Lockout Devices Critical for Worker Safety
A New Jersey recycling company was recently fined $70,070 after a worker lost six fingers in an accident at a recycling transfer station, Waste Management World reported. The company has been fined $700,000 over the past four years for health and safety violations.
The latest penalty followed an investigation of the accident by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The investigation concluded that the company failed to “lock out” the conveyor-belt system’s energy source while the employee was clearing a cardboard jam.
OSHA violations too often cause injuries to employees, leading to lost wages and high medical bills. Unfortunately, OSHA violations have been on the rise. The agency reported 96,742 violations in 2010, an increase of more than 15 percent since 2006. Many of these violations related to hazardous energy and lockout/tag out procedures.
OSHA guidelines specify that employers must:
- Develop, document, implement and enforce procedures of energy control.
- Ensure lockout/tag out devices are authorized for the equipment being used and that they are “durable, standardized, and substantial.”
- Guarantee lockout/tag out devices identify individual users.
- Create a policy that allows only the employee who applied a lockout/tag out device to remove it.
- Inspect energy control procedures at least once a year.
- Provide effective employee training on these standards.
If you have lost a limb on a construction site because your employer did not follow OSHA guidelines, workers’ compensation might not be enough to cover your costs. A prosthetic finger, for instance, can cost $10,000 per finger, according to Ars Technica. You also may be entitled to compensation for your disability, lost wages and other expense. A construction accident attorney at the Ginarte law firm can explain your legal rights.
