1. Fatal Injuries Declined 17 Percent in 2009

Preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries released Aug. 19 show a decline in workplace fatalities in 2009 of 17 percent, compared with 2008. Transportation injuries, still the number one workplace killer, dropped 21 percent.

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2. OSHA Proposes Another $374,500 in Fines Against Cooperative Plus

OSHA recently proposed penalties of $374,500 against Cooperative Plus Inc., a farmer-owned cooperative, for federal workplace safety violations at its Whitewater and Genoa City, Wis., sites. This action follows the $721,000 in penalties issued Aug. 4 after a worker was seriously injured from being engulfed by soybeans at the cooperative’s Burlington, Wis., facility in February.

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3. Protecting Your Back, Neck and Arms from 'Laptop-itis'

The symptoms are familiar to any employee working on the go or any student who has ever spent hours pounding out a paper on a laptop computer: an aching neck, throbbing head and tingling fingers.

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4. MSHA Releases Inspection Results from Targeted Mines with Suspected Unsafe Conditions

MSHA announced Aug. 24 the outcome of recent impact inspections at four underground coal mining operations where unsafe practices and conditions were suspected. MSHA inspectors uncovered numerous safety violations, including failure to follow the mine’s approved ventilation plan, inadequate roof support and accumulation of combustible materials.

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5. ASSE Urges OSHA to Utilize Consensus Standards When Developing Slips and Falls Rule

In an Aug. 19 letter to OSHA on the proposed Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment rule (29 CFR, Part 1910), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) urged the agency to utilize existing fall standards and the voluntary consensus standards as it develops the new rule.

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6. 33 Chilean Miners Found Alive, but Rescue May Be Months Away

Thirty-three Chilean miners who were trapped underground Aug. 5 when their mine collapsed were found alive 17 days later, giving their loved ones and the entire nation cause to celebrate. But the trapped miners still have a long road ahead, as officials say it could take up to 4 months to rescue them from the mine.

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