OSHA Cites New York Manufacturer for Unsafe Conditions

 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited New York food packaging manufacturer Genpak LLC. for several safety violations, which they say, led to two serious worker injuries. According to a news report on BusinessInsurance.com, OSHA cited the company for two repeat, six serious and one “other-than-serious safety violation.”
OSHA initiated two inspections after learning of two workplace accident injuries, one in June 2015 in which an employee suffered a partial finger amputation while trying to clear a machine jam, and the other in July 2015 when a worker was severely burned after the forklift he was using ignited butane vapors triggering an explosion inside a shipping trailer.

Several Safety Violations
The agency cited Genpak for failing to implement specific procedures to prevent machines from starting up during maintenance and servicing and for exposing workers to fall hazards from unguarded platforms. The company had been slapped with similar violations in 2011 and 2012. Genpak was also cited for its failure to use an explosion-proof forklift in an area that was filled with flammable gas, exposing workers to being struck by improperly stacked boxes, failing to protect workers from electrical deficiencies and failing to notify OSHA within 24 hours of a workplace amputation as required by law.
OSHA officials said they are concerned the company is continuing to expose workers to serious hazards. They further state that the company needs to review its safety program and ensure that safety hazards are not only being addressed but also shared with other facilities within the company.
Severity of Workplace Injuries
These types of serious injuries, as sustained by the workers in this particular case, often prove to be devastating for victims and their families. Whether it is finger or limb amputations the consequences can be serious. In the case of limb amputations due to malfunctioning equipment and machinery that does not have proper safety guards, victims are left with staggering medical and rehabilitation expenses, not to mention the cost of prosthetics. Amputees may also have to face the prospect of not being able to continue earning a livelihood for their families.
Burn injuries sustained in workplace explosions may have a catastrophic impact for the victims and their families. Burn injury victims often experience significant pain. A number of these patients also require costly skin graft surgeries. They may still be left permanently scarred and disfigured. Such injuries, in addition to physical pain and suffering, cause significant mental anguish.
Unsafe Conditions in the Workplace
If you discover that the conditions in your workplace are unhealthy or unsafe, it is critical that you take action. First, report the conditions to your employer. If the unsafe conditions are not mitigated or corrected, file a complaint with OSHA and request an inspection of your workplace. You will be able to do this anonymously without fear of retaliation from your employer. If an OSHA investigator is examining your worksite you can bring the conditions to his or her attention anonymously. You also have the right to refuse to perform work, which violates occupational safety or health standards.
If you have been injured in a workplace accident, be sure to report it to your supervisor right away. Get contact information for co-workers or any other witnesses who may have seen the accident. Get medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries right away. Go to a doctor recommended by your employer’s insurance company. If possible, take photographs of the location where the incident occurred as well as your injuries. Preserve all physical evidence such as torn or bloody clothing as well as evidence of any malfunctioning machinery or equipment that may have caused or contributed to your injuries. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who will work diligently to protect your rights every step of the way.
Compensation for Injured Workers
Injured victims can seek workers’ compensation benefits to help pay for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In addition, workers and families may also be able to file a third-party claim for significant monetary damages against a negligent party whose actions caused or contributed to the incident. Examples of third parties include general contractors, sub-contractors, building owners, manufacturers of defective products, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job – one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20160120/NEWS08/160129984/worker-injuries-net-osha-citation-and-fine-for-new-york-manufacturer?tags=|70|80|92|304