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OSHA Determines Fatal Workplace Accident in Auto Parts Plant Was Preventable

On Behalf of | Feb 22, 2017 | Georgia Workers' Compensation, Manufacturing Injuries |

Last year, a 20-year-old woman was killed in an Alabama manufacturing plant when she attempted to fix a machine that had stopped working. According to news reports at the time, the woman was working on a large crane with three other employees. When the crane stopped working properly, the woman called maintenance but received no response.

The woman and three other co-workers tried to get the machine working again. The woman entered the cage that contained the machine, and while she was inside the cage, the machine started running again. She sustained critical injuries and was taken to the hospital, where she died the next morning.

The plant where the accident occurred manufactures car parts for Kia and Hyundai. According to a recent news source, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted a six-month investigation into the accident, concluding that the accident could have been prevented had the appropriate precautions been taken by the employer.

An OSHA representative also told reporters that the company running the plant was fined $2.5 million for the violations that contributed to the woman’s death, as well as 21 other violations. That same OSHA representative traveled to Korea in 2015 to explain the poor factory conditions to the auto manufacturers, although it seems like little has been done to remedy the situation since the visit.

Kia and Hyundai operate several factories throughout Georgia and Alabama. Since 2105, 12 workers have had to have a limb or extremity amputated.

Georgia Workplace Accidents at Manufacturing Plants

Manufacturing jobs are some of the more dangerous in the State of Georgia. In fact, in the private industry, manufacturing jobs have the highest rate of injury, second only to mining jobs. It is important for Georgians with manufacturing jobs to understand the state’s workers’ compensation laws and how they may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits while they recover after a workplace accident. Additionally, the families of workers who were killed on the job may be able to seek long-term benefits to provide financial assistance in the aftermath of their loss.

Georgia’s workers’ compensation program provides no-fault benefits to injured workers and their families. This means that an injured employee does not need to establish that his or her employer was at fault; it is generally sufficient to show that the accident occurred while on the job. To learn more, contact a dedicated Georgia workers’ compensation attorney.

Have You Been Injured in a Georgia Workplace Accident?

If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Georgia workplace accident, you may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits while you recover. The dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys at the law firm of J. Franklin Burns, P.C., have extensive experience handling workers’ compensation claims for clients across all industries. With their assistance, you can feel confident that your application will be completed with the utmost diligence, increasing the chance it will be approved in a timely manner. Additionally, we are prepared to appeal an adverse decision. Call 404-920-4708 to set up a free consultation with a dedicated and knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney.