Workers’ Compensation Aids Snack Food Company

People who work in manufacturing plants in New Jersey have a right to expect a safe work environment. Manufacturing work involves inherent risks as employees are working with large piece of sophisticated equipment. Such a work environment should be reasonably safe as long as workers are appropriately trained in safety procedures and carefully follow those procedures. Failure to provide a safe work environment can lead to a workers’ compensation issue.

A company that manufactures snack foods was recently cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to provide adequate safety training. The company has eight locations in the region and reached a settlement with OSHA in which it agreed to improve safety training at all of its locations. Violations were only detected at one location.

The snack food company was cited for safety violations in 2018. The violations were a result of an inspection that revealed the company had failed to prevent employees from being exposed to serious machine hazards. The inspection also revealed that employees were improperly trained regarding the control of the high voltage machines. The company agreed to pay a fine of $152,934.

If a person is employed in a manufacturing job in New Jersey that exposes one to risk of injury it is expected that the company provides comprehensive training regarding the use of the heavy machinery and the safety procedures that are intended to protect the health of the employee. If a worker in New Jersey has experienced an injury or feels he or she is at undue risk of injury, a consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney could provide one with valuable information. A knowledgeable attorney can review the situation and advise the client as to what legal options may be available.