Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance

Join the Central Appalachian Regional ERC for a free Heat Stress Management Workshop on June 9, 2026, at Spindletop Hall in Lexington, KY.
Led by Dr. Thomas Bernard of the Sunshine Education and Research Center (a NIOSH‑funded center in Florida), this session will introduce a practical template for developing a written Heat Stress Management Plan that aligns with:

• OSHA’s draft heat stress rule
• NIOSH best practices
• ACGIH guidelines

Who should attend: Health and safety representatives or consultants who help clients develop heat stress management plans.
Register here: https://bit.ly/4fJMeip

INVESTGATIVE REPORT RELEASE: On May 19, 2025, a 23-year-old white, non-Hispanic electrician trainee (victim) was attempting to install new electrical wire in a commercial
building renovation project. While doing so, the victim was electrocuted by an energized wire. As a result, the victim succumbed to the injuries he sustained.

READ THE REPORT: https://bit.ly/4u2nsOW

Construction workers face some of the highest risks for fatal falls. In 2023, nearly half of all workplace fall deaths in the U.S. occurred in this industry.

KOSHS’ new Hazard Alert shares prevention strategies and resources to help reduce fall hazards on Kentucky job sites.
Read the story: https://bit.ly/3Rds4Dc

Did you join the Safety Stand-Down? Always register for your official Certificate of Participation: https://bit.ly/2Ro7TDD

Roofing is high-risk for falls. Learn about the top three things all people who work on roofs should always be trained in a webinar on 5/8 at 1pm EST: https://bit.ly/3QJzoqb

As a Premier Partner, KOSHS a program at the Kentucky Injury Prevention Center produced a Hazard Alert on fatal falls in construction for the 2026 Safety Stand-Down. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4t5vMMv

The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center is proud to be recognized by OSHA, CPWR, and NIOSH as a 2026 Falls Campaign Premier Partner. Premier Partners are leaders in the National Safety Stand‑Down, helping raise fall‑hazard awareness and prevent workplace injuries across the country.
Learn more about the campaign: https://bit.ly/4tNUsug

See how KOSHS, a program at KIPRC, is addressing fall risks in Kentucky through new surveillance findings and a Hazard Alert released for Stand‑Down Week: https://bit.ly/3Rds4Dc

As the weather gets warmer, heat‑related illness becomes a serious concern for Kentucky workers. From 2018–2022, 616 workers visited the emergency department for heat‑related illnesses, and new or returning workers are at the highest risk during their first week on the job.

This KOSHS hazard alert, includes prevention steps for employers, signs and symptoms to watch for, and resources to help protect workers during hot and humid conditions.

Read the full hazard alert here:
https://bit.ly/4sDvigs

Tow truck drivers and roadside assistance workers face a high risk of being struck by passing vehicles, often due to distracted driving and unsafe passing. According to the AAA Foundation, 123 roadside assistance workers were fatally struck in the U.S. between 2015–2021, and five Kentucky tow truck operators have been killed in the past decade.

KOSHS’ new Hazard Alert outlines steps employers can take to protect operators, including:
• Avoiding work on the traffic‑facing side of the vehicle
• Providing comprehensive operator training
• Using high‑visibility apparel and lighting
• Working with law enforcement to secure the scene

Read the full alert to learn more about preventing these tragic incidents. https://shorturl.at/pnazo

INVESTGATIVE REPORT RELEASE: On April 23, 2025, a 27-year-old concrete finisher (victim) observed hydraulic fluid leaking from the raised dump bed of the company’s Ford F-550 dump truck. While attempting to perform a repair, the hydraulic bed collapsed, crushing the victim between the truck’s frame rail and dump bed.

READ THE REPORT:https://kiprc.uky.edu/sites/default/files/2026-02/25ky028-concrete-finisher-crushed-by-collapsing-dump-bed.pdf