Oregon OSHA Fines Medford Contractor over $128,000 for Violations
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHA) has fined a Medford contractor over $128,000 for safety violations after an inspection found the company exposed employees to multiple hazards, including a potentially deadly fall from heights. The division completed its inspection of Shrader Homes Inc. in November, citing the company for five violations of requirements to protect workers from serious injury or death. The inspection focused on a jobsite in White City, where employees were doing framing work on a two-story residence. One of the violations was a fourth repeat infraction for failing to provide fall protection. Another was a second repeat violation of a ladder safety rule. Falls are one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry, and Oregon OSHA significantly increases penalties for repeat violations. The division ordered the company to correct the violations. Oregon OSHA conducted the inspection of Shrader Homes under its prevention-based emphasis program addressing fall hazards in all industries. The division cited the company for protection systems not being implemented where employees were exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level. ...Read more

OSP Responded to Jackson County Vehicle vs. Pedestrian Crash, Arrested Suspect

On Sunday at 6:13 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 99 near milepost 7 in Jackson County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Hyundai Elantra, operated by Bobbie Rae Stinson-Payne of Grants Pass, struck a pedestrian, Jarrod Edward Garwood, 43, of Rogue River, as the pedestrian was pushing a go-kart on the highway. The Hyundai fled the scene and the operator later contacted law enforcement to report their involvement. Garwood was declared deceased at the scene. An occupant of the go-kart, James Eric Johannes, 41, of Grants Pass, suffered reported minor injuries. Stinson-Payne and the passenger, Dillon Edward Gasser, 33, of Grants Pass, were reportedly uninjured. Stinson-Payne was arrested for Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver, DUII, and First Degree Manslaughter. The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. ...Read more

Smith Recuses Himself from Appointment Process, County Officials to Decide

Josephine County Commissioner Ron Smith declared Monday that he is recusing himself from the appointment process to replace former Commissioner Andreas Blech. According to The Daily Courier, Commissioner Smith said recusing himself invokes a county charter provision that puts the appointment process in the hands of the county's other elected officials. The move also takes Commissioner Chris Barnett out of the appointment equation. The decision to appoint a successor to Blech will now be in the hands of Sheriff Dave Daniel, county Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, county Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, Treasurer Dustin Calvo, Assessor Chris Parton, and county Surveyor Peter Allen. ...Read more