According to Business Insurance, a New Jersey commercial laundry company is facing more than $305,000 in fines following the death of a 24-year-old employee. 
The news outlet reported that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed the fines against Lyndhurst’s Prestige Industries LLC in the aftermath of the worker’s death in 2011. The proposed fines come following a recent inspection that revealed safety hazards at the location where the worker was killed.
The company has allegedly put employees at risk for injuries because there has been an absence of “lockout/tagout procedures”, which prevent the accidental start-up and movement of machinery, according to OSHA.
Additionally, Prestige Industries LLC is facing fines over its alleged failure to train employees on how to safely use certain machines. OSHA allegedly found other serious safety and health violations during an inspection including “unsafe exit routes, electrical hazards and the absence of a written respiratory protection program.”
“It is unacceptable when a company continues to neglect basic safety and health procedures, especially after experiencing a fatality,” an OSHA representative said in a press release.
A conveyor-belt-like machine, known as a shuttle, which is used to move clothing, crushed the worker who was killed previously.
Have a Fatal Workplace Accident Investigated By Our Middlesex County Injury Attorneys
If your loved one has been killed in a workplace accident, talk to our Middlesex County injury lawyers about pursuing a legal claim. You may be able to collect certain workers’ compensation death benefits and/or hold an employer or third party liable via a wrongful death lawsuit.
Employers have a duty to make sure that worker safety is paramount when they are performing tasks. It is unacceptable when businesses allow workers to perform work without proper training and/or utilize unsafe equipment on their premises.
Speak to our Middlesex County injury lawyers about your legal rights. While no amount of money will bring your loved one back, you can hold an employer liable for its negligent actions. Additionally, any damages you receive through litigation can help you move forward financially and help replace lost income provided by your family member.
For further reading about workers’ compensation news and on-the-job accidents in New Jersey, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can speak to someone directly from our Middlesex County law firm now by calling (732) 636-3030.
Spevack Law Firm – Middlesex County Injury Attorneys
Source: http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20151002/NEWS08/151009955
