Truck driving is one of Washington's most dangerous professions, accounting for 10 percent of the state's work related fatalities and $265 million in injury claims each year, according to a new state labor report.
The state Department of Labor and Industries released the Preventing Injuries in the Trucking Industry Focus Report on Thursday. The report, which covers 1997-2005, is an attempt to help employers reduce the hazards through detailing the dangers drivers face.
"Given the importance of trucking to our economy, everyone in the industry needs to be working to prevent workplace injuries," said Barbara Silverstein, the research director for the Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention, in a L&I news release.
The report also found that:

L&I has a tip sheet for the trucking industry available at http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Trucking/Default.asp

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Thinking about how people are handling the nervous economy, I wondered if perhaps there's been an increase in insurance deductibles. If a policyholder increases the deductible amount, then the premium would go down - and I figured people might be looking for ways to lower premiums.

Not so – at least not yet.

I spoke with Karl Newman recently – he's president of the Northwest Insurance Council – and he said he'd poll his member companies in the state.

I heard back today. Newman's answer: "Our member company survey found that, so far, there is no trend toward insurance customers asking for higher deductibles. However, some did report more price shopping as customers compare prices with other companies to see if they can save money."

That answers that. Anybody else have a question? I'll be glad to ask around.

Leaders of Boeing Co.’s Machinists union called for a strike today after deciding a proposed labor contract the aerospace company called its “best and final” offer wasn’t good enough, The Associated Press reports.

They urged members to reject the offer in an upcoming vote.

Boeing had hoped the proposal, which provides added pay and incentives to workers over three years, would help it avert a labor standoff. The talks come as Boeing tries to keep up with a backlog of plane orders and avoid more penalties caused by production delays of its next-generation passenger jet, the AP reports.

The union has planned a news conference later Friday to explain details of the decision, said Connie Kelliher, a spokeswoman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 751.

A Boeing spokesman said the company was “extremely disappointed” by the union’s response.

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Michael D. Esher, airport and ferry administrator for Pierce County, reported today that work will begin Tuesday to realign the taxiway at Thun field.

Looker and Associates of Puyallup was awarded the $616,342 contract and expects to complete work by Oct. 15, the county said in a press release today.

The airport runway will remain in use for all but a short interval required to match asphalt in new sections of the taxiway.

Esher said the project will improve safety at the airport by creating more distance between the runway and taxiway at the north end of the field, and by enlarging the hold area for departing aircraft.

Pierce County purchased a small section of property from Northwest Cascade Inc. to allow the taxiway change to be made.

The project's total cost, including design, is $750,000, of which 95 percent is covered by a Federal Aviation Administration grant. The remainder is split between the Washington Department of Transportation Aviation Division and the airport's operating funds.

The FAA grant includes funds to install an emergency backup electrical system on the field.

Thun Field is located near South Hill at 16715 Meridian Ave. E.