Safety Alert for Supervisors: 4/20/26

Incident summary A technician died from burn shock two days after he was engulfed in flames when a driver prematurely pulled his truck away while a flammable liquid was still being transferred. What happened Assigned to manage the transfer of a flammable liquid to a storage tank from a truck, a technician connected an 18- foot transfer hose from the truck to the storage tank. After confirming that the hose was securely attached, the technician initiated the transfer. Meanwhile, the driver of the truck was sitting in the cab when another worker handed him the paperwork for the job. The driver signed the documents and, without thinking, began to drive the truck forward with the transfer hose still attached. As the truck lurched ahead, the hose coupling from the storage tank disconnected, which caused flammable vapors to leak from the tank and form a large, thick cloud. As soon as the truck driver realized what was going on, he jumped from the cab and tried to push the emergency shutdown button on the back of the truck. But it was too late. The vapor cloud drifted over a generator, which provided an ignition source that caused the toxic cloud to explode. First responders arrived a short time later. They rushed the technician and the driver to the hospital. The driver was treated for minor burn injuries and released the next day. The technician wasn’t so lucky. He died two days later from burn shock. Findings The crew should’ve used more rigorous procedures for communication during the task. The driver of the truck mistakenly thought that the job was finished when he was handed the paperwork. He didn’t realize that the transfer hose was still attached. Toxic vapor cloud ignites; worker engulfed in flames Two days after incident, crew member dies from burn shock You make the call: Supervisor didn’t know safety rule was being violated “ W e didn’t even know Anthony was violating one of our safety rules when he got hurt,” said George, the supervisor. “What safety rule are you talking about?” asked Tammy, the compliance officer. “We have a rule that forbids two employees from entering the danger zone around that large machine at the same time,” said George. “We don’t want anyone hitting the jog button on the equipment while a coworker tries to clear a jam.” Caught in pinch point “That’s a solid safety rule,” said Tammy. “However, your worker, Anthony, and one of his colleagues violated your rule when they both went into the restricted area at the same time. The coworker activated the jog button while Anthony tried to free a jam. As you know, Anthony’s hand got caught in a pinch point and he was severely injured. I’m citing you for violating our lockout/tagout regulation.” “There was no violation of your regulation because the equipment didn’t need to be deenergized,” said George. “If the men had abided by our rule forbidding two staffers from entering the danger zone at the same time, lockout procedures wouldn’t have been required.” “Well, two of your people ignored your rule,” said Tammy, “and one of them was badly hurt, so your argument lacks merit.” No evidence “I disagree,” said George. “You have no evidence that we even knew our rule was being ignored, and you can’t hit us with a penalty for a safety violation we weren’t aware of. We’ll challenge your citation.” Did the company win? 2 Safety News Lower the risk of injuries by escalating your safety focus at this time of day. 2 Quick Ideas A study has shown that heat exposure increases the risk of male infertility. 3 Legal Developments Mistake: Host employer disregarded contractor’s complaints about truck. 3 Horror Stories Crew member tumbles from palm tree, is fatally impaled by fence pole. 4 Safety Meeting Incidents involving hand tools account for 8% of all workplace injuries. In this issue ■ Make your call, then go to page 3 for the court’s ruling. April 20, 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), April 20, 2026, Vol. 23, No. 549, 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 New analysis reveals the time of day when injuries are most likely Of course you’re focused on the safety of your crew members all the time, but a recently released report suggests that you could reduce the chances of work- related injuries by ratcheting up your safety focus at one particular time of day: 9 a.m. That’s the time when injuries are most likely to happen in the workplace, according to an analysis of 75,000 incidents reported between 2018 and 2024 by users of HammerTech safety software. HammerTech suggested that 9 a.m. is a prime time for injuries because of high intensity levels on construction worksites in the morning. Researchers also pointed out that supervisors are often coordinating multiple crews and dealing with last- minute safety challenges that weren’t addressed the day before. Furthermore, 9 a.m. is a common time for staffers to take breaks and potentially lose their focus. What to do: In addition to increasing your safety enforcement emphasis, you could also schedule toolbox talks for 9 a.m. if feasible or encourage your staffers to perform their least risky job duties around 9 a.m. Deadly incident shows the danger of elevating workers using forklifts For new proof that it’s rarely a good idea for your workers to raise themselves to an elevated location by using a basket attached to the forks of a forklift truck, consider the recent death of Randy Doy Woodall, 68. Woodall needed to measure some pipes on the ceiling of a warehouse at Diamond City Trailers, Delight, AR, so he climbed into a basket that was loosely attached to the forks of a forklift and asked a coworker to elevate him to the ceiling. But as Woodall was walking from one side of the elevated basket to the other, the basket became unstable and tipped over. Woodall fell to the floor and struck his head, and the basket landed on top of him. Paramedics arrived a short time later, but Woodall was already dead from his severe injuries. Organization penalized after crew member dies inside industrial oven Is everyone on your crew who might have to perform equipment maintenance aware of your company’s lockout/tagout procedures? If you’re not sure, you should be aware of the recent death of Nicolas Lopez Gomez, 38, at the Glister-Mary Lee cereal plant in Perryville, MO. The crew member died after he got stuck in an industrial oven he was trying to repair. Following the incident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit Glister-Mary Lee with a lockout/tagout citation and a proposed fine of $207,112, which was later negotiated down to a $91,262 payment. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors April 20, 2026 Another reason for workers to protect themselves from heat Let any folks on your work crew who are reluctant to safeguard themselves from high temperatures know this fact: Heat exposure has been associated with temporary infertility among men. One study, for instance, found that occupational heat exposure is a significant risk factor for male infertility because excessive heat exposure affects the shape of an individual’s sperm, which can lead to delayed conception. Users of personal respirators still have to comply with safety rules Remember: If a member of your crew decides to use his or her own respirator for protection against toxic airborne hazards, you still have to abide by all the requirements of the Respiratory Protection standard enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including medical evaluations and annual fit testing. That means you should let your safety manager know if someone on your crew has chosen to use his or her own respirator. What happens to staff members who fall behind on their sleep? Now might be a good time to remind your staff members of the dangers posed by sleep debt, which happens when someone gets behind on his or her sleep and has trouble making up for lost sleep. Over time, the debt accumulates and the individual with the sleep debt is at risk for falling asleep on the job. Key: The best way to avoid sleep debt is to get enough sleep at night. Encourage staffers to shoot for at least 7.5 hours of sleep overnight. That way, they’re less likely to struggle with sleep debt. 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: You should know that host employers have a legal duty to verify that the equipment they provide to contract workers is safe. What happened: A contract employee reported to the host employer that the defroster on the yard truck supplied to her by the employer was broken. One of the host employer’s mechanics tried to fix the defective component, but he was unsuccessful. When the woman later insisted that the defroster was still not working properly, the mechanic said there was nothing more he could do. What people did: The contract staffer was operating the yard truck during a rainy day and the window kept fogging up. She used her left arm to wipe away the moisture, but she still couldn’t see ahead of her. Suddenly, the truck slammed into a pole and the contract employee was injured. Legal challenge: The woman sued the host employer for negligence. Result: The company lost. The host employer had contended that the woman knew she had stop-work authority but she continued to operate the truck anyway. Nevertheless, the court dismissed that argument, ruling that the host employer had an obligation to make sure that the defroster on the truck was working properly but had failed to do so. Despite the woman’s repeated requests to have the defroster fixed by the host employer, the component wasn’t repaired and its lack of functionality played a significant role in the injury incident. The skinny: Employers that think it’s OK to give short shrift to problems with potentially hazardous equipment identified by contract workers are risking a costly negligence lawsuit. Cite: Zimmerman v. Russ Steamer Service, et al, U.S. District Court, S.D. Ohio, No. 2:24-cv-1153, 3/27/26. horror stories Summary A 48-year-old tree trimmer was tragically impaled by a metal fence pole after he fell 35 feet from a palm tree he was pruning. The incident For more than 20 years, Rogelio Cruz had worked as a tree trimmer in Southern California. In fact, he and two of his brothers had formed a family-owned company to provide tree trimming services in the Los Angeles area. But everything changed one day when the three brothers arrived at a job site in Canoga Park, CA. Cruz was assigned to work on a palm tree near a busy intersection. He attached his safety lanyard to the tree, climbed up about 35 feet and started cutting. Unfortunately, Cruz’s safety equipment wasn’t as securely attached to the palm tree as it could’ve been, considering that it was a windy day. Without warning, his safety lanyard detached from the tree and Cruz fell. But before the tumbling man could hit the ground, he landed on a 10- foot-high metal fence and was impaled by a pole. The response Cruz’s brothers raced over to help him, but as soon as they saw his limp body suspended atop the pole and blood trickling down the fence, they turned away in horror. Los Angeles firefighters arrived a short time later. They quickly covered Cruz’s body with a white sheet and a tarp to shield him from public view and to provide dignity to the victim. Firefighters later deployed a high-angle rope system to carefully extricate Cruz’s body from the fence. The aftermath Cruz was remembered as a giving person. “No matter if he knew you or not,” said Janeth Cruz, a niece, “he would just lend help. He was always the first person to be like, ‘I’m here. What can I do?’” April 20, 2026 Safety Alert for Supervisors 3 You make the call: The decision (See case on page 1) Yes. The company won. The court dismissed the safety citation. The judge acknowledged that the two workers failed to lock out the machinery prior to the injury incident but there was no violation of the lockout/tagout regulation. Here’s why: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector provided zero proof that the employer knew two staffers were disregarding the rule. Had the company been aware of the rule violation, determined the court, it would’ve been on the hook for the safety citation. But there was no ironclad evidence that supervisors knew the two employees had entered the danger zone or that there had been previous incidents in which staff members ran afoul of the safety rule. What it means: Always discipline rule violators You can train your crew members to abide by safety rules as much as you want, but when push comes to shove, there’s always a chance someone won’t follow the rules anyway, as was the case here. That’s why you have to be constantly on the lookout for potential rule violations. Should you see a worker ignoring a rule, discipline the offender based on your employer’s progressive discipline policy. And make sure everyone else on your crew knows you have zero tolerance for rule violations. Based on Sofidel America v. Chavez-Deremer. Contract staffer injured when broken truck slams into pole Man impaled by fence pole after he falls from palm tree

A t one time or another, every one of us has used a hand tool at home or here in the workplace. While doing so, we probably didn’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about safety. After all, hand tools are such simple devices – what could possibly go wrong? Plenty, it turns out. Consider that incidents involving hand tools lead to 8% of all work-related injuries in the U.S., according to data from federal regulators. Variety of injuries The improper use of hand tools can cause a variety of injuries, including: • amputations – a tool that can cut materials can also slice through fingers, arms, toes and other body parts. • blindness and vision loss – flying particles produced during hand tool operation can enter the user’s eyes and cause a severe injury. • lacerations and punctures – any hand tool with a blade has the potential to cause a laceration or a puncture wound. • broken bones – an unattended tool could fall from an elevated location and land on someone below. • death – blunt force trauma from falling tools or blood loss from a cut can sometimes be fatal. • repetitive motion injuries – the use of the same tool in the same manner for an extended time can put stress on the operator’s muscles and ligaments. (How can we avoid injuries while using hand tools?) To steer clear of injuries while using hand tools, make sure you have the right tool for the task. Don’t use a wrench as a hammer or a screwdriver as a chisel. And confirm that the tool is the correct size. Select ergonomically designed tools for jobs that involve repetitive motions. Safety gear It’s also important to put on safety gear before using the tool. Wear safety goggles, safety gloves, a hard hat and steel-toed safety shoes. Loose clothing, jewelry and ties shouldn’t be worn. Don’t start using a tool until you’ve inspected it. Look for signs of wear and damage. Tools shouldn’t be rusty, warped, splintered, or cracked. And be wary of tools covered in paint, dirt, or grease – tool damage could be hidden. Broken tools should be removed from service right away. Secure grip, footing While you’re using the tool, make sure your grip and footing are secure. Stay aware of the positioning of your hands throughout the job. Keep your hands away from materials that have sharp edges. And never put your hands in a place where you can’t see them. Secure the workpiece with a vise if you can. When you’re using knives and other cutting tools, cut in a direction away from yourself. Take short breaks and stretch if you have to repeatedly use the same tool with the same motions. Thanks for your attention. And remember, let’s stay safe out there! Subject: Hydrogen sulfide When you consider that just one whiff of hydrogen sulfide could cause you to lose consciousness and die, you know it’s important to pay attention to safety when you’re working around this colorless and odorless gas. What to focus on Here are three things to keep in mind in order to reduce the risks posed by hydrogen sulfide. 1. Recognize when you could be in danger. Hydrogen sulfide is produced naturally from decaying organic matter. It’s most often found in sewer and wastewater treatment systems; manure storage pits and lagoons; underground tanks, tunnels and other confined spaces; oil and gas wells; landfills; and other areas with decaying organic waste. 2. Protect yourself. If you know you’ll be laboring in an area that could contain hydrogen sulfide, put on an air-purifying or a supplied-air respirator. Also keep an approved gas detector handy. Adequately ventilate the work area, and immediately leave the area if the gas meter sounds an alarm or you smell rotten eggs. 3. Don’t be a hero. If a coworker has been felled by hydrogen sulfide in an enclosed space, don’t rush in to help – unless you’re wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus. Today’s safety meeting ✔ Topic: Hand tools ✔ Today’s Date: __________________ ✔ Attendee Signatures: Tailgate talk Supervisor’s safety toolbox SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS 4 Safety Alert for Supervisors April 20, 2026