L&I Investigating Deaths of Two Workers

June 1, 2010
Washinton state’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is investigating the deaths of two men killed on the job May 26 in Auburn, Wash. They died after a boom truck they were operating apparently made contact with a live power line.

L&I inspectors arrived at the scene within a few hours of the incident and have begun an investigation. The employees worked for the propane distribution company, Ferrellgas in Auburn.

These are the 35th and 36th workplace deaths in Washington state so far this year, according to preliminary statistics. L&I investigates all work-related fatalities to determine the causes leading up to the incident.

There have been 22 electrocution fatalities involving workers who came near power lines between 1998 and 2010.

Information and resources about workplace safety are available at www.Lni.wa.gov/safety.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

Fitting in Fast: Making a Safe Workplace for New Hires

Sept. 12, 2024
Over a third of nonfatal injuries happen to workers who have been with their current employer for less than a year.

Elevating Safety: Empowering Supervisors to Become Safety Advocates

Aug. 27, 2024
Explore the skills, knowledge and techniques that supervisors need to effectively manage the safety of their crew. This guide will examine the causes and symptoms of supervisory...

Top 10 Causes of Distracted Driving—and What They All Have in Common

Aug. 27, 2024
The results reveal the top ten causes of distracted driving, and make it clear that not all distractions are created equal.

Spotting Workplace Safety Heroes: A Guide to Identifying Your Champions

Aug. 27, 2024
No two workplace safety champions are identical. But almost every single one of them has at least one standout quality that helps them excel. Here are some of those qualities ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!