Weekly Toll

How workers died last week: Forklift, logging, construction, machinery, vehicle incidents, shootings, hurricane work.  On average, over 100 workers are killed every week in the United States due to traumatic injuries suffered at work. More than 20 times as many die from occupational diseases, many due to exposure to hazardous substances many years before they died. 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. Nevertheless the accounts below gave you a taste of the preventable carnage occurring in workplaces across the country every day.

Colfax resident killed in workplace accident

GRANT PARISH, La. (KALB) – A Colfax resident was killed in a workplace accident, according to the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office. GPSO said it responded to an emergency call of a workplace accident at Hunt Plywood, which is north of Pollock. When deputies arrived, they discovered that Shaun Hicks, 28, died as a result of an injury involving machinery at the mill.

Man dead after being struck by forklift at Monroe County chicken house, sheriff’s office says

MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — A man was killed Monday morning after being struck by a forklift at a Monroe County chicken house, according to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office confirms the accident happened at Vanhuss Poultry in Smarr, which is located on Rumble Road. They say Gary Patterson, 68, of Fairmount was killed during the workplace accident on Monday. The sheriff’s office says they responded to the scene just after 7 a.m.

Truck driver killed in Costa Mesa crash; intersection to be closed for at least 6 hours

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) — A commercial truck driver was killed Monday morning in a major crash in Costa Mesa. The collision occurred at the intersection of Fairview Road and Sunflower Avenue. It’s unclear what caused the crash. The Costa Mesa Police Department said the area will be closed for about six hours as part of the investigation. Drivers are urged to take an alternate route.

West Sacramento firefighter dies in line of duty during training, officials say

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An 18-year veteran of the West Sacramento Fire Department died in the line of duty on Monday morning, officials said. Tim Hall, 59, a fire investigator with the fire department, died during a regional training training exercise at UC Davis, the city officials said. Hall was not injured in a training accident, and his death is “more likely health related,” according to the city.

Construction worker dies in Miami Beach: Officials

Miami Beach, FL — A construction worker died Thursday in Miami Beach, according to authorities. The City of Miami Beach said it happened on 74th Street and Ocean Terrace at around 11:22 a.m. They did not reveal who died or what caused the death. Images from the scene showed a construction vehicle on its side. The area was taped off, and authorities and construction workers could be seen standing by the scene.

Ga. assistant chief killed after tree falls on vehicle during storm

BLACKSHEAR, Ga. — A firefighter lost his life during Tropical Storm Helene. Vernon “Leon” Davis, a part-time assistant fire chief in Blackshear, was killed on Sept. 27 when a tree fell on his vehicle during Tropical Storm Helene, First Coast News reported. Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright said Davis had just been clearing up downed trees and power lines before he was killed. Davis had served as a firefighter for over 30 years.

Worker dies in industrial accident, police say

HILLSBORO Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) – A person died in a workplace industrial accident in Oregon Tuesday morning, according to local authorities. Officials with Hillsboro Fire & Rescue said first responders were called to respond to the intersection of SE Cornelius Pass Road and SE Kinnaman Street in South Hillsboro at around 10 a.m. When they arrived, they reportedly found one person dead. No one else appeared to have any injuries. Hillsboro Fire & Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team was called to assist with the recovery of the body, due to the “complexity” of the accident. No other details about the cause of the accident or the victim’s identity have been made available.

Road worker struck, killed on rural highway by 18-year-old driving semitruck

NEWLAND, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – An 18-year-old semitruck driver struck and killed a road worker on a highway in Missouri on Tuesday, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol. The crash happened around 11:15 a.m. on MO State Highway O, a two-lane road with no shoulder in rural Pettis County. Highway patrol said the 18-year-old was driving a semitruck when he hit 60-year-old Jay Bone, a Missouri Department of Transportation worker. Bone was declared dead at the scene. On Wednesday, the Missouri Department of Transportation Kansas City announced that Bone was a senior maintenance worker in the line of duty when he was hit.

Crash that killed Oswego County deputy was ‘simply an accident,’ sheriff says

Volney, N.Y. — A two-car crash that killed an Oswego County deputy Wednesday morning was “simply an accident,” according to Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton. Deputy Cailee Campbell, 33, was responding to a call with her lights on when her cruiser and a car collided in Volney, according to Hilton. She was responding to a vehicle crash, sheriff’s deputies said Wednesday evening. Around 6:42 a.m. Campbell drove through the intersection of Route 176 and Rowlee Road, Hilton said. Campbell’s cruiser and a car collided, he said. “The department doesn’t have a lot of particulars as to what went wrong,” Hilton told Syracuse.com |The Post-Standard Wednesday. Hilton said it’s possible the other driver did not see Campbell’s cruiser.

Construction Worker Killed After Being Run Over By Heavy Equipment In Newhall

Newhall, CA — On Friday afternoon, a construction worker died after being run over by heavy machinery in Newhall. Friday, first responders received reports of a traffic collision involving a pedestrian on Arcadia Street in Newhall, said Maria Grycan, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “A construction worker was struck by a vehicle,” Grycan said. The pedestrian was transported to the hospital in unknown condition, according to officials.

Construction worker dies after accident on Upstate job site

Lyman, SC — A man is dead after a workplace accident in the Upstate. The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office says 57 year old Kevin Flynn Of Laurens died at a construction site, this morning. Flynn was working on a retaining wall in Lyman when an excavator reportedly fell through the wall and trapped Flynn under it. OSHA has been notified and is investigating the fatal incident.

Summerville man dead after Friday workplace accident in Goose Creek

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCIV) — One man is dead after a fatal accident at Century Aluminum in Goose Creek facility in Goose Creek, according the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office. The coroners office identified the man as 61-year-old Daniel E. McCoy of Summerville. McCoy worked for Century Aluminum, a global metals and mining company. McCoy suffered a 15-foot fall at the company’s Mt. Holly facility in Goose Creek. He was transported by EMS after the fall with traumatic injuries and died at the hospital. The case is being investigated by OSHA and the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office.

Brawley Sewer Plant Worker Reportedly Falls to Death

BRAWLEY, CA — A worker at the city of Brawley’s wastewater treatment plant appears to have died on the job on midday Saturday, Sept. 28, following a fall in which he hit his head, according to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office activity logs. Little information was available on Sunday morning, Sept. 29, but the logs state the man was injured around noon and was a 64-year-old sewer plant worker. Fire crews were on scene when the Imperial County Coroner’s Office was requested at 12:18 p.m. at the plant on 5015 Best Road north of Brawley. The plant is accessible from a dirt road off Best Road and about 2,000 feet west of Best. No other information was immediately available. Presumably investigators with Cal/OSHA-Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which investigates workplace accidents, was called in Saturday, but no mention was made in the log entry.

St. Louis Sheriff’s Deputy Dies After Collapsing On Duty

St Louis, MO — On Wednesday, St. Louis Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Boyd was found unresponsive outside of headquarters. The 20-year veteran died at the hospital following a medical emergency. “Got out of his car and fell dead,” said St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts. “I’ve had three to die on my watch, and it hurts.” Sheriff Betts said staff members rushed to the deputy’s aid and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Betts told First Alert 4 that Boyd collapsed during his morning shift. He leaves behind a loving wife.

Man killed in logging accident in Russell County

JABEZ, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Liberty, Kentucky, man was killed in a logging accident in Russell County, according to the Russell County Coroner’s Office. A release from the office says that 25-year-old Luke Dee Wilson was “struck by a small dead tree that had been dislodged while falling a bigger tree.” The coroner says Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene. Wilson worked with both his dad and uncle in their family logging business, the release adds.

Kansas City aviation department employee dies after suffering medical emergency on the job

Kansas City, KS — Kansas City aviation employee died Sept. 18 after suffering a medical emergency while working at Kansas City International Airport. First responders rendered aid to Austin Brooks, 31, before he was transported to a local hospital where he died. Brooks came to the aviation department in 2016 to start his career as a maintenance mechanic in the field maintenance division. Regarded as an expert equipment operator by his peers, his responsibilities included runway and taxiway safety, snow removal and airfield pavement maintenance. He also was responsible for landscaping and fence repair, according to the city.

Workplace death in Dayton under investigation by OSHA

Dayton, ME — A Maine man is dead after being hit by a front-end loader at his workplace in Dayton. Maine State Police say 43-year-old Cory Maddox of East Waterboro was walking across the yard of Dayton Sand and Gravel Monday when he was hit by the bucket of a front-end loader that was being operated by another worker. Maddox died at the scene and the incident is under investigation by OSHA. Police say there is no sign of criminal activity in the incident.

Truck hits picketers, kills United Auto Workers member on strike in Jackson

JACKSON, MI – Over 100 people holding lighted candles packed the corner of E. Michigan and S. East avenues on Sunday, Sept. 29. Family, friends and members of United Auto Workers were there to show their support for a union member who died after being struck by a vehicle while picketing near Eaton Aerospace in Jackson, President of UAW Local 475 Donnie Huffman said. Around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, two trucks were driving fast on E. Michigan Avenue, when one hopped over the curb and struck five members picketing on the sidewalk, Huffman said. In a statement on social media, Jackson Mayor Daniel Mahoney said three people were in critical condition and one died. The UAW represents Eaton Aerospace employees and members of Local 475 have been on strike outside Eaton in Jackson since Sept. 16, following the expiration of the union employee contract.

Kentucky man hit, killed by commercial truck while loading vehicle on I-64.

Bath County, KY — A Kentucky man was struck and killed Wednesday while trying to load a disabled vehicle onto a wrecker, according to Kentucky State Police. The collision happened in Bath County. The driver, 54-year-old Troy Caldwell, of Morehead, was loading a vehicle onto a rollback-type wrecker on Interstate 64 when a commercial truck hit him, according to a release. State police received a call about the collision at 5:17 p.m.

23-year-old killed on the job while helping driver who broke down

New Orleans, Louisana — A 23-year-old worker was tragically killed on the job by a driver who ran off the road, Louisiana police said. Eric Anthony Jr., a Motorist Assistance Patrol Operator with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, was helping a driver with a flat tire in New Orleans Sept. 24 when a Nissan Rogue moved into the right shoulder of the road and hit him, Louisiana State Police said in a statement. TOP VIDEOS State troopers responded to the crash shortly after 2 p.m. and transported Anthony to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the statement. Police said Anthony had set up traffic cones behind his vehicle, which also had emergency lights on and an illuminated signboard on top of it. He was standing near the vehicle getting tools to help fix the driver’s tire when he was struck by a Nissan Rogue, according to the statement.

Food delivery driver shot dead during robbery in Calumet City, Illinois

CALUMET CITY, Ill. (CBS) – A food delivery worker was shot and killed during a robbery Thursday evening, Calumet City police said. Around 8 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Merrill for the report of a robbery. Upon arrival, officers found a 23-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Officers provided trauma care to the victim. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. Preliminary investigation into the shooting revealed that the victim was delivering food in the area at the time of the incident

2 S.C. firefighters killed as Hurricane Helene moved across state

SALUDA COUNTY, S.C. — Two volunteer firefighters in rural South Carolina were killed Friday morning, responding to a call as Hurricane Helene rolled through the area. The firefighters worked for the volunteer-staffed fire service in Saluda County , which sits on the other side of Lexington County from Columbia and has about 19,000 residents.  The S.C. Highway Patrol confirmed that two people were killed when a tree fell on a 2000 Navistar fire truck traveling along Beulah Road in Saluda County at 6:32 a.m. The Highway Patrol continues to investigate the incident. Officials said 53-year-old Fire Chief Chad Satcher died after a tree fell on top of his truck. Another firefighter died alongside Satcher, identified as 18-year-old Landon Bodie.

Perrysburg TWP firefighter dies after a battle with occupational cancer

Perrysburg Township, Ohio (WTVG) – The Perrysburg Township Fire & EMS Department announced the death of one of their fighterfighters and paramedics on Friday. Troy Bernhard died after a long battle with occupational cancer. He had worked at the the Perrysburg Township Fire Department for 28 years, according to a statement from the department. Bernhard is survived by his wife, Rachel, and their children Samantha and Joseph.

Driver killed in logging truck crash in Maine

West Forks, Maine — One person is dead after a tractor-trailer carrying tree logs crashed in West Forks, Maine, on Friday. Somerset County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer shortly after 3 p.m. Friday on Route 201 in West Forks, News Center Maine reports. According to a preliminary investigation, a fully loaded 2018 Western Star tractor-trailer was carrying tree-length logs while traveling south on Route 201 near the intersection with Pierce Road when it left the roadway and struck several trees, WJAR reports. The driver, who was reportedly not wearing his seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene, WJAR reports. He has since been identified 60-year-old Leland Moore, of Madison.

ABC Garbage employee dies in Rural Hall accident, NC Department of Labor confirms

Rural Hall, NC — An employee with ABC Garbage has died, according to the North Carolina Department of Labor. Officials said the death occurred during an accident in Rural Hall on Monday, and the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division is investigating.

Deadly warehouse shooting in Fairburn: DHL employee killed amid dispute

FAIRBURN, Ga. – Police in Fairburn are investigating a deadly shooting at a warehouse on Monday evening. Officers were called around 7:20 p.m. to the DHL warehouse located at 130 Whitewater Place for a report of a shooting. According to the Fairburn Police Department, officers found 29-year-old Deontaye Johnson suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics pronounced Johnson dead at the scene. Investigators say the shooting stemmed from a dispute. Yellow crime scene tape surrounded the building well into the evening. A small crowd of onlookers had gathered just beyond. Among the crowd was the victim’s father, Leontaye Johnson. “He has been lying on the ground since 7 o’clock,” he said.

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