Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog

OSHA cites Universal Health Services of Doylestown

Published on: January 3, 2017 | O'Connor Law

Universal Health Services of Doylestown has been cited for four serious violations in relation to workplace violence. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the facility and found them guilty of failing to protect workers from patient attacks, conduct an annual review of the bloodborne pathogen program, and offer bloodborne pathogen training to registered nurses and mental health technicians.

Jean Kulp, the director of OSHA’s Allentown Area Office, said in a press release, “Hospitals and other healthcare settings pose significant safety and health risks to workers. OSHA standards prevent these employees from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other common dangers. Foundations Behavioral Health failed to provide a safe and healthful workplace, which is unacceptable.”

The proposed fine for the company is $36,701.

OSHA Fines Proposed

Published on: November 7, 2016 | O'Connor Law

Birdsboro Kosher Farms Corp., a chicken processing company in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, has been fined by OSHA for endangering workers after an employee suffered an amputation. The employee had lost a thumb while working a mixing machine at the farm. OSHA has previously inspected Birdsboro Kosher in 2013, 2014 and 2015, where they found the worker protection system to be lacking.

“Birdsboro Kosher Farms is leaving its employees vulnerable to a variety of safety and health hazards that can cause serious injuries,” said acting OSHA area director in Harrisburg, Timothy Braun, in a press release. “It is critical that the company take appropriate steps to ensure worker protection at its facility. Anything less is unacceptable.”

The proposed fines are $317,477.

Upper Darby Contracting Company Slammed with OSHA Penalties… Again.

Published on: June 27, 2016 | O'Connor Law

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited an Upper Darby, Pa. contractor for major safety insufficiencies that put their employees at risk for injury.

The company, BC Stucco and Stone, had workers on scaffolding 18 feet in the air without proper planking or decking. The scaffolding also lacked guardrails and safe access as well as exit ways. The employees were also found to have no proper training when it came to working on a scaffold. These are all incredibly high-risk dangers that could have cost any worker his or her life at the hand of a negligent employer.

To prevent employees from being injured from falls, OSHA demands that employers must:

OSHA Dumps Heavy Fines on Manufacturer in Northwest Pennsylvania

Published on: March 14, 2016 | O'Connor Law

At the end of last month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a manufacturer based in St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania with “one willful and five serious violations.”

P/M National Inc. has been found guilty by OSHA after inspection for lacking machine guarding, which prevents workers from amputation injuries and other hazards. The owners at the facility confessed to failing to install these guards on newer metal presses and removing old ones.

The fines for such disregard for the safety of their employees has subjected P/M National Inc. with a $60,200 fine.

OSHA Cites Connecticut Chemical Manufacturer for Serious Violations of Workplace Safety Standards

Published on: February 15, 2016 | O'Connor Law

Employee exposure to and lack of protection from highly flammable and potentially fatal chemicals has caused the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to cite and fine a Connecticut chemical manufacturer.

Phoenix Products Co. violated 15 requirements of workplace safety regarding chemicals and will be charged with a $61,600 fine.

The company produces both swimming pool chemicals as well as chemicals found in nail polish remover. Their processes deal with highly combustible substances such as acetone and isopropyl alcohol 99 percent that could easily put workers’ lives in danger. For this reason, OSHA has a required process safety management program that Phoenix Products Co. failed to provide.

Massachusetts Roofing Company Cited for Second Time by OSHA

Published on: February 12, 2016 | O'Connor Law

A Massachusetts roofing contractor is facing major fines for yet again placing its employees in potential life-threatening working environments.

The guilty party, A S General Construction Inc., has had repeated offenses of failing to provide their workers with both the fall protection and proper safety training that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires.

This time, the company had employees working on an unguarded roof 26 feet from the ground, connected only by an incorrectly crafted ladder-jack scaffold.

Pennsylvania Man Killed in Coal Mining Accident

Published on: February 10, 2016 | O'Connor Law

A 31-year-old western Pennsylvania man was killed in a mining accident after being crushed by a boulder. The victim, Jeremy Neice, had been working in the mines around Mt. Morris at 6 p.m. when the incident occurred.

All operations at the mines have been shut down since the accident, and both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration are leading the investigation.

The mine is operated by Dana Mining Company, and Neice’s death is the second within the last six months. 2015 ended with a total of 11 mining-related deaths, the safest in mining history, whereas 2016 has already seen three separate mining deaths within three weeks. A comparable year would be 2006, where fifteen miners were killed within a two-and-a-half-week span.

OSHA and Industrial Truck Association Renew and Extend Hazard Reduction Alliance

Published on: February 3, 2016 | O'Connor Law

Through a renewed alliance with the Industrial Truck Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is working to minimize the amount of injuries and deaths related to powered industrial trucks. The renewed alliance is for another five years, and the primary topics of interest over this time will include tip-over and struck-by dangers.

For those employees who work with these trucks, the alliance will serve to provide more efficient resources and training so that potential life threatening dangers can be more readily recognized and accidents can be prevented.

Other OSHA promotions that will be pushed through this alliance include preventing falls, heat illness, and supporting a “culture of safety.” This culture includes preventing workers from being crushed under fallen equipment such as forklifts.

Fatal Accident: 19-Year-Old Caught in Machine and Fatally Injured on First Day of Job

Published on: December 10, 2015 | O'Connor Law

19-year-old Mason Cox was killed after being pulled into a wood chipper in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

Reports say Cox was trying to kick a tree branch that he was loading into the chipper when his leg got caught in the tree branch.

Cox had just recently been hired by Crawford’s Tree and Stump Grinding Service and the accident occurred on his first day on the job.

OSHA and Red Cross Extend Partnership Promoting Workplace Safety & Preparedness

Published on: November 22, 2015 | O'Connor Law

Extending a decade long partnership, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Red Cross will continue to work together to further decrease the chance for workplace injury as well as safeguard workers from any exposures that could be life-threatening.

The partnership has been extended another five years, and the two organizations will shift their attention toward “providing workers and with information and training resources on emergency preparedness, disease prevention education and first aid,” said an OSHA Trade news release.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels stated that OSHA looks forward to the continued alliance so that workers can continue to have the resources that will keep them safe and healthy while on the job.