Whenever someone is seriously hurt on the job, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigates the injury. When the OSHA completes the investigation, it may decide to fine the business where the person was injured due to failing to uphold safety standards or other regulations. That’s what happened in this case from 2016 that recently had the investigation completed.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued penalties for a 2016 construction accident that led to a worker suffering a serious injury. According to the story from Feb. 22, the worker had fallen through a hold in the second-story flooring of a construction site.
The companies in question, DSI Mechanical and Western Sugar, both received serious violation citations following an investigation of the incident, which took place in August. The Scottsbluff plant had been going through an expansion project, but both companies had failed to properly secure the hole in the second-story flooring.
Western Sugar is paying a negotiated penalty of $6,000 for the incident and is required to make changes to abate the conditions that caused the accident. DSI Mechanical has contested the citation.
In cases of workplace injuries, employees are typically entitled to workers’ compensation. That isn’t the only thing that might happen, though, and the OSHA can step in to make the workplace safer. You deserve to work in a safe environment, and the OSHA’s investigations can show if your employer isn’t being as safe as he or she could be. Your workers’ compensation coverage should help you get the medical care you need while also replacing your lost wages if you’re off work for an extended period of time.
Source: NBC Nebraska, “OSHA issues penalties in 2016 Scottsbluff construction accident,” Scott Miller, Feb. 22, 2017