Whenever a worker is killed on the job, the employer is required to notify the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within eight hours, so the agency can conduct a full investigation into the cause of the worker’s death. If the worker was found to have died as a result of a safety violation, the agency can assess fines against the employer. If there was something that could have been done in a safer manner, but it was a not a regulatory violation, they can make recommendations and work to change the regulations in the future.
If the agency finds other safety violations, the agency can issue warnings and fines, even if those violations did not result in the death of the worker. In addition to when a worker is killed, OSHA must be notified within 24 hours of a serious workplace accident that results in an amputation, hospitalization, or loss of vision in at least one eye. This is also so OSHA can conduct a full investigation into the cause of the accident. Continue reading