The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a peanut processing plant in Rochelle, Georgia, for 28 health and safety violations, including exposing workers to falls, amputations, and other workplace safety hazards. The federal agency initiated the inspection at McCleskey Mills Inc. in February 2014, after receiving a complaint about safety risks, and has proposed fines totaling $72,553. If you have been injured in an on-the-job accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in Georgia, consult our workers’ compensation lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak today. Our law firm is located in Atlanta, and our attorneys have years of experience protecting the rights of injured workers and their families throughout Georgia.
Georgia Work Accidents, Injuries
According to OSHA, a serious work safety violation occurs when there is considerable probability that death or serious physical injury could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Among the serious work safety violations at the GA peanut processing plant were citations for exposing workers to fall hazards due to missing railings on stairs, ladders and platforms; failing to protect workers from moving machine parts during servicing and repairs; and blocking an exit by installing a piece of sheet metal in front of a door. McCleskey was also cited for failing to provide workers with personal protective equipment, and failing to have an emergency eyewash station or shower located adjacent to certain hazardous work areas.
Lack of Safety Controls at GA Plant
McCleskey Mills processes and provides raw, shelled peanuts to manufacturing companies and customers, employing a total of 70 workers at its GA facility and 200 workers nationwide. “McCleskey Mills cannot continue to expose its employees to these hazards and must immediately address the lack of safety controls,” said Robert Vazzi, director of OSHA’s Savannah-Area Office. “An effective safety and health management system would have identified these hazards and corrected them. This company has to do more to protect its employees.” In an effort to reduce the risk of workplace falls and other job-site accidents in the U.S., OSHA has established a fall prevention website with detailed information on fall protection standards and preventative measures employers can take to avoid workplace falls.
Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers Can Help
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees, and for enforcing standards, and providing the proper training, assistance and education when necessary. If you have suffered injuries in a Georgia workplace accident, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal on-the-job accident in GA, contact our knowledgeable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today for legal help. You may be entitled to medical, disability or death benefits for your losses, which you can pursue by filing a workers’ compensation claim. With our qualified workers’ comp lawyers on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the financial compensation you deserve.
Source: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=26475
