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The Crimes of Trump's OSHA Chief Nominee FedEx VP Scott Mugno

by Labor Video Project
Scott Mugno is the FedEx vice president of safety, sustainability and vehicle maintenance for FedEx Ground and serves as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s OSHA Subcommittee. He has been nominated by Trump to be the Chief Of OSHA and has a record of mayhem on the roads of the US. He has also bullied, harrassed and illegally fired FedEx workers who are OSHA whistleblowers. One of these whistleblowers Gary Brent who was former FedEx Express Tractor Trailer Instructor and Safety Coordinator for FedEx talks about his struggle for health and safety at FedEx
brent_gary_fed_ex.jpg
Scott Mugno is the FedEx vice president of safety, sustainability and vehicle maintenance for FedEx Ground and serves as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s OSHA Subcommittee. He has been nominated by President Trump to be the chief of OSHA which is supposed to protect the health and safety of US workers and the public.
While he has been in this position there has been an explosion in accidents and deaths at FedEx ground.
In the 24-month period prior to December 3, 2017, FedEx Express drivers were reported to have been involved in 1762 crashes, 575 involving injuries, including 41 deaths. From 2012, the number of crashes has increased by 254.5%; the number of injuries has increased by 192%; and the number of fatalities has increased by 273%.
At the same time Mugno has personally be involved in helping to retaliate against FedEx whistleblowers. One of these whistleblowers is Gary Brent who is a former FedEx Express Tractor Trailer Instructor and Safety Coordinator for FedEx. In this interview Gary Brent talks about his history and struggle for health and safety at FedEx and how he was bullied, harassed and terminated by the company for fighting for heath and safety on the job and filing OSHA complaints. Mugno has also lobbied for the American Trucking Association ATA to increase the weight of trucks to 120,000 lbs. that would not only tear up the roads but increase the hazardous dangers on the roads and highways in the United States. This interview was done on December 11, 2017.
For further media:
https://youtu.be/7k14swNCSB0
http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/director-of-the-occupational-safety-and-health-administration-who-is-scott-mugno-171112?news=860361
http://jordanbarab.com/confinedspace/2017/11/28/fedex-fatalities-mugno-explaining/
https://www.frg-law.com/carriers/fedex/
https://issuu.com/injuredworkersnationalnetwork/docs/10.25.2014_six.investigations
https://www.ishn.com/articles/106262-likely-next-osha-chief-proposes-sunset-provisions-for-regs
https://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=50166
http://www.kcbd.com/story/36727763/family-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-in-fedex-mechanic-death-at-lubbock-airport
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fedex-casts-away-air-safety-for-profits-235408831.html
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww11-24-17-mugno-the-fight-for-health-and-safety-at-fedex-with-former-fedex-trainer-gary-brent
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww11-21-17-the-crimes-of-fedex-vp-scott-mugno-with-fedex-worker-brent-osha-investigator-whitman
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww7-14-17-whitman-and-the-corruption-of-fedex-fedex-vp-scott-mugno
http://www.upwa.info/documents/5-22-17-Whitman-WhiteHouse.htm
https://youtu.be/lfr7rtfqeFc
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww6-2-15-osha-lawyer-darrell-whitman-interviewed-part-1
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww6-9-15-osha-lawyer-darrell-whitman-interviewed-part-2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQiB7bGHFas
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/episodes/xiptmz/february-26–2015—olivia-wilde
http://www.dailycensored.com/ohsagate/
https://www.frg-law.com/carriers/fedex/
https://www.ishn.com/articles/106262-likely-next-osha-chief-proposes-sunset-provisions-for-regs
https://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=50166
Production of
Labor Video Project
http://www.laborvideo.org
§One of the FedEx workers killed in Memphis. Murder After Murder
by Labor Video Project
fedex_plane_death_of_pilot.jpg
Texas Family files wrongful death lawsuit in FedEx mechanic death at Lubbock airport

http://www.kcbd.com/story/36727763/family-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-in-fedex-mechanic-death-at-lubbock-airport

Tuesday, October 31st 2017, 8:52 am PST
Tuesday, October 31st 2017, 10:45 am PST
By Amber Stegall, Digital Content ManagerCONNECT



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Michael Merton (Source: Facebook)

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FedEx plane at the Lubbock airport (Source: KCBD)
LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) -
The law firm of Glasheen, Valles & Inderman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FedEx Freight, Inc. in Lubbock County District Court Tuesday on behalf of Tandi Wagner and Kristi Ramirez for the wrongful death of their father, 60-year-old Michael Merton. Merton was killed on October 17 when he was crushed inside of the airplane on which he was working.

Officials have not released any identifying information or specifics on what happened and FedEx officials said they were cooperating with the investigative authorities.

Officials with the FAA released a statement saying, "We will investigate the accident to determine whether the maintenance was being performed in accordance with approved safety procedures and if the mechanic had received adequate training."

FedEx officials also issued a statement saying, "We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues affected by the loss of our team member. We are cooperating fully with investigating authorities."

The lawsuit is the first information provided to the media about what possibly happened that day.

The lawsuit names FedEx Freight, Inc., Merton’s employer, as the sole defendant, and it alleges that FedEx failed to train its employees regarding safety procedures, failed to follow safety procedures, and failed to provide a safe place to work. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking exemplary damages for the loss of their father.

Kevin Glasheen, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said one of the reasons for filing the lawsuit was the complete lack of information and communication from both FedEx and the Federal Aviation Administration.

"My Clients want to know why their Dad died, and they want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. These kinds of work injuries are usually a failure of the lockout/tagout procedure that’s supposed to make sure machinery isn’t activated during maintenance. That will be our first line of inquiry," said Glasheen.
§FedEx Trucks Off The Road In Deadly Wreck
by Labor Video Project
fedex_truck_wrecks_off_road_deaths.jpeg
FedEx fatal wreck
§FedEx Wants To Carry 120,000 lbs on the Highways
by Labor Video Project
sm_fedex_trucks_three_trailers.jpg
Scott Mugno and the American Trucking Association want to carry 120,000 lbs. on the road.
§Scott Mugno At Congressional Hearing
by Labor Video Project
scott-mugno1_at_hearing.jpg
Mugno claimed at the Congressional hearings that he was concerned about health and safety but his real record shows him as reckless and criminally negligent in protecting the health and safety of workers and the public at the company.
§FedEx Ground Independent Contractor
by Labor Video Project
fedex_ground_independent_contractor.jpg
FedEx Ground uses independent contractors who are coerced to violate labor and health and safety laws to keep their jobs.
§FedEx Worker Murdered In Memphis By Mungno's Criminal Negligence
by Labor Video Project
fedex_worker_killed_mephis.jpeg
Another Scott Mugno Crime At FedEx: As a family mourns the loss of the man killed in Sunday morning’s workplace accident at the FedEx hub in Memphis, the shipping company faces another investigation after its third death in five years.

FedEx employee killed in accident, company facing OSHA investigation
As a family mourns the loss of the man killed in Sunday morning’s workplace accident at the FedEx hub in Memphis, the shipping company faces another investigation after its third death in five years.
OSHA fined FedEx $4,000 for “serious” violations after Warren’s death in 2014, according to a report obtained by FOX13. Hawkins said investigators determined FedEx failed to provide a workplace free of safety hazards, and the fines were charged to penalize the company.
http://www.fox13memphis.com/news/fedex-employee-killed-in-accident-company-facing-osha-investigation/9296783

Updated: Nov 22, 2015 - 2:45 PM
As a family mourns the loss of the man killed in Sunday morning’s workplace accident at the FedEx hub in Memphis, the shipping company faces another investigation after its third death in five years.

Chris Higginbottom, 39, a single father of two twin boys, was killed while working an early morning shift Sunday.

“He's a great father, he's a great uncle, he's always opened his door for someone,” Jeanetta Harris, the victim’s niece, told FOX13. “I was struggling at the time and I didn't have no one. He opened up his home to me and my kids.”Police said Higginbottom died after crashing a “tug” he was driving into a parked trailer. The man was found dead underneath the tug’s loaded trailer, according to MPD.

A tug is a large vehicle used to move merchandise to and from FedEx airplanes and the warehouse.

“He was dedicated to his job,” Evelyn Higginbottom, the victim’s sister, said. “No matter how many hours they asked him to work he worked it.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting an investigation following Higginbottom’s death. FedEx is required by law to report deaths and injuries to OSHA, making the investigation standard procedure.

This is the third time in five years the company has been investigated, according to reports obtained by FOX13. The company has faced fines for as much as $5,200 for workplace safety violations.

Steve Hawkins, administrator for Tennessee’s OSHA, said the maximum fine companies can be charged is $7,000.

After looking through previous OSHA investigations, FOX13 discovered similar reports and incidents in the past. In each case, an employee either fell off of heavy equipment, or heavy equipment fell on top of the employee.

In 2011, a tug operator fell off one of the tugs, injuring his knee. The knee became infected in the hospital, and ultimately led to his death.

OSHA fined FedEx $2,400 for various workplace violations. Hawkins said each of the violations was unrelated to the incident that led to the man’s death. Violations included machinery issues and other safety concerns.

In 2014, another material handler lost his life on the job. Chandler Warren, 19, was crushed under a platform when authorities say he reached under it while it was being lowered.

OSHA fined FedEx $4,000 for “serious” violations after Warren’s death in 2014, according to a report obtained by FOX13. Hawkins said investigators determined FedEx failed to provide a workplace free of safety hazards, and the fines were charged to penalize the company.

FedEx released the following statement, following the fatal accident Sunday morning:
“This is tragic and our hearts are heavy with sadness over the loss of a FedEx team member following an early-morning accident at our Memphis Hub. Our prayers and deepest sympathy are extended to his family. We are working with local authorities in their investigation.”
FedEx had no further comment when questioned about safety concerns at the hub in Memphis.
The victim’s sister told FOX13 Higginbottom was excited about an upcoming promotion.
“They were getting ready to have a party for him because he was getting ready to go into that position,” Evelyn Higginbottom said. “I told Chris, when you do a good job and you work hard that's what happens.”

Higginbottom was described by family members as a loving father of two teenaged boys, a hard worker, and a man who opened his arms to friends and family when they needed support.

“It's hard,” Harris, the victim’s niece, told FOX13. “He's a really great uncle. All he does is work, take care of his kids and come home.”

Higginbottom’s kids were in school Monday, the day after they found out their father was dead.

“They wanted to go to school and let their father know that they still want to do right,” Evelyn Higginbottom said. “They decided they wanted to go to school.”
§FedEx Train Wreck Kills Driver
by Labor Video Project
sm_fedex_train_wreck_snow.jpg
FedEx has a deadly record of deaths on the road but not one company executive has been prosecuted. Now Trump is nominating this criminal company VP Scott Mugno to be in charge of OSHA
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fedex_oakland_wreck_death_.jpeg
Honda driver who was UPS worker dead after crash with FedEx truck on I-880-Big rigs normally are banned from using I-580.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/12/21/fatal-crash-on-i-880-involving-fedex-truck-shuts-down-all-lanes/
By RICK HURD | rhurd [at] bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: December 21, 2017 at 6:18 am | UPDATED: December 21, 2017 at 3:29 pm
OAKLAND — A multi-vehicle crash killed a man and shut down all lanes on one of the East Bay’s busiest freeways for five hours Thursday morning.

A man in his 20s driving a Honda sedan died after his car ended up on its roof. He has not been identified, pending notification of relatives.

The California Highway Patrol finally opened all lanes of southbound Interstate 880 around 8:10, following the 3 a.m. crash. Details of how the crash unfolded were not expected to be available until early Friday, CHP spokesman Officer Matt Hamer said.

The crash happened near the 66th Avenue exit.

Details on what led up to the wreck were not available. The FedEx truck was pulling two trailers. The rear trailer ended up on its side, but no packages spilled, CHP Officer Matthew Hamer said. The FedEx driver was not hurt and cooperated with authorities.

The CHP shut down all southbound lanes of the freeway and diverted traffic off at the 66th Avenue exit. They also let big rigs use eastbound Interstate 580 during the duration of a Sig Alert that the agency issued around 3:10.

Big rigs normally are banned from using I-580.

The CHP towed the FedEx truck, as well as two Honda sedans from the scene, Hamer said. The second sedan was part of the investigation, but its role, if any, in the crash hasn’t been determined, he said.
Trump's Worker Populism Exposed By Nomination Of Scott Mugno As OSHA Chief
Bizarro-World Worker Populism at Trump’s OSHA
https://dirtdiggersdigest.org/archives/5844
November 2nd, 2017 by Phil Mattera
The bizarro-world worker populism of Donald Trump strikes again. The White House recently nominated Scott Mugno to be the Assistant Secretary of Labor in charge of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Mugno (photo at left) is not a worker safety advocate, occupational health scientist or a union official. Instead, he is a corporate safety executive at the shipping giant FedEx.

Data in Violation Tracker shows since 2000 FedEx has racked up $335,853 in OSHA penalties (counting only those fines of $5,000 or more designated as serious, willful or repeated). This total is the 208th largest among the 1,777 parent companies in Violation Tracker with OSHA fines.

While FedEx may not be at the very top of the OSHA penalty list, it does have some significant safety blemishes on its record. In 2014, for example, OSHA proposed a fine of $44,000 against the company for failing to properly guard a conveyor belt at its facility in Wilmington, Massachusetts. In its press release announcing the proposed penalty (which FedEx managed to get deleted), the agency noted that the company had previously been cited for the same issue at two other facilities.

Moreover, FedEx in general and Mugno in particular have tried to weaken OSHA oversight. In a 2006 presentation at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event, Mugno argued that workers needed to take more responsibility for health and safety issues, conveniently ignoring the fact that they rarely have the autonomy to make meaningful changes in workplace conditions.

Another sign of Mugno’s orientation is the warm reception his nomination has received from business groups such as the Chamberand the American Trucking Association. At the same time, public interest groups have expressed concern. Public Citizen came out in opposition to the nomination, citing Mugno’s 2006 remarks and arguing that his “stance on laws and regulations do not mesh with leading an agency tasked with writing rules to ensure safe and healthy working conditions.” The Center for Progressive Reform posted a long list of questions that need to be put to Mugno.

The Center, by the way, has just introduced a Crimes Against Workers Database that compiles information on state-level criminal actions against companies and their executives implicated in serious workplace accidents. (I’m pleased to report that the database includes links to Violation Tracker data, and I plan to reciprocate.)

It was to be expected that Trump, who repeatedly bashed the EPA during the presidential campaign, would have named a climate change denier and regulation hater like Scott Pruitt to head that agency. Yet Trump did not carry on a similar tirade against OSHA, perhaps realizing that many of his blue-collar supporters were all too aware of workplace hazards that needed the agency’s oversight.

If Trump were any kind of real populist, he could have named a true worker safety advocate to OSHA without breaking any campaign promises. Instead, he brought in a business apologist who will pursue the Chamber agenda and raise the risk level for millions of American workers. The Trump corporate takeover marches on.
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