Bring Workplace Safety Into Focus: Avoiding Accidents & Lawsuits

Numbers suggest 4 million U.S. workers a day are treated in emergency rooms for broken bones, sprains, cuts and concussions from workplace accidents.

While the workplace has become a safer place over the past years, accidents continue to happen. The latest data from the Department of Labor shows that nearly 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries were reported in the private sector in 2010— an equivalent of 3.5 cases per 100 workers. Even more disturbing, the Health Administration (OSHA) reports that 4,690 workers were killed on the job in 2010.

Some companies are taking extra steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees, while others continue the same practices that have led to injuries and litigation. Environment issues, highlighted by a few recent cases, have added yet another element for companies to consider in the ongoing process of protecting their employees and the planet.

Do you have a plan for an accident or injury in your workplace?

Lessons Learned

Sometimes it takes a company suffering through the consequences of an accident to adjust its policies. The Sevenson Environmental lawsuit is a classic example of a business learning from its mistakes. The land and water remediation company settled a lawsuit in 2011 after a tugboat operator in their employee was injured falling off a ladder. Sevenson's stated goal is to have zero incidents every year. The company has since implemented several programs to maximize employee and environmental safety. Some of these programs include monitoring for employees working directly in waste remediation, training on all OSHA requirements, and job audits to ensure compliance with said requirements.

Too Big To Care

The Deepwater Horizon was an off-shore oil drilling unit owned by BP (British Petroleum) that exploded and sank to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010. The explosion killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the gulf. BP's failure to construct a safe oil rig and provide its workers a safe working environment has already cost the oil giant $4.5 billion. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement in November, which includes two BP employees being indicted on manslaughter charges and another indicted for lying to federal investigators. BP still faces upwards of an additional $21 billion in fines if they're found to have violated the Clean Water Act as a result of the oil spill. There has been no news regarding any changes BP plans to make in response to these incidents.

Exxon Mobile Lawsuit

Despite the record-breaking penalties and negative press levied against BP, Exxon Mobile is now in a very similar situation due to negligence in its latest oil spill. Fourteen plaintiffs in Montana filed separate lawsuits in state court after 1500 barrels of oil was spilled into the Yellowstone River last summer. The spill, which has caused more damage than all other accident in the state combined over the past 10 years, has already cost Exxon $1.6 million in penalties and another $135 million in cleanup costs.