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A Reynoldsburg, Ohio Home Depot is facing $150,700 in penalties for eight safety violations, including seven repeat violations. According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the violations were discovered during an inspection initiated under a site-specific targeting program that directs enforcement resources to workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur.
Although most of the violations are repeat violations, that does not necessarily mean that the Reynoldsburg location was ever cited for the violations before now. It just means that the same violations had been cited at one of the many Home Depot stores nationwide within the last five years. The repeat violations cited include but are not limited to:
Failing to use flexible wiring in lieu of required fixed wiring;
Blocked exit routes;
Failing to review, sign and provide record-keeping documents within four hours, as requested by inspectors;
Failing to inspect flexible cords and then use cords with missing ground pins and damaged insulation;
Failing to effectively close unused openings in electrical cabinets.
“By failing to correct previously cited deficiencies, Home Depot continues to dismiss a culture of safety as a priority,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA area director in Columbus. “Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to worker safety and health.”
While an employer is obligated to provide its employees with proper safety training and a safe work environment, many choose to ignore this responsibility. This type of negligence often results in injuries to workers, some of which prove to be debilitating or even fatal.
If you or someone you love has been injured on the job, we are ready, willing and able to help you fight for your rights. Our Columbus workers’ comp attorneys can successfully guide you through every aspect of the legal process, from holding those at fault accountable to helping you handle Social Security disability and workers’ compensation claims. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, contact our firm today.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys