Construction Accident Lawyers Block O'Toole & Murphy, LLP Comment on OSHA's New Plan to Require Large Companies to Publicly File Their Workplace Accident Reports
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 07, 2013 -- According to this November 7, 2013 ABC News report, titled "AP Source: OSHA Plan to Make Safety Reports Public", the U.S. Labor Department is set to make an announcement today about a new requirement for companies to report their workplace injuries. The rule would reportedly apply only to companies with over 250 employees, and would require them to publicly and electronically file their "workplace injury and illness reports". The current rules require employers to post summaries of injury and illness reports in a common area where they can be seen by employees. The Labor Department's OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) division will announce the plan, which OSHA maintains will, "...help the government, workers, researchers and the public more effectively prevent workplace accidents and illnesses."
Block O'Toole & Murphy, LLP is a New York personal injury law firm that specializes in representing those seriously injured in construction and other workplace accidents. Firm Partner David L. Scher believes this proposal is a positive one for worker safety. Said Mr. Scher, "Shining a light on employers who repeatedly fail to protect their workers is a good thing. It will tend to deter such unsafe practices, and allow the public to gain a better understanding of how and why workplace injuries occur."
According to the same AP report, some private pro-business interests, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have already voiced objections to the new proposed rule, declaring that companies could be targeted by outside groups who want to characterize them as having bad safety records. To Mr. Scher, that is precisely the point: "If contractors want to avoid public scorn for having a bad safety record, the solution is obvious: clean up your act, provide better workplace safety and earn a reputation as a safe employer."
Block O'Toole & Murphy, LLP understands how employers, especially of construction workers, need to remain constantly vigilant about protecting their workers. Said firm Partner Stephen J. Murphy, "We have represented injured workers for decades, and we tend to see the same types of accidents occur again and again. Ladder and scaffold falls, lack of proper fall protection, use of inadequate or inappropriate equipment and failure to follow through on correcting known safety concerns on the work site. Making workplace injury reports public will allow everyone to study why common workplace injuries occur and will hopefully lead to solutions to make them less frequent."
Block O'Toole & Murphy has recovered over $700 Million for its injured clients through top personal injury verdicts and settlements. The firm represents those who have suffered New York construction and workplace injuries, as well as those who are hurt in motor vehicle accidents, by acts of medical malpractice and other negligence.
The experienced accident trial lawyers of Block O'Toole & Murphy can be reached anytime for a free consultation by calling (212) 736-5300.
Stephen Murphy, Block O'Toole & Murphy, LLP, http://www.blockotoole.com, 212-736-5300, [email protected]
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