’s rotor blade. The other two passengers suffered minor injuries.

What happened:
Two workers had finished doing right-of-way cleanup with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and a small set of diamond harrows. One of the workers selected a loading site and set friction-hold loading ramps on the side of the truck deck. He determined the angle was too steep, repositioned the truck on the roadway and again set up loading ramps.

He then opened an access gate for the ATV. It passed through the gate and the operator stopped to offload equipment. The other worker closed the access gate and observed his companion remount the ATV and begin to run up the ramps onto the truck deck. The left-hand ramp began to move, allowing the ATV to tip to that side. The operator accelerated, leaned to the right and accelerated in that direction. The ATV’s front wheels rose off the ramp and into the air and the left-hand ramp failed. The vehicle fell over backwards on top of the operator, causing fatal injuries.

What caused it:

• ATV loading ramps were positioned on the side of the truck so the support brackets were resting on the truck deck.
• The loading ramps were friction-hold ramps and not secured.
• The ATV operator accelerated towards ramps from a distance of 20 feet and hit them, causing the left ramp to move and or fall out of place while the ATV was ascending.

Corrective action:

• All ramped loading systems for the side of service trucks were destroyed as there is no industry standard for ramped loading systems of ATVs.
• ATV trailers with secured, full-width ramp systems are the only systems being used for hauling and loading of these vehicles. ATV trailers typically set between 18 and 24 inches (45-60 cm) from the ground. While there is still a possibility of coming off the ramps, the potential for similar injuries is negligible from this height.

A pilot and his three passengers died when the air ambulance they were in crashed into a mountain range during a blizzard.

The aircraft was en route from a hospital to transfer an emergency heart patient to a hospital more able to provide adequate care. It was approaching the airport when it went missing.

A major winter storm hit that day, but blizzard conditions were not sufficient to have been the sole cause of the crash. The craft was flying over two ridges and came over the first but crashed into the rocky face of the second.

The pilot had considerable experience flying in the area, but didn’t have considerable experience in the specific aircraft. The plane’s reliability in hazardous weather conditions was suspect, because it had unique handling characteristics. Experienced pilots of that aircraft recommended special flight training courses that include simulator training before using the specific craft in emergency situations.

As with any machinery or equipment, it is important to review safety records prior to using aircraft in emergency situations. As an operator, ensure you have sufficient experience in the operation of any equipment used

A 39-year-old father of five was killed when he was run over by a dump truck. He was a truck driver with 12 years of experience and had been with his employer for more than two years.

There were two single-bed dump trucks and a front-end loader on site. The loader operator filled the back of one of the trucks, told the victim that he could leave and observed the victim getting into the cab of the truck. The second driver observed the victim getting into his truck and checking his left-hand mirror. He then was seen in the right-hand mirror while slowly backing up so he could keep track of the front-end loader. His back-up alarms were working.

The loader operator rotated his loader so he could scoop material to put in the second driver’s truck after it was positioned. He was rotating the loader back to dump, and saw the victim out of his truck, behind the second driver’s truck. Before the loader operator could respond, the second driver’s truck struck the victim, knocking him down and pinning him under the wheels of the truck.

Emergency medical assistance was called. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Are your workers trained to work around traffic on a construction site?
• Are your workers frequently reminded, in safety meetings, of site hazards?
• Is all of your equipment inspected regularly to ensure the back-up alarms work?

Thousands of people have died in accidents involving all terrain vehicles (ATV’s). During a recent six-month period, for instance, three farmers were killed in separate ATV accidents.

In the first incident, a farmer on a four-wheel ATV was spraying weeds. When he didn’t return home, his son went looking and found the farmer lying under the vehicle. The victim died from chest and head injuries.

In another incident, a farmer’s three-wheel ATV hit a rut in a pasture. He was thrown from the vehicle and died of a broken neck.

In the third incident, a farmer was driving a four-wheel ATV on a country road. The ATV made a sharp left turn and left the road. The victim was thrown off and the vehicle landed on top of him. He died from head trauma.

To safely operate an ATV:

• Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection.
• Don’t operate an ATV on pavement. ATV’s aren’t designed for it and may be difficult to control.
• Never drive an ATV at excessive speeds. Make sure your speed is safe for the terrain, visibility conditions and your experience.

A 66-year-old carpenter died after falling from the plank of an improvised scaffold.

The victim had arrived that day from Costa Rica. He immediately went to the site where his son, the construction company owner, was renovating a home. The crew had demolished and rebuilt a section and were installing siding. They had built an improvised scaffold with discarded lumber.

The son was away; his father went to work. The victim was standing on a narrow wood plank set more than 10 feet (three meters) above a concrete driveway. One end of the plank rested on a porch roof and the other on the scaffold. The son arrived and greeted his father, who had bent down to cut siding. When he turned to reply, the victim lost his balance and fell to the concrete, striking his head and losing consciousness. He underwent surgery for severe head injuries and died the next day.

Always use properly designed and assembled scaffolds and/or ladders when working at heights of more than six feet (1.8 meters). Fall protection is required in most cases when working at such heights.

When in doubt, improvise. That old advice might work well in certain circumstances, but it’s dangerous if it involves compromising safety.

A malfunctioning ventilation door at a flour mill resulted in unbearably hot conditions for workers. The problem was the vent was located about 20 feet (5.7 meters) above the ground. Two workers decided to pile several pallets on a forklift and raise the machine to its maximum height so one of them could access the stuck vent door.

Their plan went awry when the worker lost his footing on the pallet platform and fell to his death. No measures were in place to prevent such a fall and the victim was not wearing a hardhat.

Investigators found that the worker who had been operating the forklift was not qualified to operate it. However, the company had allowed him to operate the machine on several previous occasions.

An assistant mountaineering guide died when he fell from a mountain ridge. He was part of a five-man team descending from a high-elevation camp when he saw one of the team slip on a rocky section and have trouble regaining his footing. The victim unclipped from the group’s rope and walked toward the fallen climber, then lost his own footing and slid down the slope toward a glacier. He couldn’t stop his fall, even with his ice ax. His body was recovered later.

You may not be a mountaineer, but you might have to rescue someone in some other setting. Are you well trained in the relevant and proper assist-and-rescue techniques?

A window mechanic died from generalized trauma when he fell through a window he was trying to replace on the 21st floor of an office building.

To replace the window, the victim had to loosen and remove bolts in the frame. He was standing on a three-foot-high (.9 meter) stepladder in front of the window. The bolt above his right shoulder was stuck, so he was striking it with a hammer. He missed, and struck the windowpane. It shattered, and the victim and the ladder fell sideways through the opening to a brick courtyard 250 feet (76.2 meters) below.

Two steps could have prevented this fatality. First, fall protection options should always be considered when there is a potential for serious falls. The windows of the type involved in the incident are designed with the strength and integrity to prevent someone from falling through them. When they are damaged, they should be approached with caution.

Secondly, the work being performed by the victim at the time of the incident could just as easily have been accomplished with the ladder and the worker positioned by an adjacent, undamaged side window instead of directly in front of the damaged unit. Had this been done, the incident might have been prevented.

A 49-year-old construction worker was killed as a result of a fall from a roof.

Two crews, one working for the general contractor and the other for a subcontractor, were working on a low-pitch metal roof on a commercial building. The victim was part of the subcontractor’s seven-person crew.

The crew working for the general contractor cut an opening for an elevator. The opening had been cut, but the metal had not yet been removed. The metal was supported by a single beam, and held in place by a couple of screws. This crew had not informed the roofing crew that the hole had been cut. The cutout had not been protected by barricade or by a person stationed as monitor. The general contractor did not have a fall protection work plan.

The subcontractor had a fall protection work plan utilizing the safety monitor system. The victim was walking to another portion of the roof when he stepped onto the cut section of the roof, which gave way. He dropped through the hole, falling 25 feet (about 7.5 meters).

• Do you alert your subcontractors to hazards or unusual conditions on the work site?
• Have you assessed the job site for possible hidden hazards?
• Have you provided safeguarding of open holes or cutouts (monitors or barricades) on the walking surface?
• Do you have a fall protection work plan, and are all your employees trained?
• Do you ensure your subcontractors have their own fall protection work plan?

A fall from 25 feet (7.5 meters) killed a construction worker.

The worker had been spraying foam used to seal the insulation material attached to the trusses of the structure, when the sheet of insulation he was walking on broke. The victim attempted to grab an I-beam. However, he failed and fell to the ground, landing on his head and shoulder. The victim died several hours later. No fall protection devices were in place.

• How often have you continued doing a procedure the same way you’ve always done it even though you have learned it is not the safest way?
• What well-established work practices in your company have been reviewed with an eye toward increased safety?

A 21-year-old construction worker was killed when a Bobcat loader, operating on loose soil, rolled backwards over a 70-foot (21-meter) cliff into a rocky ravine.

The driver restraint was bypassed or not operating, and no seat belt was worn. The rollover bars on the Bobcat were intact after the fall. The victim was thrown out of the machine.

• Who in your company is responsible for checking that safety devices are installed and used on all equipment, including rental equipment?
• If you work in remote areas, how will you summon help in the event of an emergency?

An experienced tree trimmer fell 40 feet (12 meters) to his death after the safety belt he was wearing malfunctioned.

The victim had been hired to trim palm trees at a California apartment complex and was cutting the branches of several palm trees when he fell. Co-workers heard the man scream and found him lying on the ground.

The victim was using safety devices (including a lanyard and rope) to secure himself to the tree. However, an investigation revealed a broken safety latch and an unsecured safety rope. The man’s supervisor told investigators that the safety rope had not been secured and a spring-loaded latch intended to connect the chain to the D-ring of the safety belt was broken.

Safety equipment is virtually useless if broken or used incorrectly. Protect yourself by examining your safety equipment before each use to ensure it is in good working order. Wear tree workers’ saddles if you climb trees as part of your job. The shoes will provide much needed extra traction.

A 29-year-old female cement finisher fell 165 feet (50 meters) to her death from a high-rise office complex under construction.

The victim was working on the 13th floor, patching holes and rough spots in the cement. At lunchtime, she and a co-worker called for the hoist to bring them down. While waiting, the woman put her hands in her pocket and leaned against the safety gate across the hoist entrance. It gave way, and the woman fell to the ground.

It could not be determined why the gate came open. Each gate is locked, through a U-shaped latch, and the hoist operator holds the only key. All witnesses stated that the padlock was in place.

This employer has made several changes since the woman’s death. Random stress tests are now being done to make sure the locks are stable and latch clamps are now welded in place. Periodically, the hoist operator stops at each floor and inspects the gates, clamps and padlocks. The employer has also installed safety bars and signs to warn workers to stay back.

Despite precautions taken by an employer, each employee must develop safe habits. To lean against an outer perimeter barrier is a poor practice and, in this instance, resulted in death.

A 37-year-old residential roofer was fatally injured after falling from a roof.

The victim and one co-worker had climbed onto a roof of a business. Both carried their fall protection equipment with them, but neither had put it on. They were sitting on the roof waiting for their supervisor to arrive, when the victim moved to the edge of the roof to tie down a loose tarpaulin. While he was at the edge, the roof gave way, and the worker fell 14 feet (about four meters) to the loading dock.

• Do you supply and require the wearing of fall protection?
• Do you have a fall protection work plan?
• Do you conduct a hazard assessment of the work area before work begins?

A 22-year-old roofer fell approximately 22 feet (6.7 meters) off the edge of a roof onto concrete and died.

The worker leaned over the side of the roof in an attempt to nail a piece of felt that was flapping. He placed his hand onto the felt, which had no support underneath, then fell over the roof. He was wearing a fall restraint harness and was dragging the ropes behind him. However, he was not connected to the anchorage point. His brother witnessed the fall.

If you are performing jobs that require the use of fall arrest or restraint, under what situations have you allowed the protection not to be used? Is it when “the job will only take a minute,” or when “it has been done before without the belts and we didn’t fall then?”

Neither answer is an excuse for not using the safety equipment.

A fall down an elevator shaft killed a construction supervisor. He and his crew were setting up a work platform in an open elevator shaft when a board supporting the platform broke and he fell 33 feet (ten meters) to the concrete floor. He wasn’t using any fall protection equipment.

Is it possible that you’ll be exposed to a fall hazard? If so, use appropriate fall protection equipment. Make sure walking/working surfaces are strong and structurally sound enough to support people. Have you had training in hazard recognition and use of fall protection devices?

Joe* had been working in the North Carolina tobacco field for just over a week. The first few days on the farm were hot and humid, with welcome breaks of rain. But on this day, there was no rain. The thermometer had already climbed to 95F when Joe stopped for his soda and cracker break at 10 a.m. By the time the temperature reached between 100F and 108F at 3 p.m., Joe complained to the crew leader that he wasn’t feeling well. The crew leader gave Joe a drink of water and drove him back to the workers? housing, where he left Joe to rest for a while. Forty-five minutes later, Joe was found on the steps of the house. He was unconscious. Emergency medical services were called and Joe was transported to the hospital, where his core body temperature was recorded at 108F. But Joe didn’t respond to the medical personnel’s attempts to cool him. His death was attributed to heat stroke.

A Little About Joe

Joe, 44, had traveled from Mexico to the US to join a crew of 12 H-2A workers employed by the farmer, who also employed 5 full-time workers and 3 part-time workers. (H-2A workers are temporary, nonimmigrant foreign workers who are hired under contract to perform farm work in the United States when American workers are not available.) Joe had no tobacco farming experience and when he died he?d been in the United States for 11 days.

The Investigation

Investigators learned that the farmer had distributed to all farm workers, including Joe, a safety and health booklet written in Spanish that included information on heat illness and heat stroke. Unfortunately, the employer did not make it a requirement that the workers read the booklet nor were the contents of the booklet discussed or reviewed.

Workers Take Heed

Heat stroke is preventable! To avoid falling victim to a similar death, anyone who works in the heat should:

• Stay hydrated. In a hot or humid environment, a body can lose up to a quart of water per hour through perspiration. This fluid needs to be replaced regularly. Sports drinks are fine because they replace electrolytes, but coffee, tea and soda with caffeine should be avoided because they dehydrate the body. Alcohol also should be avoided because it affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Water is best.
• Take some time to acclimatize yourself to your work and the heat. The body needs to adjust to working in hotter temperatures so that it can improve the sweating mechanism. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) a person requires approximately five to seven days to acclimatize to a hot environment.
• Learn how to prevent, recognize and treat heat illness. Joe was left alone to rest, rather than receiving prompt medical attention. Anyone showing signs of heat illness should be given water and allowed to cool off, rest and recover, but not left alone.

* The names aren’t real, but the incidents are. These accounts are based on actual fatality investigations.

Worker Falls Headfirst From Raised Forklift Platform

Standing on a makeshift platform spanning the forks of a lift truck isn’t safe. In California, doing so proved lethal for a 29-year-old worker.

Alejandro Valladares fell headfirst about 30 feet (9.1 meters) into a hole from a plywood platform on a forklift. He had been operating a handheld compactor to push down a piling. The vibration caused Valladares to lose his balance and fall into the deep hole.

Making matters worse was the fact that sandy soil in the hole collapsed onto the worker, leaving only part of one of his legs exposed. It took emergency services workers more than two hours to free his body.

It’s dangerous enough to stand on a platform haphazardly spanning a forklift’s forks, but in this situation the vibration escalated the risk. And the unstable hole was the third hazard that sealed Valladares? fate.

A worker who needs to be in a raised position to perform tasks should be using a properly designed lifting platform, which is firmly secured to the forks and provides guardrails and other safety features. Proper platforms also allow workers to tie themselves off using safety belts.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a dredging company for multiple alleged serious violations after one of its workers was killed and a second worker was injured in a paint vapor explosion in July 2011.

Shawn Austin, 28, of Nashville, TN, died three days after paint vapors became ignited by a light that sparked. A second worker, Saul Hernandez, 26, suffered severe burn injuries, but survived. The victims had been painting the inside of a pontoon boat dredge when the blast occurred.

Austin was married with three children.

Dredge & Marine Co. of Millersville, TN, was issued $46,600 in proposed penalties for serious violations alleging inadequate exhaust ventilation, failure to use explosion-proof lighting, using an extension cord that lacked a ground prong, exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards from a non-explosion proof fan with nonferrous blades and failure to ensure paint buckets, spray guns and cell phones were properly stored to prevent sparking.

Other alleged violations include failure to permit the bonding of spray guns and metallic parts, failure to provide fall protection to employees working from the barge deck, failure to test the oxygen content of a confined space, not training workers to perform duties safely in a confined space, not providing a qualified shipyard rescue team, failure to stop work to verify the confined space was safe for entry after spray painting and failure to continuously monitor the enclose space to ensure the atmosphere was safe.

 A father who had brought his youngest son and two older children to work with him in Salem, CT, during school vacation suffered an unbearable loss when the six-year-old boy became caught in a wood chipper and was killed instantly.

The boy, Jeffrey Bourgeois, was trying to help his father, Scott, do some tree removal work when the tragedy occurred. The child was trying to feed a branch into the wood chipper when he became caught on the branch and was drawn into the machine.

“The little guy was apparently trying to help his dad. It’s a very tragic and difficult scene for everybody,” says Lt. J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police.

Scott Bourgeois had his back turned to the boy at the time. Grief counselors were sent to the child’s school in Salem, CT, to help parents and students deal with the shock of Jeffrey’s death.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that chipper knives rotate at between 1,000 and 2,000 revolutions per minute and people need sufficient training before operating them.

Training should cover:

• Correct operation of the chipper and its safety controls,
• The manufacturer’s instructions on operation, inspection and maintenance of the chipper,
• Proper procedures for starting and shutting down a chipper, and
• Correct use and maintenance of PPE. Anyone operating a wood chipper should be wearing a hardhat, eye protection, hearing protection and safety shoes or work boots. If work gloves are worn, they need to be cinched tight to prevent tree limbs from catching on the gloves and possibly pulling a worker into an operating chipper.

One or more persons should be serving as safety watches near emergency shut-off devices while another worker feeds material into a chipper. Workers operating chippers should stand to the side of the in-feed chute, making it less likely that they will be caught and dragged into a chipper.

In addition, a wooden tool or long branch should be used to push material into feed rollers and branches should be placed into the chipper butt-end first, according to OSHA.

Before attempting to clear a clogged chipper chute or change chipper blades, proper locking pins need to be used to immobilize the disc cutting wheel.

A 23-year-old worker at a company that produces concrete and brick pavers, masonry and retaining walls, died after becoming caught in a concrete mixer.

The victim, Zavarius “Zee” Philius, of Fort Myers, FL, had been working at Oldcastle Coastal in Lehigh Acres, FL, for only a few months.

While the cause of the fatality is still under investigation, news reports suggest that the mixer somehow became activated while Philius was working on or near it. It took rescuers about eight hours to recover his body.

Vickie Jones, who raised the young man, described him as a happy-go-lucky person who was always hugging people. She said Oldcastle Coastal had shut down its operations for several days in the week prior to her son’s death, “because of machinery malfunction or whatever. Now my son is dead. It’s more than a freak accident to me.”

The office environment has relatively few hazardous chemicals and no heavy or moving machinery. However, like their production counterparts, office employees should know what to do in case of an emergency, be provided with a safe and efficient work station, and have periodic safety training.

To recognize potential problems and implement solutions, consider the following suggestions:

Practice Good Housekeeping
A key aspect of office safety is proper handling and storage of materials and supplies. This includes trash removal and recycling, destruction of discarded, sensitive company information, and maintenance of the premises, including removal of ice and snow. Supplies and stationery should be kept where they are easily accessible, with proper step-stools and ladders provided for hard-to-reach areas.

Control Hazardous Materials
Each employee should be made aware of all hazardous materials they might contact in their work area. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) should be provided for each hazardous substance used, along with instructions for safe handling, use and disposal.

Prevent Back Injury
Train employees how to lift safely. Remind them, safe lifting includes knowing their limitations, getting help if an item is too heavy, lifting with the legs instead of the back, keeping items close, and not twisting when lifting and lowering.

Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls
Arrange or cover wiring (electrical, telephone, computers etc.) to eliminate the possibility of trips and falls. This includes wiring under desks. Traffic areas should be clear of boxes, cartons and other materials. Make sure floors are kept from becoming slippery and spills are cleaned up quickly. Throw rugs should have a non-slip backing.

Keep File Cabinets Orderly
Drawers from file cabinets should not open into high-traffic areas. Distribute cabinet contents evenly to prevent tipping. Drawers should be closed immediately to prevent strike injuries and tip-overs.

Be Prepared for Fire
Ensure fire alarms and smoke detectors are available and in good working order. Extinguishers must be easy to locate, and employees should know how to use them.

Keep from Getting Zapped
Proper use of electrical outlets and cords will greatly reduce the possibility of fire or shock. Make sure you have approved surge protectors and a sufficient number of electrical outlets in your work area. Plug power strips directly into wall outlets and not into other power strips or extension cords. Always unplug the equipment before attempting adjustments or repairs.

Maintain Environmental Quality
Air that is too hot or cold, or fouled by cigarette smoke and other pollutants, can place physical and psychological stress, thus reducing an employee’s efficiency. Quality problems can arise in newer, energy-efficient buildings as well as older ones.

Be Ergonomically Correct
Work stations should be designed to minimize or remove stress placed on the body, particularly through use of personal computers. Measures can be taken to reduce eye strain and the amount of reaching, bending, and routine hand-wrist movements that lead to fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort.

Be Ready with First Aid
Every workplace should have at least the basic first aid supplies and equipment required for an operation of its size and the types of hazards to which its employees might be exposed. Adequate training should be provided for designated first aid personnel, and all employees should know how, where, and from whom they will get attention.

Have an Emergency Action Plan
Your company should have a plan in place to control events and minimize the effects of an emergency. Such a plan can include: evacuation routes, meeting areas and employee accounting procedure; notification of emergency services; personal injury and property damage response; and protection of company information, both hard copy and electronic media.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to do just about everything. Make sure you’re doing everything to ensure yours is the right way.

Use this checklist from OHS Insider to see if your workplace is taking adequate steps to protect the health and safety of your older workers.

Additional _____________________________________________
Completed by:__________________________________________
Date:_____________________________

In many occupations personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed as a barrier against injuries. You need the right safety gear for the tasks you perform, and you need PPE that’s in good shape, so it performs as it should and protects you against hazards. Share this checklist with workers and train them on what PPE to wear and how to take care of it.

Eye Protection

Maintain your eye protection by frequently inspecting it for dirt and scratches.
Check protective eyewear is clean before use and clean it during the day.
If scratched, make sure that you replace your eyewear with a clean, unscratched pair.

Face Protection

Face protection should be inspected for dirt and scratches on a regular basis.
If face protection becomes dirty or scratched, it should be cleaned or replaced.

Head Protection

Hard hats must be properly adjusted to ensure the suspension system will distribute the impact evenly over the entire head.
The hard hat should fit securely on the head to prevent it from slipping or falling off.
Wear your hard hat directly on top of your head, with the brim facing forward.
Hard hats must be inspected regularly and replaced if the shell or suspension is damaged or they have sustained a hit/impact.
Hard hats will last longer if they are not stored in sunlight or heat.

Hearing Protection

Wear your hearing protection in posted areas.
Wash your hands thoroughly before inserting hearing protection and make sure the earplugs are clean.

Hand Protection

Inspect gloves prior to use and replace them if they are torn, cracked, worn thin or have holes.
Check the safety data sheet (SDS) or speak with your supervisor before handling hazardous materials.
Wear the right type of glove for the task.

Foot Protection

Inspect the soles of safety shoes often to ensure they are providing good traction and check the rest of the boot or shoe meets safety standards.
Replace them when the steel toe insert becomes exposed, the treads are worn or any part of the boot is cracked or worn thin.