safety
Violence Plagued West Virginia Prison Before Bulger Killing
Long before notorious Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger was killed at a federal prison in West Virginia, lawmakers, advocates and even prison guards had been sounding the alarm about dangerous conditions there. But there has been no public indication that federal prison officials have taken action to address the safety concerns, even as Bulger’s killing marks the third at the facility in the last six months.
Read moreSuspicious Package
A spokesperson for Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said Tuesday that his Houston campaign headquarters was locked down for several hours because of a suspicious package, which later tested negative for hazardous substances.
Read moreBoss of the Week
A former employee of Fulton Trucking Co. claims in court then when he complained of unsafe working conditions, his boss told him, “Fuck you, you stupid son of a bitch, you’re fired,” and stabbed him in the chest with a screwdriver.
Read moreAgency Seeks Anti-Lock Brakes on All New US Road Motorcycles
A federal safety agency is recommending that all new motorcycles built for road use in the U.S. have anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control as standard equipment.
Read moreFeds Ordered to Finalize Graphic Cigarette Warnings
A federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday to stop delaying the implementation of graphic warning labels on cigarette packs.
Read moreRelatives of Duck Boat Victims File $100M Lawsuit
Family members of victims filed a $100 million federal lawsuit Sunday against the owners and operators of a defective duck boat that sank and dragged 17 people to their deaths at the bottom of a Missouri lake less than two weeks ago.
Read moreSouth African Gold Miner Sued Over Mounting Fatalities
A world leader in gold mining recorded its 21st death this year because the South African company puts profits ahead of safety, Sibanye Gold Limited shareholders said Thursday in a federal class action.
Read moreEPA Backpedals on Suspension of Farmworker Protections
The Environmental Protection Agency backed off the temporary suspension of federal requirements aimed at protecting farm workers on Thursday, following a lawsuit filed by three states two weeks ago.
Read moreNYC on the Hook for $1.2B in Public-Housing Case
Under fire for chronic safety violations, New York City’s Public Housing Authority agreed to federal monitoring Monday as part of a settlement worth more than $1 billion.
Read moreTexas Governor Pushes School Safety Plan in Wake of Shooting
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a plan to address school and firearm safety Wednesday, calling for a more robust law enforcement presence in schools, getting more teachers licensed to carry firearms, and conducting mental health evaluations to identify students at risk of harming others.
Read moreTexas Governor Hosts Roundtable on Gun Violence
With Texas Governor Greg Abbott facing calls to convene a special legislative session to address school safety, he took a cautious step into the debate Tuesday by hosting state lawmakers in a roundtable discussion prompted by last week’s shooting in Santa Fe.
Read moreIowans Slam Local Railroad Over Gruesome Accidents
Two Iowa women filed a pair of lawsuits blaming Canadian National Railway Company and two U.S. subsidiaries for severe injuries they suffered last year while climbing through a stopped train to cross the tracks.
Read moreDC Circuit Takes Up Push for Rear Seat-Belt Warnings
The fight for car safety landed in the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday as two nonprofits asked the appeals court to force the Department of Transportation to get moving on making seat-belt warning systems mandatory for backseat passengers.
Read moreDC Circuit Rejects Challenge to Workplace Silica Rule
The D.C. Circuit on Friday ruled against industry groups challenging a Labor Department rule that limits workers’ exposure to the chemical compound silica, but agreed that the rule is missing a provision for already exposed workers to be pulled off the job site.
Read more
Chamber of Commerce Fights New OSHA Rule
The Chamber of Commerce and other business groups sued the Department of Labor, claiming a new OSHA rule requiring employers to submit injury and illness reports for posting on a publicly available website constitutes unconstitutional forced speech.
Read more