Workplace Violence Investigation Leads to Costly Penalties
The owner of a convenience store is facing more than $17,000 in penalties after OSHA conducted a workplace violence investigation.
Officials launched the investigation into the Baton-Rouge area car wash, oil change, fueling, and convenience store company after an assistant manager was stabbed in February 2022.
According to reports, the employee was treated and later released from the hospital.
Following the investigation, OSHA cited the company for failing to protect its workers from violence and for waiting more than two weeks after the incident to report that the worker went to the hospital.
Federal law requires employers to report a hospitalization within 24 hours.
Investigators said this was not the first violent incident within the store in the past year.
As employers consider workplace challenges, it is critical to remember employers are legally obligated to reduce workplace violence hazards, including training workers to recognize signs.
According to investigators, other employees were present the day of the stabbing.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows more than 3,600 of the 25,600 fatal workplace injuries in the United States that occurred between 2016 and 2020 were intentional injuries caused by another person.
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