Going to work shouldn't be a safety or health concern. However, New Jersey's Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Program recently stepped in and stated that a Palmyra linen company is just that -- dangerous. OSHA investigators recently inspected the facility and uncovered 49 safety and health violations; 39 were considered serious and the remaining 11 were rated as other-than-serious.

The OSHA director in charge of the area made sure that the message was heard loud and clear by the company's owners, stating, "Employers are legally responsible for ensuring safe and healthful workplaces." If the message itself wasn't understood, the current proposed fines reaching over $125,000 may get the point across more effectively.

A serious violation is when there is a "substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard which the employer knew or should have known." The violations the Palmyra company is being fined for included a lack of: machine guarding, guardrails for work platforms and stairways, property safety equipment for workers. Also absent were mounted fire extinguishers and proper safety training for confined spaces, ladders and forklifts and communications for hazardous situations.

The other-than-serious infractions are violations that would not cause death or serious injuries to employees, such as improper record keeping for injuries and illnesses.

The Palmyra linen company has 75 employees at their location.

One of the suggestions OSHA recommends to employers is to implement a safety program in partnership with employees to help establish programs to prevent injuries and illness in the workplace. Safety programs that involve employees often help reduce potentially hazardous situations.

Source: MMD Newswire, "OSHA proposes fines to Palmyra, NJ, linen rental company for workplace safety and health hazards," Jan. 11, 2012