.png)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recently placed Kent, Ohio-based The Davey Tree Expert Co. in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) after inadequate workplace safety precautions led to the death of a 21-year-old worker. The SVEP exists to concentrate OSHA’s resources on employers with demonstrated indifference to their obligations regarding worker safety. Willful, repeated and failure-to-abate violations can all land a company in the program.
Davey Tree was cited for a willful violation because the employer failed to comply with manufacturer instructions on the use of a UTV (utility task vehicle). The manufacturer specifications clearly state that the vehicle should not be parked on a slope of more than 15 degrees; however, Davey Tree was operating the vehicle on a 20 degree slope, leading it to roll over and fatally injure a worker.
What Rights Do Family Members Have after Fatal Workplace Accidents?
When an employer’s negligence leads to the death of a loved one, it is imperative that the company is held liable to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again. Our law firm has spent the last 80 years helping victims and their families receive workers’ compensation in the event of injuries or deaths on the job. If you or a family member is one of these victims, then we want to hear from you. Learn more about our work on behalf of Ohio workers by checking out our Facebook page.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers’ Comp Attorneys