By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

Healthcare facility managers already must keep their buildings operating smoothly. They also must keep their occupants safe from hazards of all kinds. 

A federal investigation found that LMA Services Company LLC, a Stoughton, Massachusetts general contractor, could have prevented a fatal incident in June 2023 at a Brockton work site, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). An OSHA investigation revealed that the company failed to follow safety regulations and adequately train workers on operating heavy equipment during excavation work at Brockton Hospital. The incident involved a compact track loader with an elevated bucket used to load and unload crushed stone on uneven ground, resulting in an employee being fatally struck and pinned. 

During the investigation, OSHA discovered that LMA Services Company delayed providing injury and illness records despite subpoenas. OSHA issued a willful citation for failing to protect employees, highlighting the need for proper training, hazard awareness, and a site-specific safety plan. The company also received a second citation for the delayed submission of OSHA logs, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $142,642. 

Two of the most common OSHA violations in healthcare are hazard communication and filling out forms, according to OSHA as of September 2023.  

Compliance with OSHA is critical to keeping a healthcare facility not only running soundly, but to keeping its occupants safe as well. Facility managers must be trained properly in OSHA compliance to know exactly what is expected of them and train their staff at the same.  

Jeff Wardon, Jr. is the assistant editor for the facilities market.