On the morning of March 20, Mathew Roberts worked in a chemical complex on the outskirts of Baton Rouge when he was involved in an accident with a forklift.
Not reacting and in critical condition, the father of two two and in the Iraq war veteran, who was known for his big laugh and his warm smile, was taken from the Nutrogen plant to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.
The US administration for security and health administration of the US security and health administration examines the incident together with the local law enforcement authorities, but the family members of Roberts said they are still waiting for answers.
Death at the workplace is not unusual in Louisiana, which, according to a study from the sixth most dangerous state, was classified for employees in the USA in which data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was used. More than 200 chemicals and refineries are located along an 85-mile route of the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, which was referred to as “Cancer Alley” due to the high cancer rates associated with petrochemicals.
In recent years there have been several exposures or explosions for chemical plants in the state. In December, a chemical system in Westlake Corp. A possible explosion not far from the Nutria plant. In October, four workers were sent to the hospital after being exposed to ammonia in a Formosa plastic. In September, a hydrogen gas explosion in the nearby facilities of the Chevron Renewable Energy Group injured two people.
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A few weeks before Robert 'accident, Elon Musk's efficiency announced that the government will close 11 Osha branches, including the Roberts' death in Baton Rouge. It is the only office of the agency in Louisiana, and his potential closure is the concerns about the security experts in the workplace. According to the US Ministry of Labor, the closures remain “checked”, which the OSHA monitors.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Labor told Capital & Main“Inspectors of professional security and health administration continue to carry out legally necessary inspections and continue to focus on Osha's nuclear mission to prevent injuries, diseases and death at work and to promote safe and healthy jobs for US workers.”
A spokesman for Doge did not react Capital & Main Request for comment.
Former Osha director David Michaels said through the closure of the office: “These enormous oil and petrochemical facilities with considerable security and health risks are even more inspected than now.” By closing the office, the government saves 109,346 US dollars.
Osha employees in the office have to decide that Osha is completely left or moving to another region that is hundreds of miles away, said Michaels. Baton Rouge offices employees said they did not know any layoffs, although there were rumors since Doge's announcement in mid-March.
“We are still here, but I don't know how long,” said an employee who asked not to be identified out of fear that it would put her job in danger.
In addition to the Baton Rouge Office, in which 386 job inspections were carried out last year and more than 750,000 US dollars were assessed in punishments for serious violations, Doge also plans to close external offices in Houston and Mobile, Alabama. “These closures will lead to more injuries, illnesses and deaths,” said Michaels.
The efficiency mandate of Musk will ultimately affect workers, said Bernard Fontaine Jr., a former Osha compliance officer.
“What you try to consolidate and reduce the costs,” said Fontaine, “but the effects of the services provided are dramatically reduced so that people when people call and submit a complaint and may not be treated over a very long period of time. Until then, someone could be very sick.”
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