Notes:
- Seven of the 21 deaths listed here this week were from falls. Hard to believe. Gravity is not a recent discovery.
- “Only 21 deaths were listed this week. That’s all I could find in the media. But an average of 14 workers are killed on the job every day. That’s 98 per week. Sometimes I have as many as 40 listed in a week. So where are the other 60 to 80?
I guess they don’t even merit a short article in the local paper.
Company Owner Falls to Death While Cleaning Windows.
Spokane, WA — The owner of Pro Window Cleaning, Paul Gustafson, died after falling four stories while cleaning windows. [Source: Washington Department of Labor and Industries]
Georgia police officer killed in shooting
SNELLVILLE, Georgia (AP) — A Georgia police officer has been killed after being shot while responding to a suspicious vehicle parked near a middle school. Police say Gwinnett County police officer Antwan Toney died at a hospital. The 30-year-old had been with the department for nearly three years. The shooting happened Saturday about 3 p.m. near Shiloh Middle School. Authorities say the suspects crashed the vehicle a short time later and witnesses reported seeing as many as four people running from the scene. It’s unclear if any of the suspects were injured.
Construction worker killed by falling wood at GR development
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A construction worker was killed Saturday after a piece of wood flew free from a building being worked on in Grand Rapids. It happened around 2 p.m. at 50 Monroe Ave. NW, where crews are working to restore the buildings to their original appearance. Upon completion, there the buildings will be anchored by Townsquare media and its radio stations and a Marriott hotel run by Amway Corporation. Police said a piece of wood came free, striking and killing a worker on the ground inside the building. The worker was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Tree trimmer killed in 60-foot fall after boom bucket broke
HOLTON, Kan. (KSNT) – HOLTON, Kan. (KSNT) – Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says moist ground may have been a factor in Wednesday’s tragic crane crash. One man was killed, another seriously injured at a house in south Holton. Initially both men were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. However Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said John Zibell, 66, from Holton was later pronounced dead at the Holton hospital. The other man, now identified as 29 year-old Zachary Estrada, of Holton, sustained an amputation to his right arm and was transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Both men were thrown from a lift basket which was about 30 feet in the air, after the mobile crane carrying them overturned. The men were working on the three-story house’s roof at the time of the accident. The Sheriff said The men had been working from a large basket or work platform that was attached to the boom of the T-Rex forklift.
Florida firefighter dies while clearing Hurricane Michael debris
GULF COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida firefighter died Thursday after a tree fell on his tractor while he was helping family members to clear debris left by Hurricane Michael, officials with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies said Gulf County Fire Coordinator Brad Price, 49, of Wewahitchka, died at the scene. Price worked as a firefighter and paramedic in Bay County and previously worked for Lynn Haven Fire and Emergency Services.
City supervisor planting flowers struck, killed on Center Point Parkway median
Birmingham, AL — A Center Point city worker was killed Thursday when she was struck by a car. The crash happened at 11:15 a.m. in the 1500 block of Center Point Parkway. Chief Deputy Randy Christian said deputies responded to find the woman critically injured. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Center Point Mayor Tom Henderson said the victim was a city horticulturist who was planting flowers when she was struck. Authorities said it appears the victim was kneeling in the median when the driver of a small SUV apparently veered into the median and struck the woman. before crashing into two Center Point city work trucks that were unoccupied at the time. The driver was not injured.
Worker killed in machine accident at West Virginia coal mine
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia regulators said a coal mine employee died in a machinery accident. The Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training said Roger W. Herndon, 33, of Rainelle was struck in the side by a piece of steel auger drill. The accident occurred Wednesday at the Princess Polly Anna and JCT Enterprises surface mine in Greenbrier County. Herndon was pronounced dead at a hospital. Herndon was an auger helper at the mine.
Northern Colorado Man Dies in Workplace Accident
JOHNSTOWN, Colo. (AP) — A northern Colorado man has died in an accident at a manufacturer of doors and wood plank flooring in Johnstown. Weld County officials say a piece of wood thrown from a machine at Sun Mountain Custom Doors struck 54-year-old Steven Verle Deniston in the chest on Tuesday. The Milliken man was pronounced dead at the hospital in nearby Loveland.
CHEVRON WORKER DIES AFTER FALLING
Pascagoula, Mississippi — The contractor at Chevron in Pascagoula who died last night after falling on the job has been identified. Albert Lee Byrd the Second, an employee of Performance Contractor’s Inc., received fatal injuries after falling from an elevated structure at the Pascagoula Refinery. The limited details were released in a statement from Chevron. The Chevron Emergency Responders provided emergency support services on the scene and called an ambulance.
Smethport man killed in fall from McKean County plant roof
MOUNT JEWETT, Pa. — A Smethport man was killed when he fell about 90 feet from a roof while performing scheduled maintenance at the Georgia Pacific MDF plant near Mount Jewett early Monday. Michael J. Page, 41, was pronounced dead on the scene Monday by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill. Company spokesman Rick Kimble said the accident that led to Page’s death is still under investigation.
Worker Killed On Racetrack Remembered As ‘Sweet Man’
Monterey County, CA — The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has identified a track worker who died at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday as Edward Reins, 68, from Moss Landing. Reins was regulating the track with flags as a corner worker when he left his turn station and was hit by at least one racecar in the driving area, according to the race organizer, Exclusive Track Days. Organizers do not know why Reins entered the driving area, but said there was oil on the track due to a racecar experiencing technical difficulties and several participants lost traction in the area.
Saint David firefighter dies during training
ST. DAVID, AZ – A Saint David Fire District firefighter died in training Wednesday. According to Saint David Fire District, 36-year-old Joshua Eugin died during a multi-department training exercise. Eugin was taking part in a “blackout drill,” in which firefighters simulate rescuing victims inside a dark structure with fake smoke. Eugin collapsed at 8 p.m. EMTs treated him with CPR while a paramedic unit made its way to the scene. He was transported to the Benson Hospital emergency room. Eugin was pronounced dead at 10 p.m.
14 occupational fatalities per day, on average, some days more, some days fewer, but when we read about them it’s like HOLY *(*&@$^*@$^ how could all this stuff happen???
One thing is clear though, there is no possibility of ever making enough laws, rules, regulations to address all the ways there are to create accidents. It has to be a cultural, societal, corporate and individual ethic, all at the same time.
Reminds me of what Josef Stalin said when he orchestrated a famine in the Ukraine that killed millions: “A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.”
Oh the humanity…..
Thanks for news Jordan, but I don’t know how long I can take this stuff……