Worker electrocuted, not trained, $29 billion firm should know better

[Omaha Steve]

http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/worker-electrocuted-not-trained-29-billion-firm-should-know-better/

August 3, 2009 in Confined Space @ TPH, Mining, Occupational Health & Safety, Safety | by Celeste Monforton

This morning, I read MSHA’s fatality report for the April 7 electrocution death of Tadd M. Bainum, 36. Mr. Bainum was a supervisor, and was doing electrical-related work, but had NOT received appropriate training in electrical tasks. MSHA’s investigators noted:

“Failure to train in performing the task constituted more than ordinary negligence and is an unwarrantable failure to comply with a mandatory safety standard.”

Mr. Bainum’s work-related death left behind his wife April and three children, Tristan, 12, Holly, 6 and Lacy, 3.

At first glance, the dredging pits where Mr. Bainum died sounds like a typical mom-and-pop operation. From MSHA’s report

“…normally operated one, 10-hour shift a day, five days per week. Total employment was five persons,”

but on closer look up the corporate food-chain, Hallett Materials is operated by OMG Midwest, Inc., a division of Oldcastle Materials ($7.4 billion revenues, 2008), which is part of the international conglomerate CRH, operating in 35 countries.

CHR’s revenues in 2008 were $20.9 Billion (Euro), about $29.7 Billion (US). A quick look using MSHA’s on-line data system indicates the CHR has more than 350 sites across the U.S. in 41 different States. That’s no mom-and-pop operation. There’s no excuse for the company’s failure to provide appropriate training for workers employed around WATER and ELECTRICITY.

FULL story at link.