weekly toll

How workers died last week. Two women killed in forklift incidents, bridge collapse, dog attack, shootings, cotton gin and vehicular incidents.   Almost 100 workers are killed every week in the United States due to traumatic injuries suffered at work. On average, almost 100 workers are killed every week in the United States due to traumatic injuries suffered at work. Over 20 times as many die from occupational diseases, many due to exposure to hazardous substances many years before they died, or from COVID-19 acquired at work. The few narratives below (gathered from almost 100 Google News searches) do not come close to capturing the full toll that work takes on the working people of this country — even in normal years, much less during the COVID pandemic. Nevertheless the accounts below gave you a taste of the preventable carnage occurring in workplaces across the country every day.

1 Construction Worker Dies in Bridge Collapse in Missouri

KEARNEY, Mo. (AP) — One construction worker died and two others were injured Wednesday when a bridge under construction in northwest Missouri collapsed, officials said. Workers were pouring concrete for the deck of the bridge when it fell, Clay County officials said. The bridge, which was replacing an older bridge, spanned Carroll Creek in a rural area near Kearney, about 27 miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City. The other two workers sustained minor injuries and were able to free themselves from the rubble, Clay County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Sarah Boyd said.  The man has been identified as Connor Ernst, 22, of California, Missouri.

Man killed in accident at Wyoming truck parts supplier

WYOMING, Mich— A man died at a truck parts supplier in Wyoming in what police called a workplace accident. It happened around 7:30 a.m. at Weller Truck Parts on Gezon Parkway near Burlingame Avenue in Wyoming, according to Wyoming Police.

Death at Pepsi warehouse in Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A woman is dead and OSHA is investigating after an industrial accident at the Pepsi Bottling Group warehouse in Columbia.  According to the incident report from Columbia Police, the woman was operating a forklift machine just before midnight Monday when she collided with a storage shelf.  Another employee told police he drove by thinking his co-worker was pulling a Halloween prank, when he noticed blood and realized this was a serious incident.

Amazon Driver Killed in Suspected Dog Attack While Delivering Package

Excelsior Springs, MO– An Amazon delivery driver died Monday after delivering a package to a home with two dogs that law enforcement described as aggressive. Neighbors to the Excelsior Springs, Missouri, home called the police after noticing an Amazon delivery vehicle idling at the curb for a couple hours. Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers said that the man’s wounds were consistent with dog bites, but that the official cause of death isn’t known yet. Childers said he hopes to have the coroner’s determination on the cause of death by Wednesday afternoon. Dog bites are a major concern for Amazon delivery drivers, who typically work for small companies that contract with Amazon to make deliveries.

Man in Hudson dies unloading dumpster

HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A man in Hudson was killed while unloading a dumpster.  On Monday around 11:20 a.m., the Greenport Rescue Squad was sent to the area of Long Alley for reports that a dumpster had fallen on Brett Cathline, age 55. All available Hudson Police Department responded to the scene and performed lifesaving measures, including CPR without any success. The victim was reportedly an employee of the disposal company and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives spoke to witnesses, and the dumpster allegedly fell on the victim while it was being lowered from a truck. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was notified of the work accident.

Coroner releases name of man who died in grain elevator incident in Seward

SEWARD, Ill. (WTVO) — First responders were called to a grain elevator in Seward on Tuesday morning on reports of an unconscious person. The incident happened at ADM Grain Company, 16100 3rd Street around 8:49 a.m. According to the Winnebago County Coroner, the employee, Brian Lovett, a 63-year-old man from Winnebago, suffered cardiac arrest and fell onto one of the walkways at the top of the grain bin.“ ADM employee had a medical event, and he was on top of the large grain bin,” said Pecatonica Fire Deputy Chief Todd Haas. “He fell onto the conveyor system, he just went down. He was up there doing an inspection and he went down.” Todd said that someone was up on the scaffolding between the two bins performing CPR on the worker when crews arrived.

Gas tanker truck driver killed following crash and explosion in Ohio

Stow, Ohio — A tanker truck driver lost his life early Friday morning in a crash in Stow, Ohio. The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. on October 28. A tanker truck driver hauling gasoline overturned on State Road 8 between Steels Corners Road and Graham Road near mile marker 8. The crash resulted in an explosion. By the time that rescue crews arrived on the scene, the truck was fully engulfed in flames. The truck driver died in the crash. His identity has not yet been released.

Man Killed in Cotton Gin Accident at BF&M Co-op in Rosebud, TX

Rosebud, TX — October 26, 2022, a man was killed as the result of a work accident involving a cotton gin at B F & M Co-op. Falls County Sheriff’s Office officials said the incident happened at around 4:00 p.m. at B F & M Co-op located in the 600 block of FM 1671. Right now, the exact cause of the accident remains unclear. Sources say only that a man became “stuck” in a cotton gin. Due to this, the man sustained fatal injuries. No further information is available at this time.

Beaumont man dies in railcar accident

Beaumont. TX — Richard Garza, a 66-year-old contractor, was involved in a railcar accident and died at the scene, according to a Facebook post from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an emergency call just after midnight Friday morning from the Beaumont Lubricant Blending and Packaging Plant in Beaumont, the post said.

London, Kentucky officer killed by alleged drunk driver in early morning crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A London, Kentucky police officer is dead after an early morning crash. According to Kentucky State Police, the officer was hit in a “head on crash” just before 1 a.m. Sunday morning. The crash occurred at the intersection of South Main Street and KY 229 Barbourville Street in Laurel County. London PD officer Logan Medlock was killed in a crash with an alleged drunk driver on Oct. 30, 2022. A preliminary investigation shows that a truck operated by Casey Byrd, 36, of Oneida, Tennessee, was traveling on KY 225. His vehicle then entered the intersection of South Main Street and struck a police cruiser traveling southbound. Police say the force from the collision caused both vehicles into the A.R. Dyche Cemetery which damaged several headstones. Medlock was pronounced dead on scene and Byrd was not injured in the collision.

Employee found shot to death in parking lot of Commonwealth Avenue business

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was found shot to death Thursday in the parking lot of a business on Commonwealth Avenue at Clayton Road, authorities said. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said police responded around 11:50 a.m. to a person shot in the area of the business. When they arrived, officers said, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot. He died at the scene, according to police. The business, Mobile Communications America, identified the man as an employee. At a 3 p.m. media briefing, Sgt. Ed Cayenne, with the JSO Homicide Unit, said detectives are checking with staff at the business to uncover what led up to the shooting, seeing if there is surveillance video that can help with the investigation and interviewing witnesses. According to witnesses, there was some sort of skirmish that escalated into violence and ended with at least two shots being fired.

Truck driver dies, pinned between 2 vehicles

TOPEKA, KS – A 71-year-old truck driver died Wednesday in Geary County when he became pinned between a power unit and another semi-tractor trailer. Amazon delivery driver found dead in yard. Major Willie Washington, 71, of Kansas City, Missouri, was outside of his 2009 Peterbilt when the truck started rolling forward. Washington tried to get back into the truck when he became pinned between his truck and another semi-trailer, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Semi truck driver killed in industrial accident at Standale Lumber identified

GRANDVILLE, Mich. — The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is investigating an accident at Standale Lumber that resulted in the death of a semi-truck driver. The 51-year-old driver was killed in an accident Wednesday morning around 11 a.m. after a load of lumber fell from a trailer and struck him. The man was identified as Levi Linton of Ontario, Canada. The Grandville Police Department was dispatched the scene with assistance from the Grandville Fire Department and Life EMS Ambulance.

Security guard killed in shooting outside of DeKalb County nightclub

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – Police are investigating a shooting outside a DeKalb County nightclub and flea market that left one security guard dead and another hospitalized early Tuesday morning. FOX 5 cameras found an active scene and heavy police presence outside the Cosmopolitan Premier Lounge on the 4500 block of Glenwood Road near Interstate 285. Investigators believe there was a dispute inside the club and customers were told to leave. Once outside, the suspect started firing, hitting the two security guards, police say.

Worker dies after falling from tree in Ellwood City

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (KDKA) – A worker is dead after he fell from a tree in Ellwood City, the fire chief said. The man fell 30 feet while working on a tree on Division Road on Tuesday. The Ellwood City fire chief said he didn’t hit the ground but suffered cardiac arrest. He was hanging upside down for about 20 minutes until rescues could lower him to the ground. A branch the man was cutting fell and struck him, causing the ladder to topple over, the fire chief said. The man’s identity hasn’t been released.

Woman killed in forklift crash at supplier to Detroit Three

Sterling Heights, MI — A 25-year-old New Haven woman has been killed in a forklift crash at a Sterling Heights auto supplier plant, according to police. Dayzia Kelly, 25, was killed early Monday when the forklift she was driving fell on top of her at a Sterling Heights plant.The woman was driving a forklift at the Metalsa plant at 40117 Mitchell Drive when the machine turned on its side and on top of her, according to an email from Sterling Heights Police Lt. Mario Bastianelli. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened about 12 a.m. According to its website, Metalsa is a supplier to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, under its U.S. operating name of FCA.

Crane company employee killed in incident at Eastman Chemical in Longview

HARRISON COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) – One person was killed in an incident involving a crane at the Eastman Chemical Company in Longview, Monday. Captain Tyler Owen with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident was fatal and said deputies are at the scene. Kristin Parker with the Eastman Chemical Company said the man who was killed was an employee of Joyce Crane. She was not aware of any others being injured.

Owner of Ashford peanut mill killed in accident

ASHFORD, Ala. (WTVY) – The owner of an Ashford peanut mill died Tuesday when he was accidentally struck by a tractor at his business. Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd identified him as Glenn Pate, 68. “Mr. Pate and another man were attempting to hook up a couple of peanut trailers when the unfortunate accident occurred,” Byrd told News 4. He said after the driver got off the tractor to help Pate, the vehicle rolled backwards and onto Pate. Byrd pronounced Pate dead at the scene. Pate owned Dixie Peanut Company along Rocky Creek Road in Ashford.

Mount Pleasant fire captain dies after ‘tragic accident’

MOUNT PLEASANT, TX — Mount Pleasant Fire Department Capt. Robby Bragg died over the weekend, according to a media release from the city. Bragg, 46, succumbed to injuries sustained in a “tragic accident while visiting friends in the Tyler area” on Thursday night, according to the city. The city said Bragg was a valued member of the fire department family for 28 years.

St. Cloud man killed co-worker after she rejected his advances

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (FOX 9) – A St. Cloud man has been charged with killing a co-worker who prosecutors say rejected his advances. Michael Carpenter, 36, has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting a co-worker, 28-year-old Nicole Hammond, in the parking lot of their workplace on Lincoln Avenue Northeast in St. Cloud at 6:59 a.m. on October 24. Prosecutors, citing cell phone records, say Carpenter was harassing his co-worker. Those who worked with the victim and the suspect told investigators they knew Carpenter had made several unwanted advances over the past month, but her employer says nothing was ever reported to management. “Unfortunately, we had no idea,” said Hammond’s boss Rob Dubow. “Any time there is anything that requires our intervention we step in. But in this case we had no indication that there was anything awry.” Witnesses told police they saw Carpenter shoot and kill Hammond Monday morning while she was getting out of her car outside their workplace.

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