In certain occupations, hazards are everywhere, which greatly increase the likelihood that a workplace injury will occur. Workplace safety should be a top concern for all employers. Failure to provide and maintain a safe working environment for all employees not only results in unnecessary risks for workers but also affects a company’s bottom line.
A manufacturing plant in Park Hills, Missouri, has recently been cited by OSHA for numerous health and safety violations. As a result, the company, Piramal Glass, could be ordered to pay over $130,000 in fines. The citations come after an accident that resulted in a worker’s finger being amputated because a machine was not disconnected from the power source prior to performing maintenance on the machine. Of the 21 violations cited by OSHA, some were repeat violations and many were safety-related, while others involved other health hazards, such as exposure to excessive noise and lack of protective equipment.
Manufacturing plants and factories must abide by the health and safety rules and regulations established by OSHA in order to protect the health and safety of their workers and avoid fines and penalties. Although some accidents do occur even when employers adhere to safety rules, in many cases an injured worker signals an employer’s failure to provide a safe and healthy workplace.
All workers deserve and are entitled to a safe, well-maintained workplace and employers who are not negligent in their duties. When a worker is injured on the job, it can cause not only pain and lingering medical problems, but also severe financial hardship for the worker and his or her family due to lost income and high medical bills. Workers’ compensation can help provide injured workers with the financial resources they need to cover their medical bills and living expenses while recovering from an accident. Despite employers’ obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace, employees are entitled to receive workers’ compensation without proving the negligence or fault of another party. Working with a qualified attorney, however, will ensure a greater likelihood that workers will receive the benefits they need.
Source: Daily Journal Online, “Piramal Glass facing fines for safety violations,” Sept. 27, 2013