Pennsylvania's workers may be interested to learn that a new federal government proposal seeks to reduce government oversight of poultry producers, thereby allowing them to self-inspect the safety of their processes. The proposal, which is still awaiting approval by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, would replace nearly half of U.S. Department of Agriculture with poultry factory employees, and it would also allow processing to speed up by 25 percent. While such a measure would save the government and the poultry industry money, it could place workers at risk.
Poultry processing plants may see more workplace injuries
Explosion at Pennsylvania steel plant injures worker
Ensuring workplace safety often means paying attention to every detail of a workplace environment. Some risks may be obvious, such as neglected equipment or safety procedures, while other may be more difficult to catch, such as air contaminants. Yet, employers have a duty to keep their workers safe, and failing to pay close attention to the details may result in serious workplace accidents.
Pennsylvania contractor at center of explosion investigation
At explosion at a residential neighborhood left one woman dead and seven workers injured. Though the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation, officials say a Pennsylvania-based contractor, Henkels & McCoy, hit a gas line when they were drilling to fix an electrical issue. The contractor may also be in trouble for how it handled the situation. Officials say the contractor should have called 911 before allowing other workers on the scene, but it is not certain this step was taken. This is not the first time Henkels & McCoy has been in trouble. Last year OSHA fined the company $42,000 for several serious safety violations including failing to have proper inspections.
Pennsylvania governor gives awards for workplace safety
Workplace safety should be of the utmost importance to employers. Increased safety not only prevents workers from being injured, but it often also increases employee morale and production while lowering costs. Because of its importance, every year Pennsylvania's governor gives the Governor's Award for Safety Excellence to those companies deemed to put safety first.
