OSHA Cites New York Recycling Facility after Worker's Death

A Rochester recycling facility was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after a worker died on the job in June. According to a 13WHAM news report, the 35-year-old man was caught in a scrap metal compactor at Metalico Rochester, Inc. The machine unexpectedly turned on while the man was working. An OSHA report says the company did not use the right lock systems and did not properly train their employee. According to OSHA, this company has been cited for similar incidents at their Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania facility. The company was issued a $73,300 citation and they have 15 days to pay it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 100,000 people are injured every year in machinery-related accidents. About 15 percent of work-related deaths were caused by defective products or malfunctioning machinery. The CDC states that improper cleaning and maintenance of machinery is one of the main causes for injury or death at industrial facilities.
People who work in factories or other industrial facilities are often exposed to a variety of hazards. Heavy machinery, power tools, and assembly lines can present dangers for workers if the machines are not maintained properly. Factory owners or employers are required to make sure that all of their equipment, including heavy machinery, are up to safety standards. In addition, companies are required to properly train their employees so they know how to safely operate the machinery.
If it is found a company did not have proper safety standards in place or that their employees have not received necessary safety training, the employer may be held responsible in the case of an accident. Family members of a worker killed in an industrial accident may be able to seek workers compensation to cover damages including but not limited to medical expenses, funeral costs and lost future income and benefits as well as pain and suffering damages.
If you or a loved has been injured in New York because of a work-related accident, please contact the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). 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 phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit our website: www.work4youlaw.com
Source: WHAM 13