OSHA Cites Prison Healthcare Provider for Inadequate Safety Measures
Corizon Health Inc. provides medical, dental and psychiatric services to inmates at Rikers Island Correctional Facility. Due to the harsh environment, employees who worked at the facility were regularly threatened and even physically assaulted by inmates. From 2011 to 2013, violent incidents against Corizon employees rose from eight to 39. An inmate locked one worker
Read MoreHome Improvement Company in Hamburg Cited for Fall Hazards
A home improvement business based in Hamburg, NY failed to provide fall protection for workers at a Lackawanna site, resulting in heavy fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.) In April 2014, OSHA inspectors saw employees working on roofs and scaffolds without fall protection, exposing them to potentially fatal falls of up to
Read MoreIs My Employer Liable for Workplace Violence?
Employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. This includes protection from illness or injury due to workplace hazards, but it also applies to physical violence from either customers or coworkers. Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn reported more than 40 incidents of workplace violence between February
Read MoreCoke Plant’s Negligent Safety Leads to Explosion
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspected a Tonawanda Coke Corp. facility after an explosion in January 2014. OSHA’s findings led to more than $160,000 in fines for a multitude of serious and repeat safety violations. Two permanent workers were injured in the accident, along with one temporary worker. Tonawanda
Read MoreWhat Are the Dangers of Chromium Exposure?
Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen that can be produced by industrial processes. In addition to causing cancer, the harmful chemical can damage the kidneys, liver, skin, eyes and respiratory system. Employees in charge of welding and other types of “hot work” are at the highest risk for chromium exposure due to high levels of
Read MoreUnited Airlines Facility Deemed Fire Hazard at Newark Airport
Too often, our nation’s workplaces become jumbled messes, and some of the worst offenses can quickly turn into fire hazards. Unmarked fire exits, extension cords used in place of permanent wiring and haphazardly stacked materials can all lead to dangerous, and potentially lethal, situations. All of these offenses and more were discovered during a recent inspection
Read MoreWhat Are Whistleblower Protections?
Employees often know firsthand about their company’s business dealings, including any dishonesty or fraud. In the past, workers feared retaliation if they chose to bring attention to the corruption, so the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) helps enforce several laws to protect “whistleblowers.” Whistleblowers report misconduct in an industry or even in their
Read MoreWho Is Responsible for Workplace Safety?
On any construction site, management is responsible for identifying workplace hazards and handling them proactively before workers get hurt. To do their job properly, management has to stay informed about safety policies imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and make sure those policies are enforced in the workplace. Falls lead to more
Read MoreMaplewood Bottling Plant Fined for Violations by OSHA
At any facility, management is in charge of more than simply managing workplace hazards. They also provide employees with information that can help prevent accidents in the future. When workers do not have the information they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, the resultant mistakes can be costly. Maplewood Beverage Packers LLC underwent
Read MoreIs the Company Responsible If a Temporary Worker Is Injured?
Temporary workers can be placed in a variety of different jobs, including extremely hazardous ones. Employers have to take extra care that these workers are trained properly on all equipment and in proper safety procedures. When a temporary worker is placed, both the staffing company who placed him and the company hosting him are responsible
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