Workplace injuries can happen anywhere. OSHA, or the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has cited an Ohio golf course for failing to adhere to policy in lieu of a worker’s work injury incident. After a full investigation, OSHA cited the golf course on several worker safety violations. The citations were for actions or inactions, taken before or after the worker’s injury incident.
The day of the accident, the worker was mowing the lawn on the property when the lawn mower turned over on a steep embankment and he was injured. The inspectors from OSHA claim that OSHA inspectors the golf course did not have a roll bar installed on the mower, exposed workers to chemical hazards and failed to develop and implement an emergency action plan. Additionally, it was determined that found that the golf course failed to maintain accurate injury and illness records. In addition, it was alleged that the injury was not reported as required.
All workplace injuries are expected to be reported within 8 hours, per OSHA guidelines. Had the rollover equipment been installed on the lawn mower, it’s likely that the worker’s injury could have been avoided or at the very least, lessened. The fine assigned to the golf course goes for a cool $25,000+. The golf course has 15 days to take action on the claim.
What this means for the injured is that OSHA agrees that the workplace did not comply with safety regulations. Of course, workers’ comp is available but the citations may indicate that negligence is a factor. Negligence means the workplace owed a duty to the worker that was not upheld. A personal injury suit may be appropriate.