Monro Muffler Brake Inc. Cited for Failing to Prevent Work Injuries on Massachusetts Work Site

The Monro Muffler Brake Inc. was recently cited for 10 alleged violations of workplace safety standards by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The citations were the result of an inspection that was conducted by OSHA because of a work injury in Massachusetts at the company’s Hyannis location back in February of this year.

An employee was burned when a spark from an acetylene torch ignited an open container of gasoline. These 10 citations come with a total of $184,000 in proposed fines.
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“This is exactly the type of incident and injury that results when an employer fails to comply with common-sense and legally required safeguards for workers,” said Brenda Gordon, OSHA’s area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. “To prevent such occurrences and protect the safety and health of its workers, the employer must ensure that safety and health requirements are met and maintained at all times at all of its locations.”

Our Boston workers’ compensation attorneys would like to remind both employees and employers about the importance of safe working conditions. It is the responsibility of the company and the employer to make sure that all employees, both in-house and on site, are safe and protected from danger, injury and even death. Our lawyers continue to work tirelessly to recognize and fight for the rights of employees who may have been injured in a work-related accident.

OSHA’s inspection on the Rochester, N.Y.-based automotive service company concluded that employees were exposed to a number of fire hazards from the open container of gasoline, an unapproved light fixture in a hazardous location, combustibles allowed in the work area when the acetylene torch was being used and a lack of training in fire extinguisher use for employees.

During the inspection, OSHA also witnessed a significant fire hazard where employees were smoking in the auto service area where combustible fuels are drained and where fuel system components are removed and replaced.

That wasn’t all of the violations that they found. OSHA also identified a number of other hazardous conditions at this location. They reported the discovery of inadequate lighting for work areas, exposed electrical openings, lack of eye flushing facilities, lack of eye protection and failure to inform all employees of the hazards of chemicals in their workplaces.

Monro Muffler Brake Inc. was handed one willful violation with a proposed fine of $70,000 for the fire hazard caused by smoking, three repeat violations with proposed fines of $80,000 for the fire extinguisher, chemical and eye protection hazards and six additional serious violations with $34,000 in proposed fines for the rest of the hazardous conditions.

The company has been given 15 business days from the receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

If you have been injured at work in the Boston area, contact Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (617) 777-7777.

More Blog Entries:

OSHA Fines Company $345,000 for Failing to Protect Workers Against Potential Work Accident in Framingham, Massachusetts Workers Compensation Lawyers Blog, July 16, 2011

Somerville Company Faces Nearly $50,000 in Fines after Hand Crushing Work Accident in Massachusetts, Massachusetts Workers Compensation Lawyers Blog, July 6, 2011

OSHA Releases New Compliance to Prevent Work Accidents in Massachusetts and Elsewhere, Massachusetts Workers Compensation Lawyers Blog, June 3, 2011

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