Cal/OSHA fines aviation company in death of LAX baggage worker

Today's post is shared from the latimes.com

State officials fined an aviation services company $77,250 on Wednesday for five safety violations related to the death of a baggage worker in February at Los Angeles International Airport.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health leveled the penalty against Menzies Aviation, whose employee, Cesar Valenzuela, 51, died after being thrown from a baggage tug that did not have a functional seat belt.

Cal/OSHA investigators said seatbelts were required for the vehicle and that Menzies' safety policies related to baggage tugs did not require and even discouraged the use of restraints in certain areas of LAX.

"This fatality could have been prevented with a well thought out and implemented safety plan as is required for all worksites in California," said Christine Baker, director of the state Department of Industrial Relations.

Menzies and other aviation service companies contract with airlines to provide cabin cleaners, security personnel, custodians, wheel-chair assistants and baggage handlers.

The citations prompted union officials and service company employees to renew their calls for improvements to working conditions at LAX, the nation's third-busiest airport.

"Workers punching in at the start of a shift ought to be able to finish the day without risking their health or losing their life,"...


[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Related articles

• OSHA kicks off summer campaign to prevent heat-related illnesses and fatalities among outdoor workers (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Welcome to OSHA's Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Backing Construction Vehicles and Equipment at Roadway Construction Worksites (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• New App to Keep Workers Cool and Safe (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• OSHA Sanctions Chicago Company With $325,700 in Fines for Safety Violations (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• OSHA Cites NJ Recycling Company for Safety Violations Following Worker Amputation (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)

Welcome to OSHA's Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers

Today's post was shared by US Dept. of Labor and comes from www.osha.gov





Photos by: CAL-OSHA
HEAT ILLNESS CAN BE DEADLY. Every year, thousands of workers become sick from exposure to heat, and some even die. These illnesses and deaths are preventable.
OSHA's nationwide Heat Illness Prevention Campaign aims to raise awareness and teach workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather and provide valuable resources to address these concerns. Begun in 2011, the Heat Illness Prevention Campaign has reached more than 7 million people and distributed close to half a million fact sheets, posters, quick cards, training guides and wallet cards. OSHA is again joining with other federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations to spread the word about preventing heat illness. For example, OSHA is continuing its partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service to include worker safety precautions in their Excessive Heat Watch, Warning, and Advisory Products.
Available on this web page are numerous resources that can be used to prevent heat illnesses:

• The Educational Resources section links to information about heat illnesses and how to prevent them. Many of these resources target vulnerable workers with limited English proficiency and/or low literacy.
• The Using the Heat Index section provides guidance to employers to develop a heat illness prevention plan.
• The Training section includes a guide/lesson plan for employers and others to use in instructing workers on heat...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Related articles

• HEAT ILLNESSES: Labor Department launches campaign to protect outdoor workers in summer (thetandd.com)
• Cal/OSHA Issues High Heat Advisory as Temperatures Rise Across the State (payrollmasters.wordpress.com)
• Cal/OSHA Issues High Heat Advisory to Employers with Outdoor Workers (prnewswire.com)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety and Health Topics: Heat Stress (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• New App to Keep Workers Cool and Safe (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• OSHA Proposes Fines for NJ Uniform & Laundry Company (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• OSHA Cites Nebraska Food Supplement Plant for 10 Violations (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)