One of Augusta’s largest industries, major manufacturing, generates a significantly large number of available jobs for the city. This popular industry attracts many Georgia residents, and usually offers a solid pay and a competitive benefit plan. With the large number of employees the industry is responsible for, issues such as employee safety and the condition of working environments must be a priority. The consequences of not making these issues priority are ones that endangers the safety of employees, possibly causing injury, illness, or death.
In 2015, a 36-year old Augusta hydraulic power saw worker ignited a full-blown investigation of FPL Food LLC after being hospitalized for severe lacerations to his stomach, caused by a faulty hydraulic powered breaking saw. Immediately following the young saw worker’s hospitalization, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent agents to FBL Food LLC to investigate the cause of the equipment’s malfunction. Upon investigation, the agents discovered that the power saw’s safety switch, which restricts use of the equipment when it is powered on, was not working properly. On further investigation of FPL Food’s workspaces, OSHA discovered numerous other workplace hazards.
At the conclusion of the investigation, OSHA issued FPL Foods thirteen different citations for exposing workers to life-threatening hazards such as:
- Platforms and stairwells without handrails;
- Improperly installed and exposed electrical wiring;
- Unguarded cutting blades;
- Inadequate eyewash stations for workers handling corrosives;
- Failure to train workers on the specific procedures to prevent machinery from starting up during maintenance and servicing; and
- Non-working equipment crowding workspaces (creating a fire hazard for workers).
According to OSHA reports, the citation regarding preventing machinery from starting up during maintenance and servicing is directly responsible for the power saw worker’s severe injuries. FPL Foods was fined nearly seventy thousand dollars in penalties, in which they were given fifteen working days to pay the fines or correct the problems.
Your Workplace Conditions
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, it is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe and productive working environment for employees. If you are living in the Augusta area and are suffering from a serious work-related injury, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills and suffering. Under Georgia personal injury law, a negligent employer can be held liable and required to pay compensation if an employee sustains serious injuries on the job.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer
Contact an experienced and professional Augusta GA personal injury lawyer to learn about receiving compensation for your work-related injuries. Located in Augusta, at the law firm of Ted A. Greve & Associates, P.A. we will commit to your case and fight for you. Call us today for a free consultation.
