Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace (32) Monday, July 06, 2009

[Omaha Steve]

http://weeklytoll.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-toll-death-in-american-workplace.html

Teen summer worker dies falling nearly 100 feet from cliff in Ohio state park

June 1, Calcutta, Ohio — Authorities say an Ohio teenager fell nearly 100 feet to his death inside a state park where he was doing tree trimming work. The State Highway Patrol says 17-year-old Dustin Huffman suffered head trauma in Tuesday's fall down a cliff and was pronounced dead at the scene in Beaver Creek State Park, about 80 miles southeast of Cleveland. Troopers say Huffman apparently lost his footing while exploring in the park during a break from his summer job cutting branches away from utility lines.


WVa worker dies after being pinned by equipment

June 1, Pleasant Valley, West Virginia - A Fairmont man has died after being pinned between an aerial lift's platform and a crane. Police say 48-year-old George Green was standing on the platform as he backed the lift out of a United Rentals garage Tuesday morning. The lift backed into a crane parked behind it, pinning Green between the platform and the crane. Marion County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Chip Phillips says Green died at the scene.


1 Dies, 2 Injured After Fall From Construction Site

June 1, Dublin, Ohio —A Columbus construction worker fell to his death Wednesday at a Dublin construction site after a scaffolding collapsed, injuring two co-workers as well...The three workers fell different distances from the scaffolding: one fell to the ground, a second worker fell two stories and a third worker fell one story, according to Dublin Public Information Officer Mike Racey. Wilbert Johnson, 52, of Columbus died after he fell an unknown distance.


Electric Boat worker killed on job

June 1, North Kingston, Rhode Island - An Electric Boat worker injured on the job Wednesday morning has died from his injuries, according to a company news release. In a bulletin sent to employees, the company said the victim was a rigger at the plant. The accident happened at 7:25 a.m. at the company's Quonset manufacturing facility in North Kingstown. The 31-year-old worker was then taken to Kent Hospital in Warwick, where he was pronounced dead, the release said. Company officials said the victim worked for Electric Boat for 10 years.


Pedmont Trucker Killed In Grinding Accident

June 1, Piedmont, Alabama - log truck driver died Tuesday when he ran into the rear of a dump truck on U.S. 278 near Hokes Bluff. James Franklin Beecham, 49, was killed in the wreck but the driver of the dump truck, 38-year-old Paul Taylor Pledger, of Ball Play, was only slightly injured. The impact caused the dump truck to turn over, dumping its load of chert. The logs shifted, crunching the cab of the Beecham’s truck and pinning him inside the wreckage. It’s the third wreck in less than two years involving a large truck overturning and spilling its load.


Farmers market worker electrocuted

June 30, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Maintenance supervisor Earl W. Yerkes, 85, was killed while working on a rooftop air conditioning unit. A faithful employee who worked for the Quakertown Farmers Market for nearly 50 years died there Saturday afternoon when he was shocked by at least 450 volts of electricity, officials said. Earl W. Yerkes, 85, was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital Quakertown, but indications are he might have died immediately, said Richard Woldow, owner of the farmers market on Station Avenue in Richland.


FULL story at link.