Supermarket workers have a number of challenges that they must meet on a daily basis, be it dealing with difficult customers or moving items around a store.
With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited seven Trade Fair Supermarkets stores in Queens, New York for 40 violations of workplace safety standards. The local grocery store chain faces $128,000 in proposed fines following inspections that began in March in response to complaints.
“Our inspections found a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of similar hazards in several stores. For the safety and health of its employees, Trade Fair Supermarkets must take effective action to correct these conditions at these and all its stores,” said Kay Gee, OSHA’s area director for Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Employees Reportedly Work Without Protective Eye Gear
At the seven stores, OSHA found butchers operating band saws with unguarded blades and other workers using cleaning products without protective eye gear, exposing them to lacerations, amputations and eye injuries. Four of the stores compromised swift and safe exiting during a fire or emergency because of locked or blocked exits, obstructed exit access and un-illuminated or missing exit signs.
These conditions resulted in the issuance of 20 serious violation citations with $122,000 in proposed fines. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Some Stores Faced Electrical Hazards
In addition, six stores failed to post the required annual summary of occupational illnesses and injuries. All seven stores lacked a chemical hazard communication program and training, and five stores had electrical hazards.
These conditions resulted in citations for 20 other-than-serious violations with $6,000 in fines. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
All doing business as Trade Fair Supermarkets, the inspected stores included Kamal Corp., 30-08 30th Ave., Astoria; Loreen Food Corp., 37-11 Ditmar Blvd., Astoria; Nadine Food Corp., 99-10 Astoria Blvd., Corona; 89-02 Food Corp., 89-02 37th Ave., Jackson Heights; Ziad Food Corp., 22-20 36th Ave., Long Island City; Crescent Food Corp., 23-55 Broadway, Long Island City; and Coro Food Corp., 49-11 30th Ave., Woodside.
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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