Construction and manufacturing are two of the most dangerous fields to work in. If you work in these professions, you likely face more potential accidents in a single day than an office worker does in an entire year. Working around large equipment, materials, and machinery requires the highest attention to safety, and accident prevention requires the work of everyone—from coworkers to employers.

One New York employer is facing sanctions from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after a worker was seriously injured at its plant in Westbury. Marly Building Materials of Lindenhurst has been cited with $50,000 in proposed fines for safety violations.

The violations came after an inspection was triggered in the wake of a horrific employee accident. According to an OSHA press release, a worker was shoveling sand onto a conveyor belt as part of the production process. His left arm became stuck in the belt and was amputated above the elbow. Subsequently, OSHA found several safety violations at the facility, including a lack of safety guards on conveyor belts to prevent such tragic accidents.

“This is precisely the type of injury that machine guarding is designed to prevent. It is a graphic example of the pain and suffering caused when an employer fails to ensure that machines and equipment have the required safeguards installed,” said OSHA’s area director Anthony Ciuffo. “It is imperative that this employer take prompt and effective action to eliminate these conditions to prevent an accident like this from happening again.”

OSHA inspectors also found that the company lacked lockout hardware and had not done proper training for employees working on the conveyor belts and other machines. OSHA also found missing stair railings, cement dust coating floors and railings, a lack of chemical hazard communication training, exposed live electrical parts, and more.

Employers have a responsibility to keep their workers safe. When they fail to do that, the results can be tragic. When an accident occurs, your employer can be held responsible for the consequences.

New York and New Jersey Workplace Injury Attorneys

If you’ve been seriously hurt in a construction accident or a manufacturing accident, the lawyers with Ginarte may be able to help. Contact our offices today by calling (888) GINARTE for a free consultation.