EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JIM MCCANNEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FIONA HERNANDEZ OFFICE MANAGER: SHARON CONNELL Safety Alert for Supervisors (ISSN 1541-7379), August 3, 2026, Vol. 24, No. 556, is published 24 times per year by Institute of Business Publications, P.O. Box 1340, Havertown, PA 19083; PHONE : 484-472-8227; FAX : 484-472-8708. Phone: 866-572-1352 Web: iobp.com Subscription Rate (for 24 issues): Users Annual price Users Annual price 1-5 $265 flat 25-29 $44/user 6-9 $53/user 30-34 $43/user 10-14 $49/user 35-40 $42/user 15-19 $47/user 41+ Call 20-24 $45/user 866-572-1352 Oh no! Bulletin reveals big jump in employee deaths in one industry For more proof of the importance of paying attention to the safety of your crew members, consider a recently released data bulletin that has revealed a dramatic increase in worker fatalities in one industry. The bulletin from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training – showed a whopping 25.3% jump in work-related deaths in the construction industry over 12 years, to 1,064 in 2024 from 849 in 2012. According to the data bulletin, the biggest increase occurred in the building construction sector of the industry, which suffered 142 deaths in 2012 and 220 fatalities in 2024, an increase of 54.9%. There was also a 28.5% bump in deaths in the specialty trades contractor subsection, to 608 in 2024 from 473 in 2012. The bulletin, which used data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, showed that most of the fatal injuries involved slips, trips and falls, which accounted for 367 deaths in 2024. Other sources of fatalities in 2024 included transportation incidents (255 ) and exposure to harmful substances (179). Man not wearing safety harness tumbles from platform of aerial lift If any of your staff members question the need for using a safety harness when they’re laboring at an elevated location, let them know about the recent unfortunate death of Thomas Feerick from Fairfax, VT. The 58-year-old man was operating an extended aerial lift to remove fencing at the Casella Waste Systems landfill in Coventry, VT. Unfortunately, Feerick wasn’t tied off while he was operating the lift. His failure to put on a safety harness proved tragic when the lift unexpectedly tipped over and tumbled down a small embankment. Feerick was thrown from the platform. Other workers rushed over to help Feerick and emergency responders were called. But the worker’s injuries were too severe, and he was later declared dead at the hospital. Unexpected activation of equipment leads to finger amputation injury Keep in mind that one seemingly minor mistake can lead to a life-altering injury. Consider, for instance, the recent amputation incident at the Piggly Wiggly supermarket in Bowden, GA. A staffer was cleaning a commercial grinder that hadn’t been locked out when a coworker stepped on the foot pedal for the equipment, which caused the device to activate and slice four fingers off the hand of the employee sanitizing the grinder. Following the incident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit Piggly Wiggly with a proposed fine of $196,251. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors August 3, 2026 Workers should apply an ivy blocker prior to outdoor jobs Encourage your workers to apply an ivy blocker that contains bentoquatam before laboring outdoors in wooded areas that could contain poisonous plants. Here’s why: Ivy blockers work by preventing urushiol – the hazardous chemical in the plants that causes the allergic reaction – from making full contact with the wearer’s skin. Surprise! One-quarter of staffers drink alcohol during the workday If you don’t think any of your staffers could be abusing drugs or alcohol on the job, consider this fact: Nearly 60 million people in the U.S. admit to using illegal drugs, and 138 million folks say they regularly drink alcohol. Even worse, nearly 15% of at-home workers and 3.3% of other employees admit to being impaired on the job every week, according to a survey by the American Addiction Centers. And one survey found that one-quarter of U.S. employees reported drinking during the workday at least once over the past year. What to do: Because impaired workers are a huge safety risk, be on the lookout for the warning signs of drug or alcohol use, and make sure inebriated staffers aren’t allowed to perform potentially dangerous tasks. What employees should look for when inspecting safety eyewear At your next training session on eye safety, let your staffers know that they should always inspect eyewear before using it. They should look for: • cracks and scratches on the lenses or side shields • damage or fit issues with frames, nose pieces, goggles, or side shields • cracks or tears in goggle seals • a broken or brittle headband Note: Damaged eyewear should be removed from service right away. SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS Click Here to Subscribe Now Copyright © 2026 Institute of Business Publications. Reproduction of this material is prohibited without prior permission. All rights reserved in all countries. quick ideas