Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/529509
While the changes to the Protecting America's Workers Act introduced in 2013 are still in committee, many states are already taking action to introduce their own laws to protect workers and bring felony charges against those gambling with workers' lives. Recent prosecutions The president and primary owner of a New Hampshire business was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of manslaughter. The case stems from an explosion in May 2010 that killed two employees of Black Mag LLC, a gunpowder-substitute manufacturer. The owner also had to surrender his ATF explosives manufacturing license and agree to never again employ workers in any explo- sives-related business. OSHA issued $1.2 million in fines after the blast. Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams filed murder charges against a contractor over a building collapse in June 2013 that killed six people and injured 13 others. A four- story wall the contractor was demolish- ing fell onto a Salvation Army Thrift Store. The contractor faces six counts of third-degree murder, six counts of manslaughter, and 13 counts of reck- lessly endangering another person. Focusing on preventions With 252 eight-hour workdays each year, there is a daily average of 18 work-related fatalities. This obviously has got to be addressed with a much bet- ter focus on preventing injuries and pro- viding adequate prevention strategies. These need to stress employee educa- tion, awareness, and improved care and concern for all human life—beyond just trying to be compliant with OSHA. The real purpose behind improving worker safety and health is to make sure each and every employee comes to work and returns home safely each and every day. My intent in conveying how crimi- nal prosecution efforts are on the rise for those taking shortcuts or ignoring safety issues is to show how serious this poten- tial threat is when we don't act dili- gently to prevent safety risks and health risks from becoming an actual injury or illness . . . or fatality. Drilling business owners and opera- tors are entrusted with the lives of the people who work for them, but injuries continue to occur from time to time. Being ever vigilant is critical to recog- nize, evaluate, eliminate, and prevent hazards as well as keeping employees from getting injured on the job. Take the time to do a thorough risk evaluation and provide the necessary resources to design or implement prevention strategies. Pay attention to engineering modifications, preven- tion procedures, effective education, and issuance of personal protective equipment. All of these play important roles that will protect drilling contractors. At the end of the day, we never want to see our employees' families bear the burden of losing a loved one. Nor see some- one go to jail. WWJ Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP, is a national practice leader and the director of industrial hygiene services for Nova Consulting Group Inc. in Independence, Missouri. WWJ July 2015 41 Twitter @WaterWellJournl e y v o mpr • I ease y ncr • I e est a f v n • I e A w NGWA om li ott our b y wledg no our k y es of w minut e -based tr eb . ine . ge . time aining r w p U he T ep 22 — S NGW 21 — Jul r O A 15 — Jul W ie r O ANS rd wa is V W d eading L hing: ision T e t andida or C t ec ir A D WA D tion ta en elopm v ds De tandar SI S g ol cho es S t men Mud v 17 — o N o Mot he T v 3 — ov N Ener t 27 — Oc ill r y D d Rotar oundi r or G tan or Imp v a gy S r lling ding er op ro e of P nc VFDs vings with a s