Workplace Fatality at Auto Parts Manufacturer was Ruled Preventable by OSHA

At the Delaware injury law firm of Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman, our skilled workers’ compensation attorneys focus on protecting our clients’ rights when they have questions or concerns about their benefits. Contact us in Wilmington, Newark or Seaford to schedule your free consultation.

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, and unfortunately, some workers lose their lives in workplace accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency under the U.S. Department of Labor that is responsible for workplace safety. OSHA has a slogan, “No one should have to be injured or killed for a paycheck. If you think your job is unsafe and you have questions, call OSHA.”

In 2016, a young woman named Regina Elsea, was killed in an auto parts manufacturing plant when she tried to fix a machine that had broken down. She called the maintenance department, but when she received no response, she decided to try to fix the machine herself. She climbed into the cage with the malfunctioning robot when it abruptly turned back on and started working again. Ms. Elsea was crushed by the machine and was severely injured. She was transported to a hospital, and then flown to another hospital, but she died the next day of her injuries.

Following Ms. Elsea’s tragic death, OSHA conducted a six-month investigation into the conditions which led to her death. After the investigation, OSHA ruled that the accident that killed Ms. Elsea could have been prevented. The auto parts manufacturer was building parts for automakers Kia and Hyundai. When OSHA uncovered the safety violations in the plant, they later flew to Korea to warn both Kia and Hyundai about the hazards of their workers working with robots. OSHA fined Ajin USA, the plant where Elsea was working when she was killed on the job, $2.5 million dollars for 22 federal safety violations. (The Lafayette Sun)

OSHA standards violations

Injuries caused by machinery and machine guarding is one of the top ten most frequently cited OSHA violations, and “struck by object” injuries accounted for 9.4% of fatal workplace injuries in 2016.

Manufacturing plants can be hazardous work places because of the massive machinery and equipment that workers must interact with to do their jobs. Inevitably, those machines will break down, and without the proper safety rules and regulations in place, workers can suffer serious and deadly injuries when things go wrong or when machines are defective.

If you have sustained a serious injury while working at a manufacturing plant, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim for your workplace injuries, which includes a partial wage-replacement benefit, medical expenses and other benefits. Our skilled Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys help workers from manufacturing plants, factories and every type of workplace environment who are dealing with workplace injuries and disputes related to workers compensation benefits.

The law firm of Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman is proud to serve all of Delaware, including workers in Seaford, Wilmington, and Newark. We offer free consultations to discuss your case at our three convenient office locations. You are encouraged to call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form now to talk with someone about your case today.