New Jersey workers in the printing industry have the right to a safe workplace. It is OSHA’s job to oversee that employers are in compliance with relevant safety regulations. Each year, the agency creates a list of the top 10 most common violations. In the printing industry, hazard communication was the most common violation for the 2018 fiscal year. The fiscal year starts on Oct. 1 and ends on the final day of September.
The lack of machine guards was another common violation during fiscal year 2018. Guards are supposed to be installed to ensure that workers do not make contact with moving parts. Employees in the printing industry are also supposed to have access to dust or other respiratory masks. Employers were commonly cited for not having written plans for instances in which something other than a dust mask was used. Written plans should also be created relating to the use of other personal protective equipment.
Employers were also commonly cited for not performing medical exams on those who used such equipment. OSHA has standards in place as they relate to electrical components. For instance, companies can be fined for not properly labeling a circuit breaker or for leaving a breaker open. A company could also be fined for blocking access to a breaker or for incorrectly identifying one.
If a person is injured on the job, it may be appropriate to apply for workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits may be available even if a worker was directly or indirectly responsible for the accident that caused an injury. The compensation typically covers lost wages and pay for medical bills related to a workplace injury.