Safety Alert for Supervisors: 3/9/26

Incident summary A worker turned his back to a hazardous task and was talking on his cellphone when he was fatally struck by a mechanical arm that had broken off a machine. What happened A two-person work crew was assigned to install wooden posts that were five inches in diameter and about seven feet in length. One worker lifted the posts and positioned them in a hole in the ground while the other staffer used a hydraulically powered mechanical post driver attached to a skid steer to drive the wooden posts into the hole. About four hours into the job, one worker positioned another post in a hole and began walking toward the area where the next post would be placed. The man was about 10 feet from the post driver with his back to the work area. He was talking on his cellphone. Meanwhile, the other staffer was having trouble driving the last post into the ground. Without warning, the mechanical arm and the head of the equipment broke away from the device’s mounting bracket, which caused the arm to detach. The mechanical arm fell toward the other worker, who didn’t know he was in danger because he was talking on his cellphone. The arm struck the man in the back and knocked him to the ground. His body was grotesquely contorted at the waist with his head and torso touching the front of his legs. Coworkers rushed over to assist him, but they could see right away that he was dead. Findings The company shouldn’t have let employees use their cellphones while handling hazardous tasks. Had the victim not been talking on his cellphone, he likely would’ve heard the arm break away from the machine and been able to move to a safe location before he was fatally struck. Worker talking on cellphone unaware of looming danger Man grotesquely contorted after he's struck by mechanical arm You make the call: Supervisor claims it wasn’t feasible for staffer to wear gear “ I t wasn’t feasible for that crew member to wear fall protection gear while he was laboring atop a railcar, because there was nowhere for him to attach his safety harness and lanyard,” said George, the supervisor. “That’s a pretty weak argument,” replied Tammy, the compliance officer, “considering that your unprotected worker lost his balance and fell off the railcar. He suffered some pretty severe injuries.” “The injury incident was unfortunate,” said George. “However, the employee couldn’t have used fall protection because there were no stationary structures nearby for him to set up an anchor point to which he could’ve attached his gear.” Changed procedures “The railcar was positioned about 300 yards from a loading facility,” said Tammy. “You could’ve changed your procedures so that railcars were moved into the stationary structure before anyone was allowed to stand atop railcars. There are many potential anchor points within the loading facility. I’m citing you for violating our fall protection regulation.” “It would significantly slow down our operation if we were forced to move all our railcars into a stationary structure before anyone could climb atop them,” said George. “It might slow things down,” said Tammy, “but you have a legal obligation to keep your people safe.” Keep people safe “Of course we want to keep our people safe,” said George. “However, we can’t institute safety procedures that aren’t feasible. We’ll challenge your citation.” Did the company win? 2 Safety News Why you should protect workers from chemicals that cause hearing loss. 2 Quick Ideas Find out why operators of utility terrain vehicles must slow down at turns. 3 Legal Developments Staffer’s ear sliced off because boss didn’t alert him to tool modification. 3 Horror Stories Crew member trapped underneath rubble after gigantic crane collapses. 4 Safety Meeting Every year in the U.S., 1,200 workers die from traumatic brain injuries. In this issue ■ Make your call, then go to page 3 for the court’s ruling. March 9, 2026 SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS The No. 1 source of actionable information to help supervisors keep their people safe Including: Supervisor’s Safety Toolbox

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JIM MCCANNEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FIONA HERNANDEZ OFFICE MANAGER: SHARON CONNELL Safety Alert for Supervisors (ISSN 1541-7379), March 9, 2026, Vol. 23, No. 546, 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 Survey reveals extent of risk from chemicals that cause hearing loss Now you have another reason to safeguard your crew members from the hazards posed by toxic chemicals: Exposure to certain substances could significantly increase their risk of hearing loss. That’s your takeaway from a recent survey of 18,000 U.S. workers conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. According to the survey results, 13% of respondents said they’re exposed to toxic substances that can damage hearing – so-called ototoxic chemicals. And 11% of respondents said they have difficulty hearing. Based on the responses, researchers suggested that as many as 1.4 million U.S. employees suffer from hearing loss that can be attributed to exposure to ototoxic chemicals such as heavy metals, pesticides, engine exhaust, industrial glues and solvents. Moreover, employees in certain industries reported higher levels of exposure to these harmful substances. For instance, nearly half of respondents in the mining industry said they often work with ototoxic chemicals. Increase in number of worker deaths caused by slips, trips and falls Consider a helpful reminder to your workers to always make sure walking and working surfaces aren’t cluttered with debris that could create a tripping hazard. Here’s why: There’s been a jump in the number of staffers suffering fatal injuries after slipping, tripping, or falling on the same level. The increase was revealed in the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2023, according to the data, there were 140 deaths linked to slips, trips and falls. In 2024, the number of fatal slips, trips and falls shot up to 150, an increase of 7.14%. Note: The jump happened at the same time the overall number of employee deaths dropped to 5,070 in 2024 from 5,283 in 2023. No eye protection for employees who were using pneumatic tools Do your crew members routinely put on safety goggles before operating nail guns or other tools that could produce dangerous projectiles? If you’re not sure, you should be aware of the recently proposed fine of $128,345 against Shrader Homes Inc. by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division. The agency cited the employer for multiple violations of safety regulations at a job site in White City, OR. Among the citations was a penalty for failing to ensure staffers using pneumatic nail guns wore safety gear to protect their eyes. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors March 9, 2026 Drivers of utility terrain vehicles should slow down when turning Users of utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) can significantly lower the chances of suffering an injury by following safe operating procedures. For instance, they should slow down at turns because UTVs typically have high centers of gravity. And UTV drivers should use four- wheel drive if it’s available, slow down on slippery surfaces to prevent skidding, confirm that the payload is secured for travel, and increase the braking distance and decrease the speed of the vehicle when they’re transporting heavier payloads. Statistics reveal two industries with significant fatigue problems If you don’t think worker fatigue is a significant job hazard, consider these facts: In the construction industry, 65% of employees report feeling tired at work, and 61% of construction employers said they’ve found staff members asleep on the job. In the transportation industry, 70% of employees report feeling tired at work, with long shifts and sleep loss cited as the most common causes of worker fatigue. Remind your crew members not to tie electrical cords in knots This could be a good time to remind staffers that they should handle electrical cords carefully. Example: They shouldn’t tie cords in knots, because doing so could cause short circuits and electrical shocks. Instead, they should loop the cord or use a twist-lock plug. Crew members should also recognize that nails and staples can damage cords. Better: Use tape to secure cords to walls or floors, or suspend cords over aisles or work areas to eliminate tripping hazards. 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

legal developments Safety insight: Now might be a good time to remind your crew members that it’s rarely a good idea to modify hazardous equipment in order to increase efficiency. What happened: A staff member was told by his supervisor to clean a floor using a device that sprayed highly pressurized water through a hose fitted with a nozzle. The staffer didn’t know that someone had modified the nozzle to increase the volume of pressurized water coming out of the hose to improve the device’s efficiency. The man’s boss was aware of the modification. What people did: As soon as the worker turned on the equipment, a blast of highly pressurized water sprayed out of the hose, which caused the hose and the nozzle to kick back forcefully and strike the staffer in the head. He suffered head trauma, a broken clavicle and a severed ear. Legal challenge: The injured man sued his employer, arguing that he was entitled to damages beyond workers’ comp because the manufacturer of the device had warned the company not to modify the nozzle. He also noted that the organization was cited for a safety violation after the incident. Result: The company won. The court said the staffer failed to prove he was eligible for benefits beyond workers’ comp. Yes, the employer negligently modified the equipment, but the company didn’t know for sure that the modification would cause the man’s injury, which was the legal bar he needed to surpass in order to get damages beyond comp. The skinny: Injured staff members usually have a hard time convincing a judge that their employer knew they’d get hurt. Cite: Razo v. County of Orange, Court of Appeal of California, No. G064631, 2/3/26. horror stories Summary A man who followed in his father’s footsteps to spend his life working as a professional pile driver was fatally crushed underneath a collapsed 250- ton-capacity crane. The incident After Paul Ledwell graduated from Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, MA, there wasn’t much question about what he’d do for a living. He’d grown up watching his dad labor as a pile driver, and he wanted to pursue the same career. Ledwell's job as a pile driver took him to many places, including New York and Florida, but he eventually returned to Massachusetts and took a position as a pile driver with ACK Marine. When ACK Marine became a subcontractor on a project to demolish the former ExxonMobil oil terminal on the Mystic River in Everett, MA, Ledwell was able to work closer to his home in Middleborough, MA. The job required Ledwell to take apart piping systems located on a barge in the river. He was laboring beneath a 250-ton-capacity crane that was being used for the demolition project. One day while Ledwell was on the barge with the rest of his crew, a cable on the gigantic crane snapped and the boom collapsed onto the barge. Ledwell became trapped under the wreckage. The response Responders were able to pull Ledwell, 37, from the rubble, but his injuries were too severe and he was soon declared dead. The aftermath “Paul was a man who embodied the values of hard work and family,” wrote his sister, Darcy Kennedy. “He was a shining example of what it means to dedicate your life to your work and the people you love. As we grieve his loss, we also celebrate the incredible person he was and the legacy he leaves behind.” March 9, 2026 Safety Alert for Supervisors 3 You make the call: The decision (See case on page 1) Yes. The company won. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Review Commission overturned the citation. The commission said the employer didn’t violate the fall protection rule because there was no feasible way for the staff member to have installed anchor points to which he could’ve attached his safety equipment. And the commission said the company wasn’t required to change its procedures so that railcars were moved into the loading facility before crew members could climb atop them. OSHA had to prove that the change to the organization’s procedures would’ve actually kept people safer, but the agency was unable to do that. What it means: Never take chances with safety While the employer in this case beat back the OSHA citation, it still wound up with an injured worker and significant legal expenses because it failed to make sure the man standing atop the railcar wore his safety gear. That’s why you shouldn’t take chances with staffer safety. If there’s a safer way to handle a task – such as by moving railcars into stationary structures – it’s better to do things that way, even if it means a job might take a little longer. Keep in mind that any potential time savings from shortcuts pale in comparison with the significant cost of a worker injury. Based on Secretary of Labor v. Finley Farmers. Worker suffers severed ear while using modified device Employee buried under rubble after gigantic crane collapses

H ere’s a statistic that might surprise you: Every year in the U.S., more than 1,200 employees die from traumatic brain injuries. That amounts to more than three worker deaths every day from injuries to the head. And these deadly head injuries happen in a wide variety of ways, including falling objects striking someone on the head; workers tumbling from elevated locations; people slipping, tripping, or falling on the same level; and crew members contacting energized electrical circuits. More straightforward While the causes of fatal head injuries can vary quite a bit, the steps needed to prevent mishaps are more straightforward. Before the start of every job, evaluate the task to determine whether head protection might be needed. Scan above and around you to identify low beams, scaffolding, moving loads, overhead work and tools or materials stored overhead. If you spot anything that could cause a head injury, you’ll need to wear a hard hat during the task. You can also reduce the chances of suffering a head injury by keeping your work area and shared walkways clear of electrical cords, tools, debris, liquids and loose materials that could cause a trip and fall. Avoid suspended loads Furthermore, it’s best to never walk or work under suspended loads, to stay clear of struck-by zones around equipment, to use designated walkways, and to obey warning signs for overhead work, low clearances and restricted areas. It’s also important to wear seat belts while operating industrial trucks – one of the leading causes of fatal head injuries is vehicle crashes. (What other steps can we take to reduce the chances of a head injury?) In addition to safe work practices, you lower the likelihood of an injury by putting on a hard hat whenever you could be exposed to hazardous conditions. To obtain the most effective protection, select the correct hard hat for the dangers you could face. If, for instance, you could be at risk for blows to the top of the head only, put on a Type I hard hat, which specifically protects the top of the head. If you could be at risk for blows to the top, back, or sides of the head, select a Type II hard hat, which provides more protection than does a Type I hard hat. Heat protection When you’ll be laboring in a high-temperature environment or engaging in a task with potential exposure to molten metal, choose head protection with advanced heat-protection properties – marked as HT on the label. And if you could be exposed to electrical hazards, select a Class E hard hat, which is designed to provide maximum protection against electrical current. Thanks for your attention. And remember, let’s stay safe out there! Subject: Lathe safety Those among us who sometimes operate lathes know these machines can be dangerous because they have so many moving components spinning at high speeds. But we might not know exactly how hazardous these devices actually are. Consider: There are approximately 3,000 lost- time injuries linked to the operation of lathes every year in the U.S. What to focus on Here are two things to keep in mind in order to stay safe while operating a lathe. 1. Inspect the lathe before using it. Before turning on the machine, examine it for damage. Ensure that safety guards and shields are in position, remove chuck keys and hand-turn the chuck to check for binding. Confirm that the emergency shutoff button is readily accessible, that all tools are sharp and that the workpiece has been securely mounted. 2. Follow safe operating practices. During operation, never touch rotating parts or chips with your hands – use a brush or a rake after you’ve stopped the machine. Stand clear of the work path, and avoid leaning on the lathe. Follow job specifications for the speed, feed and depth of the cut for the materials. And adjust the tool and the tool rest so they’re slightly above the center of the workpiece. Today’s safety meeting ✔ Topic: Head protection ✔ Today’s Date: __________________ ✔ Attendee Signatures: Tailgate talk Supervisor’s safety toolbox SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS 4 Safety Alert for Supervisors March 9, 2026