Workplace Injuries

• Tacoma Power Utility Worker Fatally Injured by Downed Pole

  Ryan Nute | January 04, 2007 9:02 AM | 0 CommentsTacoma, WA

  Barry Kensrud was severely injured in an accident that happened while he was attempting to cut through a downed power pole in order to get to a tree felled in the recent storms. Sadly, he died of his injuries Tuesday.It is not entirely clear how the accident happened. The Department of Labor & Industries is investigating. Apparently Mr. Kensrud was cutting through the pole to access the tree...

• Industry and State Officials Meet to Discuss Crane Safety

  Ryan Nute | December 19, 2006 12:11 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  You may have read about the fatal crane accident in Bellevue, Washington. Members of the construction industry and state regulators met to discuss crane safety last Monday.The particpants agreed that cranes and crane operators should undergo mandatory certification, but predictably did not agree on how safety rules should be enforced. Historically crane safety in Washington has been relatively...

• Rules for Cranes Come Under Review

  Michael Myers | December 17, 2006 12:01 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  A series of crane accidents in the Seattle area has highlighted the national decision to review the rules for crane erection and operation. Crane accidents have killed an injured construction workers and bystanders around the nation in recent months. These accidents have lead to safety reviews. The reviews have resulted in fines and illustrated the safety risks posed by cranes that do not...

• Crane Safety Is Major Construction Site Issue in 2006

  Michael Myers | December 13, 2006 6:38 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Recent inspections have disclosed cracks, loose welds and sheared bolts in cranes at construction sites in Bellevue and Redmond. Experts say needed maintenance and inspections have been neglected. Specifically, contractors aren't having their cranes inspected while they are on the ground in pieces. That may be due to a shortage of cranes, crane operators and crane erectors caused by a...

• Construction Worker Dies at Spokane Wastewater Treatment Plant

  Michael Myers | December 13, 2006 6:06 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  A large beam struck and killed a 26-year-old construction worker Tuesday at Spokane's wastewater treatment plant. The victim, Tizoc Gayton, lived in Post Falls, Idaho and worked for Garco Construction Inc.Mr. Gayton was removing shoring when a horizontal beam that was being removed fell on him.Constructions has been stopped while the accident is investigated by the state Department of Labor &...

• Fall At Rig Injurs Worker

  Michael Myers | August 15, 2006 9:23 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Chase Anderson was working about 20 feet above the sub floor on the EnCana drilling rig when he fell about 11 p.m. Friday night. He was transported to Kadlec, and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He suffered four, six inch gashes down to the skull. After testing, it was found he had abdominal bleeding and a fracture C-5 vertebrate. He also broke the tips off C-6 and C-7....

• Six Pipeline Workers Nearly Electrocuted

  Michael Myers | August 07, 2006 7:52 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Six pipeline workers were nearly electrocuted Thursday when their construction equipment either touched or got too close to high-voltage power lines.The accident happened east of Arlington underneath the Bonneville Power Administration's 230,000-volt Snohomish-to-Murray line.Arlington Fire Department Chief Jim Renkin said the workers were unloading sections of gas pipeline when the accident...

• Fatality in Boston's Big Dig

  Michael Myers | July 12, 2006 9:47 AM | 0 CommentsTacoma, WA

  On Monday, a thirty - eight year old woman was killed in one of Boston's "big dig" tunnels. According to the Washington Post, at least 12 tons of concrete fell on the woman's car. Her husband was driving and survived with minor injuries. The woman was seated on the passenger side and was crushed when the concrete collapsed. The couple had been on the way to the airport to pick up family...

• Abuses Reported at Alan Ritchey Plant

  Michael Myers | June 05, 2006 5:18 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  The Seattle PI ran an interesting story about the Alan Ritchey plant in Auburn, Washington. The story appears at the following link: Playing By The Rules Brings Trouble. Alan Ritchey is a fascinating company. In addition to running an MTESC center in Auburn, it engages in a number of other businesses. More about the MTESC center can be found at the following link: ARI MTESC. Alan Ritchey...

• Construction Site Accidents Governed by Detailed Safety Rules

  Michael Myers | June 03, 2006 9:10 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Traffic accidents are governed by a detailed set of rules (the "Rules of the Road") contained in the Revised Code of Washington. Slip and fall accidents are usually governed by common sense and what an ordinary person would consider "reasonable". Construction site accidents are governed by a very detailed and comprehensive set of rules in the Washington Administrative Code (the "WAC"). The...