A forklift accident on Wednesday happened at a company where they have a history of citations issued for workplace violations. At around 10:15 p.m. a 43-year-old man was killed in a forklift accident at Pharmasol of Easton in Massachusetts. According to Easton firefighters, the man was found trapped between the forklift and a shelving unit, bleeding and unresponsive. He was transported to the hospital by medical helicopter and pronounced dead at the hospital.
Pharmasol, a pharmaceutical company, creates and distributes gels, aerosols, lotions, and liquids for personal hygiene and medical use. According to documents, the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have issued the company with multiple citations due to several workplace violations. They have been fined approximately $140,000. All of these violations and fines happened within the last year and a half. The first incident began in October of 2014 when a major gas leak occurred, that November Pharmasol was issued 20 citations, and this June five violations were committed. OSHA discovered one of the most severe violations in June when work was performed on machinery and equipment without shutting off the power or locking out the power supply source. The company is appealing several of the citations.
Companies that commit workplace violations are placing their employees at risk of becoming injured or killed in a workplace accident. Injured workers should exercise their rights by seeking legal guidance from a worker’s compensation attorney. Those affected by work-related injuries or fatalities may be entitled to compensation for their damages, and the accident may warrant a third party case.
The St. Louis worker’s compensation attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth will examine your accident to determine if you’re eligible to file a worker’s comp claim, a wrongful death case, or a third party claim. Our attorneys have over 100 years of experience and can provide you with the representation necessary to obtain the justice you deserve. Contact us for a free no-obligation consultation.