CWS 3.0: December 10, 2014

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Electrical shock burns temp, leads to fines for buyer, staffing firm

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued fines totaling $150,000 against a contingent workforce buyer and its staffing provider for failure to provide adequate training and enforce proper equipment usage.

Following a May 2014 electrical shock accident that left a temporary maintenance employee suffering with severe burns at an Arvato Digital Services distribution center, OSHA issued citations to Arvato and its staffing provider, Parallel Employment Group of Wisconsin Inc., for failure to train employees in electrical safety-related work practices.

OSHA cited Arvato Digital Services for one willful and 10 serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $124,000. Oak Creek, Wis.-based Parallel Employment Group was cited for four serious violations and faces penalties of $26,000. OSHA holds host employers and their staffing providers jointly responsible for temporary employee safety and health.

The worker, who had been employed for about eight months, had inadvertent contact with electrical equipment while trouble-shooting an electrical failure on a heat-sealing machine. Arvato Digital Services failed to implement electrical safety practices for employees, according to OSHA’s investigation.

Arvato Digital Services and Parallel Employment Group were cited for failure to train temporary employees in electrical safety and exposing workers to operating machinery parts on conveyers and press equipment. These serious violations exposed workers to risk of electrical shock and amputation.