Attorney
Earlier this month, an employee at Goodyear’s Danville plant in Virginia died in a workplace accident. According to the medical examiner’s office, the worker died from blunt injuries to the chest along with mechanical asphyxia. While the worker’s death is now under investigation, it has been confirmed that the Danville plant has now been the location of four fatal workplace accidents over the course of one year.
The United Steelworkers Director of Health, Safety and Environment is assisting the plant and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with an investigation.
Danville’s Goodyear Plant Must Create a Safer Work Environment
The first death occurred in August of 2015 after the victim was caught in machine rollers. The second died during a shift in March and the third worker died in April of this year. Both deaths seem to have been caused by asphyxiation. Statistically, it is rather unusual for a manufacturing plant to have as many as four separate fatal accidents within such a short time frame, some of which occurred within months of each other.
Manufacturing and industrial jobs can be dangerous because of the heavy machinery or chemical processes that can put workers at risk for workplace accidents. When safety procedures are not followed, workers can be at risk for the following:
- Machinery accidents
- Fires or explosions
- Slip and fall accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Chemical burns
- Electrical accidents
By law, Goodyear and other manufacturing employers have a responsibility to provide a safe work environment, which includes providing safety gear and proper training. All operating machinery must be regularly inspected and maintained. Additionally, workers must be protected from mechanical hazards.
Northern Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers
Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP is a workers’ compensation law firm that helps injured workers in Virginia. We offer free consultations to assess your case. Contact us today to speak to an experienced attorney that can help you.
Source: http://wtop.com/virginia/2016/08/va-goodyear-plant-confirms-4th-fatality-in-1-year/