The workplace is where millions of Americans earn their livings and is the backbone of American society. Unfortunately, many careers and employers subject their workers to dangerous environments, techniques and tools in order to get the job done. It can be something as simple yet tragic as a fall from…
According to recent research by Penn State’s Department of Architectural Engineering, using Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) will improve construction site safety by observing and evaluating the safety of temporary structures found on construction sites. Defined by the National Science Foundation, CPS are “engineered systems that are built from, and depend on,…
Yesterday afternoon, a wall collapsed at the former Wollaston Theatre in Quincy, trapping two workers under the debris. The two workers were employees of Jamie McGuinness & Sons working on a demolition when the wall collapsed. One worker, 40-years-old, was on a cherry picker and jumped down landing on the…
According to the Boston Herald, almost 900 drivers crashed into work zones on Massachusetts highways and roadways last year. This 35 percent spike has state police concerned. In response, law enforcement is increasing patrol efforts during summer months when deadly work zone wrecks are at their highest. The Herald report…
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 4,821 workers were killed due to work-related accidents and illnesses in 2014. That is the equivalent to 13 deaths per day. Latino and Hispanic workers accounted for a disproportionately large number of those fatalities, with 804 on-the-job deaths. It is common…
Two weeks ago, a construction worker working at the Hartford Hospital site in Hartford, Connecticut fell three stories, a total of more than 60 feet, when the scaffolding he was working on collapsed. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials says that the worker, a 47 year old employee of…
Cases of faulty anchor bolts and concrete collapses are not unheard of. These materials are used in almost every Massachusetts building, tunnel, bridge, and piece of infrastructure because they can be so secure and durable. However, if improperly constructed, malfunctions can occur that can cause serious injuries or fatalities. Common…
In April, events across Massachusetts paid tribute to the 63 MA workers killed on-the-job in 2015. In addition to honoring the victims and their families, ‘Workers’ Memorial Day’ also served to highlight worker safety in general. According to Jeff Newton, membership and communications coordinator for the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational…
A man was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries on Monday morning, following a small explosion at a Tewksbury work site. The Tewksbury Fire and Police departments responded immediately. According to the Tewksbury Fire Marshall, the explosion resulted from a fire in a box truck that contained…
In a 2015 study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction-related fatalities increased nearly six percent in 2014 compared to the previous year. In fact, at 874 reported deaths, 2014 had the highest total since 2008. Many of these fatalities occur in major cities, such as Boston…