If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, you might be eligible for monetary compensation. Attorney Group for Louisiana can help you determine if you have a claim.
Workplace Injury
A Louisiana company has been cited for almost 30 safety violations that could lead to $129,000 in penalties, according to the United States Department of Labor. An investigation discovered the violations after a workplace injury caused serious damage to the hand of one of the plant workers.
Injury Details
According to documents filed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the employee suffered a workplace injury when the employee’s hand was caught in a moving printing press in June 2014. OSHA stated that because moving machine parts present a hazard to employees, employers have the responsibility to protect them from harm. Failure to provide adequate protections can lead to amputations, burns or other workplace injuries.
Citation Information
OSHA found that employees at Graphic Packaging International Inc. were exposed to machinery hazards and that the company failed to guard all nip or pinch points on large printing presses. The agency also found that Graphic Packaging failed to implement lockout and tagging procedures as required to shut down equipment during routine maintenance and repair. There were 26 safety violations that could result in a $127,000 in penalties. In addition to those safety violations, OSHA found that the company failed to inspect for defective slings, attachments or fastenings or to provide guardrails on platforms above dangerous machinery. The company also failed to review its confined space program annually. These were serious violations, indicating that employees were placed at significant risk of physical harm. An additional $2,000 penalty was levied a $2,000 fine for electrical hazards and an exit sign that was not illuminated. According to OSHA, inspections occurred between June 28, 2014 and Dec. 19, 2014.
Company Response
The company has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations to comply or request an informal conference with the director. It may also contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The company has not released any statements regarding whether it will contest the violations or will pay the fines related to potential workplace injury to employees. Documents on the OSHA website indicate that all violations must be abated by Jan. 1, 2015.
Have You Been Injured While At Work?
If you’ve been injured while at work, you may be eligible for monetary compensation. Attorney Group for Louisiana can help you determine if you have a claim. If you do, an affiliated attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf with no out-of-pocket expenses from you.
