Baldwinsville, NY — Co-workers tried to keep Jon C. Stranburg’s head above water Monday afternoon after he fell and was trapped in a hydroelectric turbine in the Seneca River, in Baldwinsville.

Stranburg, a co-owner of the Wave Hydroelectric facility, slipped and fell into the water just after noon while working on the turbine.

“Apparently he fell down into the turbine and was unable to withstand the strong currents and undertow, and was pulled under the water,” said Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck.

The other co-owner of the hydroelectric company, who has not been identified, tried unsuccessfully to save Stranburg. The second co-owner was pulled from the water and sent to the hospital, Lefancheck said.

The privately owned facility is located on Lock 24, near Paper Mill Island.

Lefancheck said the water conditions and the dark confined space of the turbine made the attempt to rescue Stranburg very difficult. By 2 p.m., Lefancheck announced that Stranburg, 60, of Allegany, was presumed dead and workers continued their work as a recovery effort. Stranburg’s body was pulled from the water just before 4 p.m.

Man Trapped in a Turbine Pit Near Papermill Island Rescue personnel try to free a worker at the Wave Hydro plant on the Seneca River in Baldwinsville Monday. The man reportedly slipped while working on a turbine and became trapped under water. Watch video

“There were a lot hazards that made this rescue very dangerous,” said Baldwinsville’s Deputy Fire Chief Tony McIntyre. Rescuers worked in a confined space, in deep water, with a 10-foot in diameter turbine that was still running nearby, McIntyre said. The steel plate on the turbine is an inch thick, McIntyre said.

Authorities said the initial call from Wave Hydro reported that a worker at the station had slipped while working on a turbine in the river.

The first Baldwinsville rescuer on the scene immediately called for heavy rescue equipment. The Syracuse Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Unit was among the units dispatched. The sound of a metal-cutting tool could be heard in the area where the rescue effort was going on.

About two dozen spectators gathered on the side of the river to watch as firefighters and ambulance personnel moved in and out of the area on the far shore.

McIntyre said the attempted rescue and eventual recovery was a joint effort among the different departments. “It’s very difficult to plan for this type of accident, but that’s why we have to work together with our neighbors,” McIntyre said. “I don’t know everything, but we worked together and came up with a plan.”

View full sizeMichelle Gabel / The Post-StandardA man was taken out on a gurney and placed into an ambulance behind the Red Mill Inn on Syracuse Street in Baldwinsville. He is a coworker of Jon C. Stranburg who died while being trapped in a hydroelectric turbine in the Seneca River.

McIntyre called the hazardous conditions frustrating. “This is nothing you can ever prepare for,” said K.A. Young, district chief of the Syracuse Fire Department. Representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were also at the site.

The New York State Canal Corp. announced on July 19 that the lower-than-normal water levels upstream of Erie Canal Lock 24 in Baldwinsville was due to inoperable gates at the Wave Hydro hydroelectric facility. The Canal Corp. said in a news release that the Wave Hydro hydroelectric facility was unable to close its gates.

It’s unclear if this was the problem that the company was working on Monday.

Lefancheck said they were still investigating the accident.

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The half-day seminar focuses on identifying fall hazards in residential construction, as well as, providing attendees an understanding of the OSHA fall protection regulations and safe work practices to prevent fall-related injuries and fatalities.  This training session also covers OSHA’s recent rescission of STD 3.1 Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction that have been in effect since 1995. OSHA has issued new compliance guidelines that become effective June 16, 2011. These new guidelines prescribe what is required of employers to protect workers from fall hazards in the residential construction industry. These new guidelines prescribe what is employers are required to do in order to protect workers from fall hazards in the residential construction industry.

Possibly the most important part of the seminar is a review of the safe work practices that must be used to minimize the risk of workers falling during home construction operations.  Special emphasis will be placed on how to protect stairways, leading edges, window/wall openings and floor holes, how to use a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS), how to safely construct rafters and install roof trusses and sheeting, and how to provide protection from falling objects.  All participants will be encouraged to ask questions and provide examples of their own personal safety experiences on the jobsite.

Read more: http://tippnews.com/events/home-builders-association-of-miami-county-offers-fall-protection-training/

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Rescue Tech – Butterfly KnotRescue Tech – To create a butterfly knot we are goung to start with the rope in one hand.Rescue Tech – Take the tail end loop it crossing over once, twice.Rescue Tech – Take the first strand you crossed over with (which is the middle line) grab and pull all the way around towards your fingers.Rescue Tech – Pull through and then popped apart.

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1. Unguarded machine that exposed workers to amputation hazards.
2. Insufficient training.
3. Insufficient certification for forklift operator.
4. Deficiencies in plant’s fire prevention system.
5. Failed to implement lockout/tagout procedure.
6. Struck by hazard while operating overhead hoist and cranes.
7. Workers were exposed to tripping and slipping hazards.
8. Failing to offer the Hepatitis B vaccination.
9. Failing to give first aid training.
10. Bad machine clean up program.
11. Failing to complete incident reports.
12. Failing to maintain OSHA 300 logs correctly, prepare annual injury and illness summaries, and develop and implement a Hazard Communication Program for hazardous chemicals, materials, and respiratory protection

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The best ways to prevent injury to the eye is to always wear the appropriate eye protection. Surprisingly, the BLS reports that approximately three out of every five workers injured were either not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident or wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. To be effective, eyewear must fit properly and be designed to effectively protect workers while they work. It is estimated that over 90% of eye injuries are preventable with the use of proper safety eyewear. The Occupational Safety Health Administration, OSHA, has standards that require employers to provide their workers with the appropriate eye protection.

In addition to the proper safety eyewear, early detection and treatment of eye conditions and diseases are essential to maintaining good vision at every stage of life. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, AAO, children with a family history of childhood vision problems should be screened for common childhood eye problems before the age of 5. Although most young adults have healthy vision, if eye problems such as visual changes, pain, flashes of light, seeing spots, excessive tearing, and excessive dryness occur, they should see an eye doctor. Adults between the ages of 40 to 65 should have an eye exam every two to four years. Adults over the age of 65 should have an eye exam at least every one to two years. Ultimately, the key to preventing eye injuries is to take a more proactive approach to sustaining healthy vision.

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2 Fall protection
All employees whose work conditions include the danger of falling should undergo fall protection training regularly. Company training courses should identify specific hazards and familiarize employees with all fall protection equipment used in the workplace. A review of the written prevention and rescue plan will assure employees that help is never far away.

Fall protection equipment should be inspected each time it is used and by a qualified person once every year — and that inspection should be documented. The equipment should be inspected according to manufacturer’s recommendation and OSHA requirements. A thorough visual inspection for signs of stress and wear should be performed every time a harness is used.

3 Ladder safety
The misuse of portable ladders can lead to injuries such as sprains and broken bones, but in extreme cases also head and neck trauma — or even death. Ladders should be secured and safely positioned at appropriate angles and prior to use be visually inspected for damaged components including hinges, rungs/steps, side rails and feet. Side rails should extend at least 3 feet above the landing and be secured at the top to a sturdy support. Portable ladders should be used in compliance with the weight standard they are designed to hold and should also comply with OSHA standards as specified in 29 CFR 1926.1053(a)(1).

4 Respiratory safety
OSHA has established a respiratory protection standard covering detailed procedures for reducing and eliminating respiratory hazards. The specifications of these standards can be found in OSHA regulations 29 CFR 1910.134. All measures for respiratory protection are required to adhere to these standards, so it is important that employers understand them before determining the best course of action for upgrading workplace respiratory safety.

As a starting point for compliance, employers should have an exposure assessment performed to determine exposure levels and fume components (including from welding) and exposure levels. A certified industrial hygienist or other qualified occupational health specialist conducts this assessment. Employers can also contact their insurance companies to get recommendations on how the assessment should be completed.

5 PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to reduce employees’ exposures to occupational hazards and is required to be available on-site by OSHA. In fact, new OSHA regulations dictate that where PPE is required, employers are now responsible for providing it. Otherwise, employers are ultimately responsible for determining the level of PPE their employees use for optimum protection. Hard hats, eye, ear and hand protection, earplugs and other protective equipment provide protection from falling objects, head injuries, sparks, dust/fragments and burns.

Unfortunately, many workers choose to forgo this level of protection due to discomfort or disinterest. In response to this issue, many safety distributors now offer a range of comfortable and more fashionable gear to choose from, including eyewear that resists fog and prescription-strength safety glasses.

6 First aid and fire safety
It is common sense that first aid and fire safety are key programs on any given job site. However, many sites lack enough first aid stations, kits and materials such as gauze, bandages, ice packs, burn ointment and eyewash stations. Similarly, fire extinguishers should be kept in ample supply, regularly inspected and used for the type of fire they are effective on. Workers should be adequately trained about fire hazards on the construction site and what to do in an emergency. Fire emergency plans should outline the assignments of key personnel, provide evacuation routes and be reviewed regularly.

7 Confined spaces
Working in confined spaces can be an inconspicuous risk, as fatalities most often occur due to invisible circumstances such as oxygen-deficient, toxic or combustible atmospheres. Also known as permit-required confined spaces, they should be tested prior to entry and continuously monitored using a properly configured and calibrated monitor. The monitors, once connected to a docking station, also help maintain a proper calibration record for these confined spaces.

Workers must also use lockout/tagout (LOTO) to safeguard themselves from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities in confined spaces such as vessels. Approximately 3 million workers service equipment and face the greatest risk of injury if every worker in the confined space does not properly “lock out” the hazard and then “tag out” of the space once their work is completed. Compliance with the OSHA lockout/tagout standard 29 CFR 1910.147 prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.

8 Recordkeeping
Maintaining up-to-date records of equipment inspections and injury logs is not only required by OSHA, but is also the best way to protect employers from legal ramifications in the event of injury and death.

9 Welding safety
Welding injuries, from minor flash burns to eye injuries, can be painful and cause disfigurement or career-ending disabilities. Wearing the proper PPE is an easy way welders can protect themselves against these risks and preserve their livelihood.

Unfortunately, overconfidence leads welders to think they are immune to such injury, or they may choose not to use PPE because it is too expensive or the job is too small. Some welders under-protect themselves because they feel the PPE is too warm or restrictive to wear. Fortunately, workers now can find new PPE garments made of lightweight materials that wick away sweat to stay comfortable. Welders now have many options in materials, flame-retardant traits, fabric weight and accessories to suit up for the job.

Welding helmets should be equipped with the proper filter lens in either a passive or an autodarkening style to shield against the arc’s bright light. Remember that ANSI Z87.1 lists welding helmets as secondary eye protection that must be used with the primary protection provided by safety glasses or goggles.

Airborne hazards should also be assessed and the necessary engineering controls implemented to maintain acceptable exposure levels using ventilation, fans or fume extractors.

10 Training
The key to preventing many workplace accidents and injuries is frequent and effective employee training programs. These programs exist for virtually all construction safety components including fall protection, fire safety and welding safety among others.

Although many employers provide on-the-job training through their on-staff safety specialists, there are voluntary educational programs available for additional certification such as OSHA’s Outreach Training Program.

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For more information, please visit www.skibanff.com.

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• Step separation – A vertical displacement of 13 mm (0.5 in) or greater at any point on the walkway that could cause pedestrians to trip or prevent the wheels of a wheelchair or stroller from rolling smoothly;
• Badly cracked concrete – Holes and rough spots ranging from hairline cracks to indentations wider than 13 mm (0.5 in);
• Spalled areas – Fragments of concrete or other building material detached from larger structures;
• Settled areas that trap water – Sidewalk segments with depressions, reverse cross slopes, or other indentations that make the sidewalk path lower than the curb. These depressions trap silt and water on the sidewalk and reduce the slip resistant nature of the surface;
• Tree root damage – Roots from trees growing in adjacent landscaping that cause the walkway surface to buckle and crack;
• Vegetation overgrowth – Ground cover, trees, or shrubs on properties or setbacks adjacent to the path that have not been pruned can encroach onto the path and create obstacles;
• Obstacles – Objects located on the sidewalk, in setbacks, or on properties adjacent to the sidewalk that obstruct the passage space. Obstacles commonly include trash receptacles, utility poles, newspaper vending machines, and mailboxes;
• General Safety – Any safety issue that a pedestrian or sidewalk inspector believes should merit attention;
• Blocked drainage inlets and inadequate flow planning;
• Temporary construction interruptions; and
• Inadequate patching after utility installation.

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MIDDLETON — The explosion that rocked Bostik Inc. in March is going to cost the adhesives company a lot more than just building repairs.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced yesterday that it will fine the company $917,000 for 50 alleged violations of workplace safety standards following the March 13 explosion.

Four workers were hurt in the explosion, which was caused when a valve was left open, resulting in the release of flammable acetone vapors. The vapors exploded after being ignited by an undetermined source, according to the state fire marshal.

Bostik is at 211 Boston St. near the West Peabody line. It manufactures adhesives and sealants for use in everything from gas tankers and buildings to furniture and diapers, according to the company’s website.

Among the 50 violations OSHA alleges, nine were deemed “willful violations,” which are the most serious OSHA levies, said Ted Fitzgerald, an OSHA spokesman.

In a willful violation, “OSHA believes that the employer knew that certain conditions needed to be met and for whatever reason ignored it,” Fitzgerald said.

The hefty size of the fines is indicative of “the severity and the number of citations,” Fitzgerald said.

The nine willful violations account for the vast majority ($630,000) of the proposed fines.

Bostik has 15 days to either pay the fine, request a meeting with OSHA to present more information or come to a settlement, or contest OSHA’s findings. If Bostik does contest the fines, the matter would go before an independent commission for review.

After learning about the fines yesterday, Bostik, through an outside spokesperson, was largely mum, saying that it would withhold comment until the process plays out.

“There is a defined process for contesting alleged OSHA citations,” the company said. “If deemed necessary and appropriate following our team’s study of the initial findings, Bostik is prepared to follow this process and seek review of the alleged citations consistent with our rights to do so.”

 Warned before, OSHA says

The most costly of the violations at Bostik are “serious deficiencies” in the company’s process safety management program — an incredibly comprehensive safety document required of companies that have more than 10,000 pounds of hazardous materials on-site, Fitzgerald said.

“It looks at everything and anything, every minutia of the process: what could go wrong, what did go wrong, and those things are updated if anything changes,” Fitzgerald said.

The document must be continually updated and includes all safety precautions, issues, procedures, causes of past accidents and more.

“The requirements of OSHA’s (process safety management) standard are stringent and comprehensive because the stakes are so high,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. “Failure to evaluate, anticipate, address and prevent hazardous conditions associated with a process can result in a catastrophic incident, such as an explosion.”

According to OSHA, Bostik’s safety management documents did not address previous incidents, such as a forklift crashing into equipment; did not address human factors, such as operator error, communication between shift changes and fatigue; and did not ensure that certain equipment was approved for use in hazardous locations where flammable gases or vapors were present.

The company had no excuse and was warned in the past, OSHA alleges.

“In this case, Bostik knew from prior third party and internal compliance audits conducted at the plant that aspects of its (process safety management) program were incomplete or inadequate, and misclassified electrical equipment that was in use,” said Jeffrey Erskine, OSHA’s area director for Northeastern Massachusetts. “The company did not take adequate steps to address those conditions.”

In addition to OSHA’s findings, the state fire marshal’s office revealed last week that it found several code violations at Bostik, including storing more chemicals than licensed; having an unpermitted, dust-producing “grinding operation”; and failing to get a permit for the storage of flammable liquids. No fines are associated with those violations, unless the company fails to correct the problems.

None of those violations contributed directly to the explosion, the fire marshal concluded.

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