Safety Alert for Supervisors: 9/14/2026

Incident summary The failure of a supervisor to identify a significant job- related hazard led to the entombment of a worker at the bottom of a trench. What happened A 49-year-old staffer was hired to help install rebar at the bottom of an excavation located next to an existing retaining wall. The crew member descended into the five-foot- deep trench along with three coworkers. The men didn’t know that the trench had been dug below the level of the retaining wall, which decreased the stability of the nearby wall. As the crew was working inside the trench, the retaining wall suddenly collapsed on the four men. Two of the workers were able to scramble to safety, but the other two staff members were entombed beneath the rubble left by the collapsed wall. Responders were able to safely remove one of the trapped men, but the other staffer was harder to reach. By the time rescuers finally got to the other worker, he was already dead from blunt head trauma. Findings The employer failed to conduct a job hazard analysis prior to the start of the dangerous task. Had an analysis been completed, it would’ve revealed the significant risk posed by the potential collapse of the nearby retaining wall. The employer could’ve reduced the hazard from the retaining wall by building a support system such as bracing, shoring, or underpinning to support the wall during the job. Furthermore, the victim and everyone else on the crew hadn’t been provided with training on how to work safely in trenches. They also weren’t told that the unshored retaining wall next to the trench could collapse at any time. Man fatally entombed after wall collapses on work crew No one on job site was aware of risk from unstable structure You make the call: Employer assumed contract crew was following the rules “ W e surely don’t have sufficient resources to constantly monitor the work being performed by our contractors,” said George, the supervisor, “so you can’t hammer us with a citation because a contract crew committed a safety violation.” “You’re mistaken,” replied Tammy, the compliance officer. “You have a legal obligation to make sure contract workers stay safe. In this case, the contract crew violated one of our regulations because it failed to install a staircase to the second floor of a structure that was being built. Instead, the contract staffers were using a ladder to access the second floor. Our citation is valid.” Didn’t know about it “While it’s true that the contract crew failed to erect the staircase as it was required to do,” said George, “we’re not on the hook for the penalty because we couldn’t have known about the alleged violation.” “Why couldn’t you have been aware of the safety violation?” asked Tammy. “The back of the building wasn’t visible from the street,” said George. “Our supervisors monitored the worksite by driving by it. They couldn’t see the back of the structure, so they assumed the staircase had been installed in the rear of the building.” “Their assumption was incorrect,” said Tammy. “There was no staircase in the rear of the structure.” Someone else “We know that now,” said George. “But, again, we were unaware of the alleged violation and you can’t cite us for a safety problem caused by someone else. We’ll challenge your fine.” Did the company win? 2 Safety News Staffer hit with criminal charges after horseplay incident kills colleague. 2 Quick Ideas Here’s one way to lower the chances of injuries from pressure washers. 3 Legal Developments After spotter leaves the work area, man suffers fatal electrocution injury. 3 Horror Stories Crew member crushed to death after boat tumbles off forklift, lands on him. 4 Safety Meeting Workers are at risk for a range of different injuries while using power tools. In this issue ■ Make your call, then go to page 3 for the court’s ruling. September 14, 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), September 14, 2026, Vol. 24, No. 559, 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 Horseplay gone wrong: One man dead, another could be going to jail For new proof of the importance of disciplining crew members when they engage in foolish horseplay, consider the recent tragic death of Tyler Lynch at a job site in Apple Valley, MN. Lynch and coworker Christoper Crimmins were trimming trees when they decided to start fooling around. As Crimmins sat in the cab of a truck operating a hydraulic grapple attached to the truck’s boom and Lynch was on the ground bundling tree branches, the men noticed that the sunlight was casting shadows of both the grapple and Lynch. Crimmins decided to play a joke by making it appear that the shadow of the grapple was grabbing the shadow of Lynch. While Crimmins was playing shadow puppets, he failed to notice that the grapple was getting perilously close to Lynch’s head. When Crimmins closed the grapple, it immediately crushed Lynch’s head and killed the 26-year-old man. Following the incident, Crimmins, 34, of Brainerd, MN, was charged with second-degree manslaughter. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000. Job rotation can reduce worker exposure to dust that causes lung disease Here’s one way to reduce the level of airborne toxic dust that could cause your crew members to develop a severe respiratory illness: Adopt a daily, ongoing and consistent housekeeping schedule that ensures the removal of dust from floors, walls and other surfaces. So suggests a hazard alert recently released by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. The alert was issued following a big increase in the number of cases of silicosis, a deadly lung disease, among stone countertop workers. The alert notes that employers can also lower the risk of silicosis by rotating crew members in and out of jobs that could expose them to hazardous levels of toxic dust. Organization cited for letting oil-soaked rags accumulate on the floor Do your staffers know how to safely dispose of rags soaked in oil or chemicals? If you’re not sure, now might be a good time to review your employer’s policies on hazardous waste disposal. By doing so, you’ll avoid a plight similar to that of Monro Inc., an automotive services company that just agreed to pay $174,000 to settle citations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration following an inspection of the company’s facility in Norwich, NY. The employer allowed oil-soaked rags to pile up on the floor when they should’ve been deposited in a metal container. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors September 14, 2026 How longer wands on pressure washers can head off injuries If you’re concerned that your crew members could suffer an injury while using a pressure washer, consider providing them with washers that have longer wands. Reason: A longer wand makes it less likely that a user will spray himself or herself while operating the pressure washer. Do staffers know to inspect ladders from the top down? When they’re inspecting a ladder before using it, workers should know to examine the ladder from the top down. During the inspection, staff members should confirm that the rungs are sturdy, clean and not slippery from grease or oil. In addition, the upright legs should be strong and not have cracks, splits, or bent edges. The braces should be tight, as should be screws, bolts and other fasteners. Furthermore, the ladder’s feet and nonslip base should be in good condition. As many as 42 employees die every year in crane incidents Should any of your crew members question the importance of following safety procedures when they’re operating cranes, let them know this fact: An average of 42 workers per year suffered fatal injuries in crane-related incidents over a recent six-year period, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Crew member fatigue linked to 13% of injuries in US workplaces Alert: New data reinforces the significance of making sure your crew members are well rested before they start potentially hazardous jobs. According to the data, 13% of injuries in U.S. workplaces can be attributed to employee fatigue. 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: Make sure spotters never leave the work area to handle an unrelated task; the risk of injury to the individual being spotted is too high. What happened: A contract employee was hired by a company to trim trees that had overgrown and were pressing against an overhead power line. The power line was suspended between two wooden poles, both of which were rotted and decayed. What people did: The contractor elevated himself in the tree and was trimming branches when he suddenly felt thirsty. He asked his spotter to retrieve water for him. While the spotter was away, the power line began to sway due to the poor condition of the poles. The man trimming the trees made contact with the swaying power line and suffered a fatal electrocution. Legal challenge: The family of the dead man sued the host employer. The company argued that it didn’t have a legal duty of care to the contract staffer because he should’ve known how to protect himself from the hazards posed by entangled power lines – the risk was inherent to his job. Result: The company lost. The court said the host employer couldn’t dodge liability for the incident. Here’s why: Yes, the risk from the entangled trees was obvious, but the hazard from the decayed wooden poles wasn’t. Because the host employer failed to warn the contractor about the condition of the poles, it could be held responsible for the fatal electrocution. The skinny: Courts usually rule against host employers that neglect to alert an injured contract worker to hazards unique to their operation, especially if the contractor wouldn’t have typically known about the danger. Cite: Hichez v. Delmarva Power & Light Co., Superior Court of Delaware, No. N19C-10-273, 8/14/26. horror stories Summary A 24-year-old man who had a passion for repairing engines died when a boat slipped off the forks of a forklift and crushed him. The incident From the time he was a young boy, Cody Stelzel of Menomonee Falls, WI, was fascinated by cars, trucks, boats and just about anything powered by an internal combustion engine. So after he graduated from high school, Stelzel decided to pursue his passion for engines by enrolling in the diesel technology program at Waukesha County Technical College to learn how to fix diesel engines. Stelzel subsequently used his degree from the program to land a job repairing boat engines at CenterPointe Marine, a boat storage and repair facility in Milwaukee, WI. One day while he was working at CenterPointe, Stelzel was assigned to fix the diesel engine on a boat that was stored in the warehouse. He went to the area where the boat was located and watched as the operator of a forklift truck retrieved the boat from its elevated storage location. With Stelzel standing nearby, the boat unexpectedly slid off the forks of the forklift truck and landed on Stelzel. The response Coworkers raced over to help their stricken mate, but Stelzel’s crushing injuries were too severe and he was soon declared dead. The aftermath Stelzel left behind his mother and father. People remembered him for his willingness to help others. “He loved doing what he did,” said his dad, Keven Stelzel, “especially if someone would call him up and ask if he could do mechanical work on a car or a boat. “He was my only son,” continued Keven. “I will never see him get married. I will never have a grandchild. He was taken way too young.” September 14, 2026 Safety Alert for Supervisors 3 You make the call: The decision (See case on page 1) No. The company lost. The court refused to overturn the safety citation. The judge said the host employer couldn’t avoid the penalty by claiming ignorance of the violation – the organization had a legal obligation to ensure contractors stayed safe. While the violation – failing to install stairs to the second floor of a building under construction – might not have been immediately obvious to the host employer’s supervisors driving by the job site, the supervisors should’ve gotten out of their vehicles and physically inspected the structure, then insisted that stairs be erected before the work was allowed to continue. What it means: Inspect the work of contractors It can be tempting to hire a contract company to handle potentially dangerous work and then turn a blind eye to what the crew is actually doing. However, this approach can be risky if contract workers run afoul of safety regulations and you’re not aware of it. Instead, it’s better to continually inspect the work being done by contract crews. Consider the use of a checklist to help guide your site inspections. Key: If you spot a potential safety violation, stop the work right away and get the problem fixed. Based on SSHI LLC v. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Staffer electrocuted after his spotter leaves the work area Dad laments loss of his child: ‘He was taken way too young’

Y ou don’t have to be an expert on power tools to know that these devices carry a risk of injuries from electrical hazards. However, we might sometimes forget that power tools can cause other types of injuries too. In fact, there’s potential for a range of different types of injuries while operating power tools. Consider, for instance, that cuts and lacerations account for 41% of all power tool injuries in the workplace, according to one recent study. Another study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that eye injuries comprise 12% of all power-tool- related workplace injuries. Primary risks Of course that doesn’t mean we should ignore electrical hazards while using power tools. Keep in mind that the primary electrical-related risks include electrical shock, burns and electrocution. (What steps can we take to head off electrical injuries while using power tools?) To avoid these types of injuries, it’s best to inspect the power cord before using a tool. Look for cracks, frays, or exposed wiring. Remember: Damaged cords can lead to contact with a live electrical circuit. Also make sure that the tool is grounded or double- insulated. Tools with three- pronged plugs should only be connected to grounded outlets. Don’t jury-rig a broken electrical cord. Instead, replace damaged cords and components right away. Flying debris In addition to the risks posed by electricity, we also face a danger from flying debris or projectiles while utilizing power tools. Small particles can penetrate the eyes and large projectiles can cause deep lacerations. One of the most important things we can do to head off injuries from debris and projectiles is to always wear proper eye protection such as safety goggles or face shields; prescription eyeglasses don’t offer adequate protection. For activities that could produce flying particles – such as cutting or grinding – use a dust extraction system or local exhaust ventilation to help remove airborne particles. Tool jerks back And don’t forget the danger of kickbacks, which happen when a tool gets stuck or hits a hard object and unexpectedly jerks back. In that situation, the tool user can lose control and suffer a severe injury such as a deep cut, fracture, or puncture wound. You can significantly lower the chances of kickbacks by maintaining a firm grip and adopting a stable stance while operating the power tool. Use both hands while using the tool, and never force a tool through the material – let the tool’s cutting action do the work. Another major hazard is hearing loss. That’s why you should wear earplugs while operating loud tools. Thanks for your attention. And remember, let’s stay safe out there! Subject: Stacking safety At first glance, the task of safely stacking workplace materials might seem like a straightforward job. In reality, however, effective stacking requires attention to detail as well as the use of safe stacking techniques. Otherwise, a poorly stacked load could topple over and injure someone. What to focus on Here are three things to keep in mind to reduce the chances of injuries caused by unsafe stacking. 1. Examine the area prior to stacking. Before you start stacking, look at the pallets, racks, stacks and packaging from a distance. If you notice that cartons, bags, drums, bales, or other materials are leaning, bulging, or overhanging, take a few minutes to stabilize the materials. 2. Apply sensible stacking techniques. Place larger and heavier items on the bottom of the stack, distribute the weight evenly and keep the load centered. 3. Stay out of the danger zone. Never stand directly in front of, behind, beside, or underneath a load that could shift, roll, or collapse. Don’t walk or work beneath raised forks, suspended loads, or elevated pallets. Don’t lean into a stack to retrieve an item. And never try to catch falling boxes or pallets. Today’s safety meeting ✔ Topic: Power tools ✔ Today’s Date: __________________ ✔ Attendee Signatures: Tailgate talk Supervisor’s safety toolbox SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS 4 Safety Alert for Supervisors September 14, 2026