COVID-19 deaths in the United State topped 65,000 on the May 1st, the equivalent of wiping my entire hometown of Danville, California off of the map, with an extra 15,000 deaths thrown in for good measure. The virus now kills as many Americans as cancer and heart disease each day. As the country, and the world, enter various levels of lockdown, we find ourselves trapped inside with our families and roommates, searching for fragments of positive news that could point to a possible path back to normalcy.
In uncertain times, humans rely on optimism. We cling to every news article that highlights a potential vaccine or suggests that the curve may be flattening. Unfortunately, the reality is not as simple. We will see a return to normalcy. However, our interpretation of “normal” will change decidedly.
- US Department of Labor finds Amazon exposed workers to unsafe conditions, ergonomic hazards at three more warehouses in Colorado, Idaho, New York
- Federal investigation into fatal 2022 electrocution in Kansas City finds Midwest engineering services company again failed to protect workers
- Connecticut contractor’s failure to address hazards turns deadly when trench collapse buried worker at Vernon job site
- US Department of Labor revises OSHA’s Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program
- Penalties mount: Fined more than $15M since 2017, familiar Dollar General safety failures in 3 inspections in Florida, Alabama, add $387K more
- Department of Labor announces enforcement guidance changes to save lives, target employers who put profit over safety
- Facing manslaughter charges in worker’s 2021 trench collapse death, Colorado contractor who willfully ignored federal law surrenders to police
- Contratista que ignoró ley federal de seguridad se entrega a la policía al enfrentar cargos de homicidio involuntario por muerte de trabajador en 2021
- Deadly mix: Federal workplace safety investigations find severe injuries, fatality caused by steam explosions at 2 Ohio companies
- Department of Labor cites US Postal Service with 16 violations for endangering workers at 3 Tennessee facilities, proposes $350K in penalties
- US Department of Labor, Drywall and Acoustical Tile Contractors Association renew alliance to promote workplace safety
- US Department of Labor resumes regular enforcement activities in 18 Florida counties affected by Hurricane Ian
- In federal court, Alabama plastics manufacturer pleads guilty to willful safety regulation violation found in 2017 OSHA investigation into worker’s death
- Investigation into 41-year-old driver’s death finds two delivery services companies failed to protect workers transporting dry ice in Alabama
- Safety shelved: Federal safety inspectors again find Dollar General workers exposed to fire, other hazards – this time in West Lafayette, Ohio
