All articles tagged with #workplace safety
Starbucks removed the blending powder used in its blended refreshers from U.S. stores after baristas in California reported coughing and sneezing when handling the powder, which was meant to preserve the drink’s slushy texture, prompting a safety review and a product-safety halt.
A Koch Foods poultry plant in Butler County suffered an explosion and fire, with investigators saying employees were not adequately prepared beforehand; safety procedures are under review.
Teens working in amusement parks and summer camps increasingly face no-phone policies during shifts to boost safety, efficiency and skill-building. Employers say removing devices reduces distractions around high-risk equipment and long shifts, helping teens focus, problem-solve and engage with customers; campers and lifeguards report feeling more present and socially connected without constant screen time. Programs like Morey’s Piers and Red Arrow Camp frame these rules around disconnecting, discovering and developing, highlighting the broader goal of teaching self-regulation as CDC data links high screen time to anxiety and depression. Experts note that teens benefit from environments that balance restricted and allowed phone use to build crucial self-management skills.
Cal/OSHA fined Blackbird Mountain Guides $151,300 for a February backcountry avalanche near Castle Peak that killed nine people, citing willful-serious and other safety violations such as failing to correct an imminent avalanche hazard, inadequate hazard assessment, insufficient training, inadequate protective equipment assessment, and failure to report fatalities; the company plans to appeal and contends it operated within safety standards amid the challenging backcountry conditions.
A state study links a surge in silicosis among California workers to quartz/manufactured stone countertops, with about 631 cases since 2019 (151 this year, 40 in the last month), 31 deaths, and 65 lung transplants. Most victims are middle-aged men, many in Los Angeles County, and safety violations are widespread in shops handling engineered stone. Regulators attribute the crisis to rising demand for the material and are moving to stricter rules, including a potential ban on certain fabrication tasks. A GoFundMe is aiding Enrique Gonzalez, a San Fernando Valley worker affected by the disease.
Two Habita employees were killed when a blast hit the earthquake-damaged Aeon Mall in Kumamoto after their employer allegedly ordered them to re-enter the building to move cash, prompting apologies from Habita and renewed questions about workplace safety.
A Stellantis worker with 30+ years in the UAW died Aug. 1 in an undisclosed accident at the Center Line Mopar distribution center; the UAW and Stellantis say they are investigating and withholding the employee’s identity out of respect, while authorities are involved. The building, previously Mopar admin offices, is currently unoccupied after relocation to Auburn Hills, and the UAW pledged to demand details and safety improvements to prevent future incidents.
Legionella bacteria were detected in the Reynolds Building in Lodi, where the Department of Industrial Relations operates, prompting water-system flushing and other corrective actions as SEIU Local 1000 warns of unsafe conditions amid Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four‑day-a-week return-to-office mandate; the state says it is addressing the issue and monitoring other buildings, with reports of bedbugs and other pests also raised by unions.
A deadly fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province killed at least 28 people after 237 workers and two visitors were inside; 213 were evacuated, with two later pronounced dead and 26 more missing before confirmation, bringing the death toll to 28. More than 180 firefighters fought the blaze, which began on the ground floor and spread rapidly, possibly aided by highly flammable shoe materials. President Xi Jinping urged accountability and a thorough investigation, and officials vowed an all-out effort to extinguish the fire and search for survivors.
A fire at a Fujian province shoe factory in Jinjiang killed at least 28 people, with 213 evacuated from 239 on site; President Xi Jinping ordered a full investigation and accountability for those responsible as authorities tighten attention on workplace safety in China.
Brooke Shields is backing about 80 Casa Bonita performers who unionized with Actors’ Equity to demand higher pay and stronger safety protections amid allegations of hypothermia, chlorine toxicity, sexual harassment, and security gaps. Performers earn $21–$26/hour, less than servers who recently received raises, while management has offered only a small wage increase and has not commented on ongoing negotiations. Actors’ Equity has filed multiple NLRB complaints alleging retaliation and failure to bargain, and Parker and Stone have largely remained silent as their Denver venue faces ongoing labor disputes.
Walmart updated its cart-loading rules for online-order fulfillment, limiting each cart to six blue bins (down from eight) and specifying pushing when visibility is clear and pulling when visibility is limited, reversing a previous push-only directive. The change aims to boost safety amid lawsuits and rising e-commerce volumes while keeping order fulfillment efficient.
A deadly blast at the Huasheng fireworks plant in Liuyang, Hunan Province, killed 26 and injured 61 as rescue workers searched for more victims and evacuated nearby areas due to risk of further explosions. President Xi Jinping ordered a thorough investigation and urged accountability, with Premier Li Qiang calling for a broad review of workplace safety; authorities deployed 482 emergency personnel and indicated the incident may lead to changes in safety measures in China’s prominent fireworks sector.
A 24-year-old Tokyo Dome City Attractions worker, Kamimura Hina, died after being trapped for about five hours inside the Flying Balloon ride’s gondola during routine maintenance; the park suspended operations and is conducting a full investigation with authorities.
Pope Leo XIV urged Italian employment consultants to stay close to families and workers in need, emphasizing the importance of promoting safety and human dignity in the workplace, especially amid technological advances, and to mediate effectively between employees and employers.