The Weekly Toll

Worker killed in trench collapse
Official: Walls lacked required supports at Dixie Highway site

Kentucky safety officials are investigating a trench collapse that killed a 35-year-old worker yesterday.

Eric R. West, of Bedford, Ky., died at the scene. An autopsy will be performed today, said Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Rick Siclari.

And a warning to those tempted to rush in an rescue trench collapse victims:

Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Doug Atwell said he doesn't recommend that people try to rescue others who are trapped in a trench, because they risk becoming trapped themselves in another collapse. He said the trench's walls collapsed twice more yesterday as emergency workers labored to recover the body, but no one was hurt.

Contractor Cites 2nd Death In Fla. In The Past Week

TAMPA - A road construction worker helping to rebuild the downtown interchange of Interstates 275 and 4 was killed Tuesday night when a crane hit his head, authorities said. It was the second fatal accident in Florida this week for the contractor and the third since December.
James David Hall, of 125 Weeping Willow Road, Winter Haven, died a day before his 37th birthday, police said. ...

It was the second fatal accident in Florida in one week involving a Granite Construction employee.

A U.S. 98 bridge project in Panama City claimed the life of a worker July 23 when a scaffolding collapsed, dropping him and four others 50 feet into the water.

Electrocution accident kills two locals

PHENIX - Two men were killed and a third seriously wounded after they were electrocuted in an accident at 22 Pleasant St. in West Warwick yesterday.

Thomas D. Walker, 24, of Coventry and Jared D. Gendron, 18, of Hope, died when 7,200 volts of electricity penetrated their bodies. Kyle D. Moffat, 19 of Coventry was admitted to Kent County Memorial Hospital and is listed in good condition.

According to Narragansett Electric Vice President of Public Affairs Fred Mason "some workers were doing some shingling or siding trying to erect some staging. Using big, tall aluminum poles that would hold the planks that go across, the aluminum pole somehow came in contact with the electrical line. "

Truck fire claims life of painter; 12 critical

Greenwood man, 30, suffered 3rd-degree burns over 90 percent of his body; cause of blaze is unclear

One man has died as the result of an inferno that may have reached 1,000 degrees when it erupted in the back of a truck loaded with 13 painters, but authorities Wednesday were only beginning to understand the origin of the blaze.

The worker died at 10 p.m. Tuesday, about eight hours after the fire started, and his 12 companions all were listed in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns today.

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Albany man killed in junkyard accident

PORTLAND — A truck driver was killed Friday at a Northeast Portland salvage yard when he was hit by a crushed car being loaded onto a truck.

Timothy A. Bowers, 37, of Albany died at the scene, Portland Fire Bureau spokesman Lt. Neil Heesacker said.


Council Bluffs man killed in forklift rollover

OMAHA - A Council Bluffs man was killed Thursday morning at a construction site in Omaha when a forklift rolled over on top of him.

James Kirk, 42, of Council Bluffs was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident occurred at the Quality Pork International worksite in southwest Omaha around 11:20 a.m. Kirk, a forklift operator, was working for KFR Inc., a company subcontracted by Dietzel Enterprises to work on installing a support wall at the business, according to Omaha Police Sgt. Cathy Cook.



State investigating Ireton man's death on farm

State investigators are looking into the work-related death of an Ireton, Iowa, man.

The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health agency has visited the Bar-K Farms in Carmel, Iowa, to investigate the July 18 death of 31-year-old Kenneth Van Wyk.

A report won't be completed for at least a month, said Mary Bryant, IOSH administrator.

Van Wyk died while repairing a steel 11,000-gallon liquid storage tank, said a Bar-K employee who declined to give his name. Van Wyk was inside the tank, which contained gas fumes, and passed out, the man said.


Honeywell worker dies after chemical leak

BATON ROUGE, La. A Honeywell International worker has died after being injured during a chemical leak at the plant, prompting another investigation by local, state and federal officials.

Delvin Henry of Baton Rouge was pronounced dead Wednesday at Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Darrell O'Neal said.

A container at the plant sprung a leak Tuesday while being filled with antimony pentachloride, according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. The corrosive chemical can burn the skin, irritate the nose, mouth, throat and lungs; and cause headaches and nausea.

This latest accident follows a chlorine leak July 20 in which eight workers and some nearby residents were hospitalized after complaining of burning lungs and other irritations. The July 20 leak prompted safety investigations by the Fire Department, DEQ, Louisiana State Police, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.


UI worker dies from Sikorsky accident

David Bagdasarian was supposed to join friends today for the group’s annual summer trip to a major league ballpark to watch the Mets play.

Bagdasarian will not make that trip.

The United Illuminating Co. employee from Shelton died Thursday from injuries he suffered in a July 10 accident at Sikorsky Aircraft.

Bagdasarian, 49, died at Bridgeport Hospital from complications associated with injuries from the accident that occurred as he and two other UI employees surveyed electrical equipment in an outdoor cage in a parking lot at Sikorsky’s sprawling factory on Main Street in Stratford. The three men were surveying the equipment in preparation for work they were to do that weekend when an electrical arcing occurred.

Industrial accident claims Rock Springs man

GREEN RIVER -- A Rock Springs man died early Tuesday morning from neck and head injuries after the lift vehicle he was driving fell off a loading ramp, according to Sweetwater County authorities.

Douglas Ray Bernard, 35, was found by coworkers at around 6:45 a.m. at Wyoming Rents on Sunset Drive in Rock Springs, said County Coroner Dale Majhanovich. He estimated the accident occurred around 4:30 a.m.


2nd Skyway Construction Death Of Summer

Aug 2 (Chicago) -- A worker fell 50 feet to his death Friday after he stepped on an unsupported platform while working at a construction site on the Chicago Skyway, marking the second fatality from the area in less than a month.

The victim, identified by the medical examiner's office as David Stevens, 36, fell at about 1 p.m. from the Skyway at 75th Street and Greenwood Avenue, Gresham District Sgt. Robert Orlando said.

Stevens was laying a platform to pour concrete from when he stepped on a 3-by-4-foot piece of plywood that had no support under it, according to a Calumet Area detective.

The worker plunged 50 feet and struck his head on the ground, the detective said. He did not know the name of the construction company the victim worked for.

This was the second time in less than a month that a construction worker was killed falling from the Skyway.

Dennis McNamara, 63, 249 Lincoln Ct. in Wood Dale, was working on the Skyway near 77th Street when he plunged to the ground at about 11:10 p.m. July 9.


Worker Killed By Driver
A suspected drunken driver slammed into a Central Florida GreeneWay tollbooth under construction early Friday, killing one worker and injuring two others.

Grady Hill, 38, of Casselberry, suffered fatal injuries, according to the FHP. Injured were Paul Kimbro, 44, of Oviedo, and Charles Starrett, 43, of Geneva.
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