OSHA to Investigate Act of God

[Luce]

Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois said at a news conference that a state investigation into whether the building was constructed according to building codes was ongoing, while federal workplace safety regulators said they had opened an investigation after the collapse.

It seems Illinois is looking into the construction aspect of it. Maybe a little weird since buildings are inspected before being completed, but maybe not weird. As far as OSHA, my guess is they would be looking into storm safety procedures that were or were not in place.

And God knows you can trust an Illinois building inspector.

 

[ApersonLIKEallOFyou]

And God knows you can trust an Illinois building inspector.

Ha yea, I'm not here to say the inspection was done right. But there may be a little conflict of interest in the end if the state says the building wasn't built to code but that an inspector signed off on it. I think these inspections are typically done by the town or county anyway.

 

[Luce]

Ha yea, I'm not here to say the inspection was done right. But there may be a little conflict of interest in the end if the state says the building wasn't built to code but that an inspector signed off on it. I think these inspections are typically done by the town or county anyway.

And it's not just going to be an inspector. Whomever approved the plans that did not allow for shelter in place will also have his nuts on the hibachi.

 

[ApersonLIKEallOFyou]

And it's not just going to be an inspector. Whomever approved the plans that did not allow for shelter in place will also have his nuts on the hibachi.

I'm not sure if that's required of a building like that. I used to work in construction on similar buildings, although not nearly as big as the Amazon buildings, and I don't remember ever coming across a part of the structure dedicated to being a shelter.

 

[Integrityrespec]

Not sure what an investigation like this will accomplish when you have a tornado with winds of 150 mph. It's doubtful any building is built to withstand that kind of wind and from what direction it came from.

Labor Official: Probe Launched of Amazon Illinois Warehouse Collapse

An investigation into an Amazon.com building collapse in Illinois on Friday night has been opened by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an official at the U.S. Department of Labor said on Monday.

www.newsmax.com

"
OSHA has six months to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations of workplace safety and or health regulations are found, Scott Allen, a U.S. Department of Labor regional director for public affairs, said via email. He added that compliance officers have been on site since Saturday.

Six workers were killed when the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, buckled under the force of the devastating storm, police said. A barrage of tornadoes ripped through six U.S. states, leaving a trail of death and destruction at homes and businesses stretching more than 200 miles (322 km).
"

This isn't that hard. Get the specs for the buildings, check the building codes, and the building inspections that sign off on the construction.

 

[NolanVoyd]

Not sure what an investigation like this will accomplish when you have a tornado with winds of 150 mph. It's doubtful any building is built to withstand that kind of wind and from what direction it came from.

Labor Official: Probe Launched of Amazon Illinois Warehouse Collapse

An investigation into an Amazon.com building collapse in Illinois on Friday night has been opened by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an official at the U.S. Department of Labor said on Monday.

www.newsmax.com

"
OSHA has six months to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations of workplace safety and or health regulations are found, Scott Allen, a U.S. Department of Labor regional director for public affairs, said via email. He added that compliance officers have been on site since Saturday.

Six workers were killed when the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, buckled under the force of the devastating storm, police said. A barrage of tornadoes ripped through six U.S. states, leaving a trail of death and destruction at homes and businesses stretching more than 200 miles (322 km).
"

Here is a much better article on the subject. Newsmax is terrible.

OSHA opens investigation after Amazon warehouse collapses during tornado, killing 6

Amazon said workers at the warehouse had little time to prepare when the National Weather Service declared a tornado warning on Friday night. The tornado arrived soon after, collapsing both sides of the warehouse and caving in its roof.

www.google.com

 

[Ug make hammer]

Thanks for the info, Spirit! I, too, have always heard that doorways were good because of the structure around them.

You're too kind. Since then I've realized that what's good for an earthquake isn't necessarily good for a tornado. Around the main doors you could get sucked into, or sucked out of, the building. Both of which would be like a 150 mph car crash with no seatbelt. Lacking any part of the building having extra bracing or concrete/cinder-block parts, I think the geometrical center would be best after all.

I've never been near a tornado. Some big storms but never hurricane strength. I guess I'm lucky.

 

[Ug make hammer]

Below ground is best. Especially when the window pop out from the pressure differential. Shit goes flying everywhere.

That localized pressure differential sets a tornado apart from cyclones (hurricanes) which can have similar wind speeds. The tornado is like a hand pulling buildings apart, while a cyclone is more like a butt trying to squash the building.

Even very large buildings like the Amazon center COULD be built tornado proof, but it would be vastly more expensive. Though I have as much regard for life as any socialist, I wouldn't try to put that restriction on all new buildings in the greater tornado area (it would have to apply to new homes too) but instead, just require a cinderblock or underground "bunker" area for staff to shelter. Homes could perhaps have one room with a secure window, extra bracing, and bolted down well to a concrete foundation. It might add 10% or 15% to the build price of the house.

 

[MaryP]

Only tornado I've ever seen. Thank goodness.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Only tornado I've ever seen. Thank goodness.

View attachment 67364645

I have worked with a Church I used to be in before I moved to another part of the country to help clean up after tornado damage. Its pretty surreal.

 

[Lethargic Aptitude]

Who is to say, who was right. If the employees were allowed to leave before the tornado but were caught up in the whirlwind while driving, then would there be another investigation of Amazon for allowing employees to leave early rather than shelter in place? It is a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario. These Amazon facilities are nothing more than distribution warehouses, not built to withstand tornadoes. I doubt if this area considered tornado alley? There is a facility just built in my hometown and built the same way as all these facilities. Where was OSHA when the facility was being built? Did they sign off on its construction?

Letting someone leave the workplace is not a liable action. The responsible action would have been to give the employees a choice. But got to make that quota.

 

[Ug make hammer]

Letting someone leave the workplace is not a liable action.

I wouldn't think so. Making them leave probably would be.

The responsible action would have been to give the employees a choice. But got to make that quota.

Not sure about the choice. On the property they have a right to sue if they're given bad instructions ("stand in this doorway" gulp) and if the tornado is right nearby they're probably safer inside. All this makes me think that providing for the workers safety in whatever way possible is actually the most responsible action. Of course the option of leaving has to be there, but something like "you're free to leave and you'll still be paid for the rest of your shift" looks to me like avoiding legal responsibility for workers. Pay for no work, is an incentive.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

Not sure what an investigation like this will accomplish when you have a tornado with winds of 150 mph. It's doubtful any building is built to withstand that kind of wind and from what direction it came from.

Labor Official: Probe Launched of Amazon Illinois Warehouse Collapse

An investigation into an Amazon.com building collapse in Illinois on Friday night has been opened by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an official at the U.S. Department of Labor said on Monday.

www.newsmax.com

"
OSHA has six months to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations of workplace safety and or health regulations are found, Scott Allen, a U.S. Department of Labor regional director for public affairs, said via email. He added that compliance officers have been on site since Saturday.

Six workers were killed when the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, buckled under the force of the devastating storm, police said. A barrage of tornadoes ripped through six U.S. states, leaving a trail of death and destruction at homes and businesses stretching more than 200 miles (322 km).
"

I don’t know why so many people carry water for Amazon considering they exist to advance and finance the far left through profits made by worker exploitation.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

OSHA has jurisdiction over the entire United States and its Territories.

Something I don't understand, is why extreme weather readiness is so patchwork across the Nation; in Minnesota, mobile home parks built after 1988 are required by State law to have storm shelters available for residents...the number of residents dictating the size or number of shelters built.

Yet in places like Oklahoma, no such law exists.

Because different states choose to regulate different things differently. There’s always a cost-safety trade off. Mandating shelters in trailer parks means you’ll pay more for lot rental for your trailer, all else being equal.

So it’s possible some states may mandate this expense and others will not.

Of course the normal response is “what is your life worth”? But the truth is everyone makes cost benefit analysis

 

[Ug make hammer]

Mandating shelters in trailer parks

There's usually a toilet block and an admin block? Just mandate they be made of cinderblock, but with steel and concrete fill inside the bricks. That's pretty strong.

 

[HangLow]

I don’t know why so many people carry water for Amazon considering they exist to advance and finance the far left through profits made by worker exploitation.

 

[Felis Leo]

Wait, was that picture taken during or immediately after the tornadoes struck the Amazon warehouse?

 

[LouC]

Not sure what an investigation like this will accomplish when you have a tornado with winds of 150 mph. It's doubtful any building is built to withstand that kind of wind and from what direction it came from.

Labor Official: Probe Launched of Amazon Illinois Warehouse Collapse

An investigation into an Amazon.com building collapse in Illinois on Friday night has been opened by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an official at the U.S. Department of Labor said on Monday.

www.newsmax.com

"
OSHA has six months to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations of workplace safety and or health regulations are found, Scott Allen, a U.S. Department of Labor regional director for public affairs, said via email. He added that compliance officers have been on site since Saturday.

Six workers were killed when the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, buckled under the force of the devastating storm, police said. A barrage of tornadoes ripped through six U.S. states, leaving a trail of death and destruction at homes and businesses stretching more than 200 miles (322 km).
"

There is plenty for OSHA to investigate in this incidence.

 

[VySky]

I saw on the news that some of those buildings had no procedure for severe weather, and also no "safe place" for people inside to go to (e.g., no basement).

I was at a Walmart one time when a tornado suddenly threatened, Everybody was herded to the geometric center of the building, which was near the rear of the merchandise area (due to the storage and loading dock areas in the back). We had to just trust them that they knew where the safest place was.

(After the warning was over, there was a stampede to the restrooms. Humans are human. )

I heard on the news this morning that with so much warning, some Candle factory employees in Mayfield wanted to go home. They were told no, and they would be fired if they did. I hope that wasn't the case

 

[HangLow]

There is plenty for OSHA to investigate in this incidence.

 

[LouC]

I heard on the news this morning that with so much warning, some Candle factory employees in Mayfield wanted to go home. They were told no, and they would be fired if they did. I hope that wasn't the case

Mayfield candle factory’s labor practices under scrutiny in wake of deadly tornado

The candle factory has a higher-than-average injury rate, and recruited incarcerated people and people from Puerto Rico for $10-12/hour jobs.

wfpl.org

If what is being reported is proven then there need to be some heads rolling (figuratively) at that company!

 

[LouC]

 

[LouC]

It would appear, if reports are true, the Candle Factory deaths can be directly blamed on Christmas and as we all know that is definitely "An Act Of God!"

So I guess OSHA doesn't need to look into the events there either?

 

[bicycleman]

There is plenty for OSHA to investigate in this incidence.

I'm quite sure the left will invent things to investigate if none are available. I wouldn't be surprised if this tornado will be blamed on Trump. If Obama failed to accomplish something, he blamed Bush for the failures of his leftist regime.

 

[bicycleman]

That is an unfair labor practice, but not an OSHA violation.