Workers' deaths expose numerous unsafe work conditions, false statements, distortion, misdirection
by contractor
Joey Hale and Ben Ricks had only been at work for three hours when they fell to their deaths June 4 in an elevator shaft at the former International Shoe Co. building at 1501 Washington Ave. near the City Museum.
Hale, 44, and Ricks, 58, both of St. Louis, were working in a spider basket suspended by a cable operated by a hoist six stories up inside the elevator shaft when it fell. Authorities said a safety cable snapped, but that only tells part of the story.
If the job was being performed properly, both men should also have been harnessed to secondary safety lines, secured outside of the basket, to prevent them from falling if the equipment failed.
Exactly what happened isnt clear. The City of St. Louis and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating.
https://labortribune.com/workers-deaths-expose-numerous-unsafe-work-conditions-false-statements-distortion-misdirection-by-contractor/
mountain grammy
(26,569 posts)buried alive when a trench caved in. The worker "watching" had taken a break. The GC decided a trench box wasn't necessary so a man died needlessly. He was a Mexican national with a family. Should be criminal charges against the contractor and a large settlement for the family, but my guess is the response will be "womp womp."
Scruffy1
(3,239 posts)OSHA has some pretty strict rules o protecting underground workers and so does my state. On a union job if you feel it is unsafe you call your safety officer. Without a unionthe workers don't know the rules and are afraid of losing their job. Many times II have seen contractors use migrant workers to perform unsafe jobs to maximize profits.
mountain grammy
(26,569 posts)I'm following this case. The feds and state are investigating. I want answers.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)and post updates as you discover them?
My first thought when I read your post, it that I would like to know the outcome, but unlikely, as it would get lost.
But this forum would be perfect to start a thread with notice of followups.
mountain grammy
(26,569 posts)I'm sure I'll know the GC if it's a local company. I plan to find out as much as I can and will let you know in this group.