LTL freight company, Central Transport, has committed to work on improving their company-wide safety protocols, and to specifically address safety concerns regarding outdated and unsafe forklifts and industrial trucks at over 100 of their terminals in 26 states across the nation.  The commitment to safety changes came after extensive investigations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed many citations and violations of safety standards, totaling $165,400 in total penalties, which Central Transport must pay as part of the agreement. These violations could have caused, and may still cause, crushing or struck-by injuries at these locations.

Central Transport must remove damaged, defective and unsafe forklifts from all of their locations and implement a comprehensive and detailed timetable and a step-by-step list on how they will address safety concerns moving forward.  These steps must be verified by an internal monitor to ensure that the implementation is going according to the agreement. This monitor will make at least 20 checks on terminals across their service area. In addition to an internal monitor, a third party monitor will also made unannounced checks on their terminals and conduct interviews with employees to see if the changes are being implemented.

The violations were noted at Central Transport terminals in 26 states, including the Billerica terminal in Massachusetts. It is now up to each of these states to honor and enforce this settlement agreement to help ensure the safety of its workers.

Proper safety regulations are non-negotiable

Industrial jobs, such as working in a loading dock for a freight company like Central Transport, carry inherent risks for the employees. Any profession that involves heavy machinery, large trucks and massive payloads may pose obvious dangers that could lead to permanent injuries or death.  It is for this reason that all companies that employ workers in potentially-dangerous fields should take the utmost care to ensure that they are doing everything possible to prevent avoidable accidents that can lead to the irreversible harm or death of their employees. OSHA exists to hold companies accountable for this responsibility, and this recent agreement shows why OSHA is important.

Were it not for OSHA investigating and revealing unsafe working conditions, how long would Central Transport have pushed their luck using outdated and hazardous forklifts? Would change only have happened after somebody was hurt, or worse? Now that they have been cited and given the order to update their safety protocols, it will hopefully result in an overall safer work environment for their employees.

We do not forgive negligence

Companies that knowingly place their employees in the way of potentially unnecessary harm are not only incredibly immoral in their actions, they are actively breaking the law. Negligence leading to personal injury or death of a worker is an offense that can result in heavy fines, but it can also result in lengthy and incredibly costly lawsuits.  If you or anybody you love has been harmed by an incident of negligence at the hands of a company – such as an injury occurring due to an improperly-maintained or outdated forklift at a loading dock – then you have the right to seek financial damages from this company for directly causing your injury. You can receive money to pay for medical bills, medication, make up for lost time at work and any other expenses related.

At Altman & Altman LLP, we have over 40 years of experience going after negligent companies who harm workers because of intentional negligence. There is no greater responsibility than caring properly for those under your direction, and we will hold any company who fails to do so accountable.

Call us for a free consultation today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7 and we don’t collect any payment from you unless you are successful in your claim.