OSHA investigated four workplace fatalities in fiscal year 2015
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning Valley saw four workplace-fatality investigations by OSHA this past year.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the fatalities in Mahoning County from October 2014 through the end of September 2015 compared with four fatalities – three in Mahoning County and one in Trumbull County – during fiscal year 2014.
During fiscal year 2015, three fatalities in Youngstown and one in Struthers were investigated in Mahoning County. During fiscal year 2014, two fatalities in Youngstown and one in Alliance in Stark County were investigated.
The fatalities were three struck-by (involving heavy equipment or vehicles), three falls and one fire/burns.
In Trumbull County, in fiscal year 2014, one fatality was investigated in Niles in which a worker was caught in a machine.
Columbiana County had no fatalities the last two fiscal years inspected by OSHA.
The Vindicator previously reported Ohio had the second-highest number of fatalities during fiscal year 2015 for its OSHA region, which also includes Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.
Ohio had 52 fatalities investigated compared with 45 the previous year. Illinois had the most this year with 56 compared with 45 the previous year.
For fiscal year 2015, Indiana had one death investigated; Wisconsin had 31; and Michigan had none.
OSHA investigated a total of 140 workforce deaths during fiscal year 2015 compared with 106 investigations during fiscal year 2014.
The data show construction accidents going up from 2014 to 2015. There were 57 construction fatalities investigated in fiscal year 2015 compared with 34 during fiscal year 2014.
“There has been a lot more construction activity,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA area director. “Some of the possible things that contributed to that would be new companies with newer workers.”
Eberts recommends all companies have a focus on pre-planning safety at the workplace, and to use the OSHA consultation service.
“There also should be training for the employees on how to do their jobs safely,” Eberts said.