The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "workplace safety" ...
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Model Workplaces, Imperiled Workers
The Center's series exposed serious problems with an ever-expanding government program that promises results through cooperative regulation but often has failed to protect the nation's working men and women. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Programs, known as VPP, recognize "model workplaces" and offer them an exemption from regular inspections. But in many cases, this government stamp of approval was a hollow trophy, allowing companies to avoid scrutiny and to attract employees. Even after preventable tragedies at these sites, OSHA rarely cracked down.
Tags: OSHA; occupational safety and health administration voluntary protection program; model workplace
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U.S. Fails to Proect Workers in Anarctica
Anartica is a land that conjures images of brave explorers and dedicated scientists striving amid stark beauty. But an in-depth investigation reveals that is also a place where workplace safety severely lags, and injured workers face unforeseen obstacles to get compensation.
Tags: Worker's Compensation; Anartica; Obstacles; Workplace Safety
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"Lifesaving Drugs, Deadly Consequences"
This investigative piece looks at worker safety issues that affect "the nation's healthcare providers." Health care employees are often put in harms way by handling drugs that are meant to save the "lives of cancer patients," but can be "human carcinogens," too. This report shows that regulation on exposure to these types of drugs in the workplace is weak.
Tags: FOIA; health insurance; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; cancer; OSHA; drugs; chemotherapy
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Public Works, Hidden Violations
Several construction companies were given "tens of millions in federal stimulus contracts," even though they violated several laws and regulations. Also, a few had been "convicted of defrauding taxpayers on previous projects" and others had previously paid fines for violating regulations. These should have been revealed when filling out the forms to be approved for the stimulus contracts.
Tags: transportation; workplace; safety; pollution; environment; FOIA; Highway Division; officials; federal government; federal funds
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Fatal Elevator Flaws
This story looked at the effect of privatized inspections on elevator safety in Florida. The author found that one in five elevators was operating without a current operating certificate, and that many had not been inspected in years. The investigation showed how at least one fatal accident could have been prevented if the regulations were followed more closely.
Tags: elevator; workplace safety; inspection; government contracts; state government; FOIA
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Dying For a Job
While workplace insurance boards across Canada claimed workplaces are safer, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation investigated workplace safety. They found that "the number of workplace deaths had increased by about 7 percent from 1993 to 2004." In addition, coroners' suggestions on making workplaces safer for workers have largely been ignored, and are "not shared from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in a manner that would help make their workplaces safer." The investigation also found that health care and social services workers were in more danger than others, "anywhere from six to 12 times more likely to file claims related to violence on the job, mainly from patients." This is higher than even the rate for police and security.
Tags: Worker's compensation; workplace safety; worker safety; labor laws; on-the-job injuries; Canadian workplaces
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Discounted lives
The KC Star analyze the Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection database for the Kansas City metropolitan area, reviewed public records and interviewed more than 100 people in order to determine how well OSHA protects workers. The study found that OSHA fines employees in workers' deaths less than it should and downgrades its most serious violations in workers' deaths, hurting workers who are trying to sue employees. OSHA is behind in its safety standards.
Tags: CAR; worker safety; corruption; OSHA; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Kansas City; Missouri; health; inspections; workplace
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Construction workers' safety net full of holes; State tries to stop death in the trenches
This series, which originally sought to identify the most dangerous jobs in Washington state, investigates preventable deaths among construction workers in the state. The investigation also looks at both state and national laws which do very little to punish those responsible with any serious fines. According to the questionnaire, "if you pollute a wetland in Washington State, you are liable for more fines than if you oversee a construction site where someone is likely to fall to their death."
Tags: workplace safety fines; trench deaths; OSHA
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Danger: Government at Work. Public employers pay no fines, though safety violations numerous
"While fines are the state's prime weapon against private businesses that violate safety and health standards, state law prohibits financial penalties against state and local government employers." But, those government workplaces are four times more likely than private businesses to be cited for serious safety violations. These violations occur in all kinds of government workplaces, from wastewater plants to public schools. This article offers several well- developed examples of government safety violations, and then discusses a legislative solution.
Tags: safety inspection; accidents; federal programs; Wake Enterprises
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"Destructive construction"
A lawsuit involving the electrocution of a crane worker prompted this investigation that uncovered a loophole in the enforcement of safety laws. Texas law requires an electrical insulation device be used when cranes work near power lines. But because Texas relies on OSHA, a federal agency, to regulate and enforce workplace safety, the Texas law wasn't enforced. A spot check by reporters of numerous crane operators in the area showed they were not using the insulation device as required by law. The story prompted changes at OSHA and at the county level.
Tags: cranes; electrocution; OSHA; Department of Labor; NIOSH