Latest news with #workplace safety
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Twin Cities, Duluth nurses ratify new contract addressing staffing, wage increases
Thousands of nurses in the Twin Cities and Duluth area voted to ratify a new contract after months of bargaining. The Minnesota Nurses Association, which represents 15,000 nurses across 13 hospitals, says the new contract addresses staffing, workplace safety and fair wages. Twin Cities nurses will see a 10% raise over three years and Duluth-area nurses will see a 9.75% raise over three years. The ratification puts and end to four months of negotiations, during which time thousands of nurses worked without a contract and the union voted to authorize an unfair labor practices strike. The union reached a tentative deal with health care providers on July 3, averting the strike. The contract covers nurses at Allina Health, M Health Fairview, Essentia Health, Aspirus St. Luke's, HealthPartners Methodist and Children's Minnesota. The Twin Cities Hospitals Group, along with Aspirus St. Luke's issued the following statement: "Today, our hospitals have moved forward with a new contract with our nurses' union that recognizes our nurses with a 10 percent wage increase over three years, keeping Minnesota nurses among the highest paid in the country. We also introduced contract changes that enable greater innovation and flexibility in patient care and hospital operations. Our goal remains to provide high-quality, affordable patient care, and we remain mindful of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of healthcare, which requires all of us to bring our best to those we serve."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Rochdale company fined after boss killed by reversing lorry
A company has been fined £220,000 after a director who stayed at work after business hours to wait for a lorry was killed as he tried to help the driver reverse into its Ames, who worked at the British Millerain Company Ltd textile firm, was fatally injured on 22 June 2023 at the site in Rochdale, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) driver had lost sight of Mr Ames as he reversed and when he got out to check, he found him trapped between the vehicle and some steel storage racks, Manchester Magistrates' Court company was sentenced to the fine after admitting breaching the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act. Mr Ames died in hospital of his injuries, and an HSE investigation later identified several failings including the company having no safe system in place for reversing vehicles. Its employees confirmed they had never received any training and this included one who said he had on occasion reversed HGVs into the warehouse with someone else acting as a look-out marshal – despite neither being trained to do investigation also found the company had no risk assessment procedure in place in relation to this scenario. Mr Ames' family said the outcome of the hearing left them with "mixed emotions".In a statement, they said: "Daniel went to work and never came home again and we have a massive hole in our lives that will never be filled."They said they were glad the company admitted responsibility and was fined but "remain devastated" at the loss of the "much-loved dad, husband, uncle, son and brother".They continued: "He got on well with all his colleagues at work and had a great career. "He was a respected professional who loved his job, was well known in the industry and was excited for his future - but that was taken away from us all in an instant."HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: "This is a tragic case."Daniel was clearly popular and respected but his leadership and dedication to his colleagues was not properly protected by the defendant."A safe system of work was not in place." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Perth builder CASM Construction fined $750,000 after worker injured
A Perth building company and its former director have been hit with significant fines after a fall at one of their sites left a worker with life-changing injuries. Terry Dunn was working as a carpenter on CASM Construction's site at Woottating, 65 kilometres east of Perth, on December 14, 2021 when he fell head-first 2.2 metres into an empty pool. Mr Dunn suffered a severe brain injury in the fall, requiring a lengthy stint in rehabilitation and leaving him unable to work. After an investigation, Worksafe charged CASM and former director Shane Alexander Lynn with work safety breaches, with both pleading guilty. In a sentencing hearing in the Northam Magistrates Court on Monday, Magistrate Sarah Oliver fined CASM, which has collapsed since the incident, $750,000, while Lynn was fined $45,000. Lynn was also granted a spent conviction. Magistrate Oliver acknowledged that with CASM currently in liquidation and Lynn bankrupt, it was unlikely either fine would be paid. The court heard Mr Dunn was discussing alfresco doors with another worker on site when he fell through a doorway and into the pool. He suffered a fractured skull, six broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken shoulder and considerable bruising. At the time of the incident, there were no barriers restricting access to the area, with scaffolding over the pool removed a month prior and not reinstalled. Mr Dunn was helped from the pool complaining of pain and appearing confused, and eventually taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment, where he underwent surgery for a bleed on the brain the following day. He was in the intensive care unit for 41 days before undertaking rehabilitation and being discharged nearly two months later. The court heard he continues to experience seizures, as well as neurological and cognitive difficulties. The State Solicitors Office said Lynn and his company failed to take measures to ensure the pool area was safe for workers and suggested edging protection, the reinstalling of scaffolding and locking the bi-fold doors could have eliminated the risk of Mr Dunn's injury. Lynn cried as he confirmed his guilty plea, telling Magistrate Oliver he was extremely remorseful for his actions and had been declared bankrupt as a result of the workplace incident. He told the court he had experienced significant mental health difficulties since the event, being hospitalised on several occasions. Magistrate Oliver told the court that no fine could reflect the impact the incident had on Mr Dunn and his loved ones. "The court is aware of the impact this incident had to Mr Dunn and his family," she said. "That day changed his life forever. "Sentencing will never fully reflect the human element of this case." Magistrate Oliver said she believed Lynn, as responsible person on the day, was truly remorseful for the lack of safety on site but that he had a duty to provide a safe workplace.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
A man who died after falling from a scissor lift in Launceston had a 'mental lapse', a magistrate has found
A Tasmanian magistrate says a man who fell from a scissor lift to a his death had a "mental lapse", and has dismissed the company that contracted him of all but one safety charge. Gerard Dezoete died after he stepped off a raised scissor lift at a construction site in central Launceston on June 17, 2020. In a ruling, delivered in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday, Deputy Chief Magistrate Ken Stanton said he believed Mr Dezoete mistakenly thought he was at ground level. "Of course, when the scissor lift was being raised, Mr Dezoete must have been aware that was occurring," his decision read. "Nonetheless, as he later looked along the wall on which he had been working, he would have seen that the eaves were the same height above him as they had been when the scissor lift was at ground level. The ground would have appeared level. Chief Magistrate Stanton said the natural way to get off the scissor lift was to step backwards, and, in doing so, the scene Mr Dezoete saw would have been similar to when the scissor lift was not extended. "Such common lapses are a common part of everyday human experience. Unfortunately, as this case illustrates, sometimes they have disastrous consequences," he said. The charges of failing to comply with a health and safety duty category two and category three, failing to ensure a safe work method statement for proposed work was prepared, and failing to review a safe work method statement were all dismissed against Bisrey Pty Ltd, trading as RnB Painting, the company that contracted Mr Dezoete. But the chief magistrate found a charge of failing to ensure a safe work method statement was given to the principal contractor had been proven. While the painting and rendering business had been using extension ladders, the day before the fall, Tas City Buildings, which Bisrey was contracted to, advised there was a scissor lift available at the site for employees to use. Bisrey manager Liam Reynolds printed a generic safe work method statement (SWMS) for the machine and put it in his car, intending to take it to the worksite. But by the time he arrived, Mr Dezoete had already fallen. "Using the scissor lift was manifestly more convenient than using ladders … it would have appeared to be safer than using ladders. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Reynolds knew the scissor lift would be used when it was," chief magistrate's decision read. But he wrote that as an experienced tradesman, it would be "surprising" if Mr Dezoete had not worked extensively with scissor lifts before, that he likely knew how to operate one, and that it was appropriate for Bisrey to rely on his apparent knowledge and skills. The chief magistrate said even though providing a SWMS would have been unlikely to reduce the risk of falling from height, delivering one would have been a "simple, straightforward task with very little cost". "Mr Reynolds had prioritised other business activities over delivering it to the site and providing it," he said. Bisrey's defence lawyer, Greg Richardson, told the court neither the company, nor its director, had any prior convictions, and that the company had always been conscious of safety measures, calling the tragedy "a result of inadvertence". "You don't need a document to tell you not to step off an elevated platform," he told the court. The matter will return to court in late July for sentencing.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
TUC plans inspections of workplaces amid heatwave concern
The TUC has organised a nationwide inspection of workplaces this week to check that workers are being helped to cope with the heatwave. More than 1,000 trade union health and safety reps have signed up to take part. Working in hot weather can lead to dehydration, tiredness, muscle cramps, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness, said the TUC. Trade union reps will check workplace temperatures, and will discuss with employers the protective steps they can take, including keeping buildings cool, shaded areas for outdoor workers and allowing flexible hours. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: 'Everyone should be safe at work, but working in a heatwave can be dangerous – especially when your employer wants you to carry on regardless. 'That's why union reps are taking action this week to keep their workmates safe in the heat, and it's why we're calling on the government to strengthen legal protections with a maximum working temperature. 'A lot of the best safety steps are just common sense. 'For example, employers should allow flexible hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day. And indoor workplaces should be kept at comfortable temperatures, with relaxed dress codes.'
