When safety regulations are not respected and monitored by employers, it can put employees in danger. It may be that employees are not protected from airborne toxins resulting in respiratory illness, or come into contact with a skin irritant, or even develop depression because of poor working conditions. Whatever it may be, it is clear that occupationally-related illnesses can have detrimental effects on employees. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates workplace environments and this was the case when a Wayne County manufacturer was fined for numerous safety violations. While the case began in 2007, it is notable for the sheer volume of violations - 56 in total.
OSHA was prompted to investigate Thomas Electronics of New York Inc. after an employee lodged a complaint. The investigation resulted in OSHA fining Thomas Electrics $151,100. $100,000 in fines were issued because employees were not given proper eye and face protection when working with hydrofluoric acid. Furthermore, the company did not have a hazard communication program to educate employees to identify and protect themselves against the hazardous chemicals they worked with. The remaining fines were issued as a result of a range of safety violations from unmarked exit doors and blocked exit routes to improper storage of combustible materials, inadequate safeguards in the paint spray booth, unavailable first aid supplies, unguarded moving machine parts; a variety of electrical and electrical-related hazards, excess air pressure for a cleaning hose, and no initial lead exposure determination. The company also failed to maintain a log of injuries and illnesses in 2006 and 2007, provide respirator information, and conduct regular and periodic inspections of mechanical power presses. These safety violations resulted in an additional $1,400 in fines.
Christopher Adams, the OSHA area director in Syracuse stated that the hazards faced by the Thomas Electronics employees had the potential to "expose employees to chemical burns, fire, electrocution, lacerations, amputation, falls and crushing injuries, and impede their ability to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency." Therefore, intervention by OSHA was necessary for the safety of the Thomas Electronics employees.
The numerous violations found by OSHA in this case indicates that the employers did not value the health and safety of their employees which is a fundamental problem in the workplace and can even be emotionally detrimental to employees. Therefore, I think it is crucial for employers to understand the risks they may be subjecting their employees to and medical professionals can be useful in educating employers on such risks.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16145
http://www.osha.gov/about.html
OSHA was prompted to investigate Thomas Electronics of New York Inc. after an employee lodged a complaint. The investigation resulted in OSHA fining Thomas Electrics $151,100. $100,000 in fines were issued because employees were not given proper eye and face protection when working with hydrofluoric acid. Furthermore, the company did not have a hazard communication program to educate employees to identify and protect themselves against the hazardous chemicals they worked with. The remaining fines were issued as a result of a range of safety violations from unmarked exit doors and blocked exit routes to improper storage of combustible materials, inadequate safeguards in the paint spray booth, unavailable first aid supplies, unguarded moving machine parts; a variety of electrical and electrical-related hazards, excess air pressure for a cleaning hose, and no initial lead exposure determination. The company also failed to maintain a log of injuries and illnesses in 2006 and 2007, provide respirator information, and conduct regular and periodic inspections of mechanical power presses. These safety violations resulted in an additional $1,400 in fines.
Christopher Adams, the OSHA area director in Syracuse stated that the hazards faced by the Thomas Electronics employees had the potential to "expose employees to chemical burns, fire, electrocution, lacerations, amputation, falls and crushing injuries, and impede their ability to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency." Therefore, intervention by OSHA was necessary for the safety of the Thomas Electronics employees.
The numerous violations found by OSHA in this case indicates that the employers did not value the health and safety of their employees which is a fundamental problem in the workplace and can even be emotionally detrimental to employees. Therefore, I think it is crucial for employers to understand the risks they may be subjecting their employees to and medical professionals can be useful in educating employers on such risks.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16145
http://www.osha.gov/about.html
