Massachusetts Workers Compensation Lawyers Blog
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration was recently slapped with 14 notices of unhealthful or unsafe working conditions after an inspection ot Logan International Airport in Boston. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the inspection occurred in February as a part of the Administration’s Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program.
“Employees who work daily to protect the traveling public also deserve protection against on-the-job hazards, each and every day,” said Brenda Gordon with OSHA.
Our Boston workers’ compensation lawyers understand that airports are very busy places, and sadly accidents and incidents occur on a daily basis. There are various reasons for this, including technical breakdown or system failure, human error and even organizational failures that commonly result because of inadequate training, supervisions or safety procedures.
The recent inspection at Logan International was conducted by officials with OSHA’s Area Office in Braintree. These officials were able to point out a number of instances where officials with the TSA were exposed to various dangers including electrical hazards, amputation risks, fall hazards, slip and fall risks, lack in personal protection, inadequate exits and even fire-related hazards.
Most of these dangers were found around the baggage areas, including inspection areas, break rooms, conveyors and checkpoints.
According to My Fox Boston, the TSA has 15 days to comply with the citation, appeal it, or request a conference with OSHA’s area director.
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport covers close to 3,000 acres, has six runways and employs an estimated 20,000 people. It was first opened as Boston Airport back in 1923, and has come a long way since then. But it’s clearly got a lot further to go in terms of safety, for both passengers and workers. As of 2010, the airport was ranked as the 19th busiest airport in the U.S., bringing in close to 14 million boardings a year and more than 29 million passengers overall in 2012. The first scheduled commercial passenger flights were on Colonial Air Transport between Boston and New York City in 1927. Now serving as an international airport, safety and health needs to be a number one concern for all involved.
Providing all airport-related personnel with a safe working environment should be of the highest priority. To ensure that this commitment is met, it should be a standard policy to provide appropriate training and guidance about working in a safety conscious manner.
When safety measures are not met and workers are not provided with the proper training and protective equipment, accidents result. According to officials with OSHA, there were more than 4,600 workers across the U.S. killed on the job in 2011. (That’s close to 4 workers per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers). This means that there were close to 100 a week killed (nearly 15 a day).
Most Frequently Cited Work Hazards by OSHA:
-Fall protection.
-Hazard Communication Standard.
-Scaffolding.
-Respiratory Protection.
-Control of Hazardous Energy.
-Powered Industrial Trucks.
If you or someone you love has been injured on the job in Massachusetts, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your workers’ compensation claim– (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Wal-Mart Undergoes Complete Safety Makeover, Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Blog, August 15, 2013
Miner Injuries and Fatalities on the Decline, Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Blog, August 14, 2013