Workers Memorial Day: The Weekly Toll

This is the last Weekly Toll before 2004 Workers Memorial Day. In addition to the names that I pick up in Google searches, I've also added a number of names from union lists of members killed on the job. Last week, I listed a number of PACE members killed on the job. This week, I've listed a number of members of AFSCME, UAW and the Steelworkers. As I mentioned last week, it amazes me how many of these I've missed through the Google news searches. Is it because Google didn't pick them up or because they didn't even raise enough concern to appear in the local newspaper?

Construction Worker Dies On Business 40

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A construction worker died on Business 40 Monday, when another worker ran over him with a flatbed truck.

The North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Division said faulty equipment is partly to blame for the accident. The alarm on the truck that signals when the truck is in reverse did not appear to be working when the worker was hit, according to officials. Officials did not release the victim's name but they did say the workers are from Curtin Drainage and Trucking in Charlotte, N.C.

OSHA looks at trench collapse

Gainesvile, FL --The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Commerce man who was buried alive over the weekend while working in a trench in northeastern Forsyth County.

An employee of Pro-Septic and Plumbing, identified by local authorities as 18-year-old Joseph "Jody" Domingue, died Saturday afternoon when the trench he was working in collapsed and spilled five feet of dirt on him.

Worker killed in building collapse, 2 injured

MATTOON, IL -- A building collapse here Friday resulted in two demolition workers coming out alive, while the third man was found dead by rescue workers less than an hour after he was buried by debris.

Denny Thornton of Johnstown said he and two co-workers, Wayne "Red" Boruff, 46, of rural Toledo, and Matt Swearingen, 27, of Toledo, were working on a joist when the roof and a portion of the second floor caved in on top of them shortly before noon Friday at the old Montgomery Building, 1706 Broadway Ave. The rescue workers had brought Swearingen out on a stretcher, but Boruff was later found dead in the building.

4 die in Downstate plant explosion

8 more workers sent to hospitals
ILLIOPOLIS, Ill. -- Firefighters from about 25 departments worked all day Saturday trying to extinguish a blaze at the Formosa Plastics Corp. plant sparked by a chemical explosion that killed four workers. The cause of the Friday night blast is still unknown. Eight workers were taken to nearby hospitals in Springfield and Decatur, where their conditions ranged from fair to critical. One of the injured was airlifted to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, hospital spokesman Ed McDowall said. Six other employees either declined care or were treated and released.

Based on preliminary reports, Joseph Machalek, 50, of Decatur; Larry Graves, 47, of Decatur; Glenn Lyman, 49, of Cornland; and Linda Hancock, 56, of Decatur died of smoke inhalation, said Sangamon County Coroner Susan Boone. Autopsies on the four victims will be conducted Monday, she said.

Worker dies in Walter coal mine

Walter Industries of Tampa reported a fatal accident Friday at one of its coal mines in Brookwood, Ala. Gary Wayne Keeton, 57, was found dead Friday morning, his body apparently carried to the surface by a conveyor system used to transport coal in the company's No. 7 mine.

His was the first fatality at Walters' Alabama mines since 13 workers died in explosions in the No. 5 mine in 2001. In that accident, a federal investigation blamed Walter for failing to prevent a buildup in combustible coal dust and other safety problems, but the company disputed the findings. The death, which is being investigated, was the third at Mine No. 7 since it opened in 1977.

Man killed while fixing carnival ride

TAYLOR, MI — A 44-year-old Florida man died after being trapped in a carnival ride on which he was conducting repairs, police said Friday.

Authorities received a call Thursday night reporting that Paul John Perschbach of Orlando, Fla., was repairing the Crazy Submarine ride at the Gibraltar Trade Center when another worker started up the ride, Officer Daniel Shook said. The other worker apparently didn’t realize Perschbach was working on the ride.

Shook said Perschbach was caught in the ride’s machinery. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “From all appearances, this appears to be an accident and a miscommunication between two workers,” said Detective Sgt. Mary Sclabassi.

OSHA probes fatal trench collapse

Federal safety officials are investigating why a sewer-line trench in New Hanover Township collapsed Wednesday, killing one worker and injuring another.

Hours after the cave-in, an investigator from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was at 2779 N. Charlotte St., where three workers had been laying sewer pipe late.

Two other OSHA investigators arrived yesterday from the agency's Allentown office. They're looking for clues as to why the 70-foot-long, 12-foot-deep trench failed.

The falling earth buried Brian K. Bealer, 43, of Boyertown, according to New Hanover police. An autopsy was to be performed this morning.

Worker Dies When Trapped In Plant Machine

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Authorities say a worker at a manufacturing plant in the eastern Iowa town of Washington died after becoming trapped in a plating machine.

It happened Friday morning at the Fansteel Washington Manufacturing plant. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said that the worker's name has not been released.

Family, friends mourn worker

Harrisburg, PA -- Kyle McNaughton 21, loved to weld, mow grass and help others remove snow. He recently purchased a Cub Cadet lawnmower, and his parents, John and Peggy McNaughton, gave him a snowblower as a gift.

"He loved to mow. He loved to work. He would mow for anybody," John McNaughton said yesterday after he, Peggy and Kyle's brother, Brady, 19, made funeral arrangements.

Kyle was killed on the job when a half-ton piece of steel fell on him at Taryn Co. in Spring Twp. Officials at the scene Thursday said McNaughton was operating a machine similar to a forklift with a boom to lift a 6-by-12-foot sheet of steel.

Perry County Coroner Michael Shalonis said the steel was not attached properly to the boom. When McNaughton got off the machine to adjust it, the steel fell on him.

Upper Dublin police officer killed on duty

Sgt. James Miller, a 28-year veteran of the Upper Dublin Police Department, died early Tuesday morning when his police vehicle was involved in a crash on the 1700 block of Dreshertown Road. He was 55 years old.

Upper Dublin Police Sgt. Lee Benson said Miller was working the night shift, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., when his vehicle was involved in the crash around 4:30 a.m. According to Benson, the vehicle rolled over during the accident, ejecting Miller. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ironworker Killed in Fall

Pawtucket, RI -- George Patrick Hopkins Jr, 31, of Armistice Boulevard, a welder and ironworker, died Thursday at Morton Hospital, Taunton, Mass., after an accident in which he fell through the roof of a warehouse at the site of the future Jordan's Furniture, at the Liberty and Union Industrial Park, in Taunton.

He was the fiancé of Kelly L. Allard of Pawtucket. Born in Providence, a son of George Patrick Hopkins of New Bedford, Mass., and Teresa A. (Melucci) Valentine of Seekonk, he was a lifelong resident of Pawtucket.

Mr. Hopkins had been working for Accord Steel & PreCast Erectors Inc. for several years. He was a member of the ironworkers' union, Local 37, in East Providence.

Construction worker dies from electrocution

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL — A 22-year-old construction worker was killed Monday when a cable from a crane apparently touched powerlines, officials said.

Lorenzo Rosas, of the 500 block of Southwest Faith Street, was pronounced dead at 5:26 p.m. at St. Lucie Medical Center — about 90 minutes after the incident at a construction site near the intersection of San Miguel Street and Santiago Avenue, said Officer Kacey Donnell, police spokesman.

OSHA Investigating Burn Death
Rogers Iron Employee Survived Nearly Three Weeks After Accident

ROGERS, AK -- Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating an accident that led to the death of a Rogers Iron and Metal Corp. employee.

Rodrigo Diaz, 63, of Rogers died Sunday at the burn unit in a Springfield, Mo., hospital. He lived for 20 days after he accidentally set himself on fire outside the business at 721 N. Arkansas while using a cutting torch.

Johnnie Johnson, safety director for Yaffe Companies in Muskogee, Okla., said the investigation will show Diaz's death was the result of a "tragic, freak accident" and that Rogers Iron and Metal was not at fault. Yaffe is Rogers Iron and Metal's parent company.

UPDATE: More here on December 2004 explosion.

Park employee dies on job in Smokies

COSBY (WATE), TN -- A seasonal worker on a trail clearing crew at Great Smoky Mountains National Park collapsed and died on the job Thursday morning.

Ricky Campbell, 50, of Newport, collapsed at around 8:15 a.m. about one mile up from the Snake Den Ridge Trail in the Cosby area of the park, the park service announced. He had been hiking with two other employees to begin some tree clearing work.

CHP Officer Killed in Drive-By Shooting

POMONA, Calif. - A drive-by shooter killed a California Highway Patrol officer Wednesday in front of a courthouse where he had been called to testify in traffic cases, officials said.

No one was immediately arrested.

Thomas J. Steiner, 35, died at a hospital of a gunshot wound to the head, said CHP spokesman Tom Marshall.

Construction accident kills one

Lake Elsinore, CA -- A foreman died Tuesday after being pinned against a wall by a large backhoe at a Lake Elsinore construction site, according to authorities.

Antononio Gutierrez Jr., 42, of Rancho Cucamonga was overseeing concrete work in the 19700 block of Grand Avenue, according to a Riverside County coroner's news release.

DOT Worker Killed In Johnston Accident

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. -- Authorities have confirmed that a state Department of Transportation employee was killed in an accident in Johnston County.

The accident happened Tuesday morning near Highway 70 and Raines Mill Road in the Princeton area.

Authorities say 39-year-old Nathan Barry Shapiro ran into a truck that was stopped at a red light.

Teen worker found dead in Albertville poultry plant

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP) -- A teenage worker was found dead at an Albertville poultry plant, according to plant officials, and investigators were checking out the circumstances and questions about his age. Police Chief Benny Womack said Wednesday that Augustin Juan, 17, of Albertville was found at the Waynes Farm LLC plant shortly before 5:20 p.m. Tuesday. He said a cause of death would not be determined until the forensics department performed an autopsy.

More here and here.

United Auto Workers

June 4, 2003 Thomas Hanlon, 56, Local 164 machine operator, Eaton Corp. Truck Clutch Division, Auburn, Ind. Brother Hanlon was standing by a clutch-testing machine, beyond the protective light curtain. When he leaned into the machine, the carrier plate lowered and crushed him.

August 2, 2003 Raul R. Martinez, 54, Local 600 caster mechanical team pipefitter, Rouge Steel, Dearborn, Mich. was removing a cracked roller on a continuous support roller assembly located on a rebuild stand. The roller separated and fell, striking him and causing fatal injuries.

November 3, 2003 Ed Steinke, 55, Local 182 electrician, Ford Motor Co., Livonia, Mich, was on a JLG aerial lift removing old conduit from the overhead steel structure. Brother Steinke was caught between the upper guardrail of the basket and a six-inch pipe.

November 7, 2003 Concepcion Rodriguez, 55, Local 477, an arc wash welder, at Chicago Castings, in Cicero, Ill. died from electrocution while attempting to turn on a welding machine. Operators had previously experienced shocks from the equipment.

November 22, 2003 Jeff West, 44, Local 600 general welder, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich was killed when he fell approximately 20 feet to a basement area during the installation of a stamping machine.

AFSCME

John Webb and Allen Cappel were killed when their Ohio Department of Transportation car was hit by a dump truck on September 4, 2003.

San Wileym, a prison boot factory supervisor’s throat was slashed by an inmate in Texas on January 29, 2003.

Carlos Lozada of Connecticut, was riding in the back of a refuse truck when an errant driver crossed into the wrong lane and smashed into the truck on September 15, 2003.

Adolfo Mendez suffered a fatal heart attack while performing his duties for a city in Connecticut on May 15, 2003.

Brian Bergeon was killed while trying to remove a tire from the rim. It exploded and he was struck by the tire rim on February 23, 2004

United Steelworkers of America

On April 8, Bernard Rogers, 48, a straightener operator for Progressive Processing, Inc. in Elyria, Ohio, was killed instantly when he got caught in the straightener and was thrown to the ground head first. Brother Rogers was a member of Local Union 2354-08 in District 1.

On April 9, Joseph Galan,19, a utility man for Co-Steel Company in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, was killed when a dump truck hit the forklift he was in and knocked it over, causing severe head and chest injuries. Brother Galan was a member of Local Union 9473 in District 4.

On May 2, Roland Beauregard, 43, an employee of Noranda Inc.; Falconbridge Societe Miniere Raglan DU; Raglan Mine in Katinniq-Raglan, Quebec, was found unconscious sitting on a pipe at work. He died a few hours later from heart problems. Brother Roland was a member of Local 9449 in District 5.

On June 27, Kriss Gibbs, 37, an outside contractor working at USS Granite City Works in Granite City, Illinois, was killed when he was caught between two pond lining boxes. Bargaining unit employees of USS are represented by Local Union 1899 in District 1.

On October 30, Dave MacLeod, 46, a supervisor at Dynatec Ltd. in Sudbury, Ontario, fell to his death during the process of sinking a new ventilation shaft at Garson Mine, one of our mines in the Sudbury area. This is part of the Garson Mine deep project for Inco. Bargaining unit employees of Inco Limited are represented by Local Union 6500 in District 6.

On October 30, Jean-Noel Belanger, 48, an employee of Geant Dormant (Cambior Inc.) in Amos, Quebec, was killed when he could not escape a rock fall. Brother Belanger was a member of Local Union 4796-13 in District 5.

On January 4, Andy Jarouz, 55, an employee at Stelco Inc., Hilton Works in Hamilton, Ontario, was killed while working at the ladle repair station and fell 5 metres off a scaffold and was crushed by a steel plate. Brother Jarouz was a member of Local Union 1005 in District 6.

On January 6, Author Quitana, 58, conttrel operator for Groupo Mexico SA DE CV; Asarco Inc.; Hayden Smelter in Hayden, Arizona, died from electrocution. He was a member of Local Union 886 in District 12.

On January 13, Mickey Hargrave, 41, a heavy/highway construction worker for No. 1 Contracting Company; AJ Roman, owner, in Reading, Pennsylvania, was killed when he fell from a concrete bridge abutment (20 feet high). Brother Hardgrave was a member of Local 15253 in District 10.

On March 8, Robert Brogan, 31, an employee of Leggett & Platt Inc. in Mason, Ohio, was crushed to death when a bedspring compactor failed. Brother Brogan was a member of Local Union 156U-05 in District 1.

On April 13, Ed Theriot, 50, an employee of Bayou Steel Corp. in La Place, Louisiana, was fatally injured when caught between a billet cooling bed and a billet transfer car. He died later that day in the hospital. Brother Theriot was a member of Local Union 9121 in District 9.

On April 26, Robert Brzezinski, 43, an employee of Algoma Steel, Inc. in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, was killed when he fell from a charging platform into a pit at the #2 steel-making shop. Brother Brzezinski was a member of Local Union 2724 in District 6.