Construction Worker Critically Injured in Trench Collapse
- A 25-year-old construction worker from Newburgh sustained life-threatening injuries after a trench collapsed at a residential job site in Valley Cottage on February 17.
- The worker was performing duties inside the trench when both sides caved in, burying him under a significant amount of soil.
- Coworkers managed to pull him from the excavation before emergency responders arrived and transported him to the hospital in critical condition.
- Following the incident, the town building department issued a stop-work order while OSHA and local police conduct an investigation into the site’s safety standards.
Staff Absences at Oregon State Hospital Fuel Alarming Safety Risks
- Oregon State Hospital faces a severe workplace safety crisis, with high vacancy rates forcing staff into excessive, mandatory overtime.
- Frontline workers describe a high-risk environment where understaffing raises fears of violence and critical patient safety errors.
- These systemic shortages have been linked to unexpected patient deaths and multiple federal safety violations.
- Burned-out employees are increasingly calling out, creating a dangerous cycle that undermines both staff security and patient care.
North Carolina Launches Push to Cut Struck-By Workplace Injuries
- North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley is initiating a targeted campaign against “struck-by” incidents, which have surpassed falls as the leading cause of workplace fatalities.
- This safety initiative focuses on protecting workers in construction and general industry from moving equipment and falling objects.
- Initial efforts prioritize employer education and specialized training to identify and mitigate these hazards.
- However, the program will follow up with enforcement actions and penalties for worksites that fail to comply with safety standards.