Celeste Monforton of The Pump Handle has just published a piece looking at where blame can be assessed for worker fatalities. For the piece, the author took the data from one week of job site deaths and examined the conditions that led to each accident. Based on the OSHA-issued fines following the investigation of each incident, Monforton concludes that the vast majority of these deaths were preventable through the use of standard safety procedures. Using these results, she labels Rand Paul's claim - in reference to the Upper Big Branch mine fatalities - that 'accidents just happen', as incorrect and harmful.
From the article:
That view "accidents just happen," runs counter to public health community's evidence that many traumatic, chronic and fatal injuries can be prevented. Investigations of work-related fatalities in particular---whether conducted by a labor-management safety committee, a safety consultant, or State or federal OSHA officials----consistently reveal that the majority of fatal incidents could have been averted had longstanding, basic safety practices, that is, REGULATIONS, been followed.
It's a good, and tragic, read. View the piece in its entirety here.
Submitted by Patrick McQueen