Fine Fare Supermarkets on Mermaid Ave in Brooklyn is sited for several workplace safety violations after OSHA inspection found night shift employees were locked into store and unable to leave building without employer permission. Proposed fines to the company are $62,300. Emergency exits cannot be blocked or obstructed for employees – the OSHA standard requires that employees can open a door from the inside without keys, special knowledge or tools – and OSHA's inspection discovered all five exit doors are locked at night and cannot be unlocked without the employer's permission.
"These workers were essentially caged and that is completely unacceptable," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director based in Manhattan. "Employees must be able to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency. When they cannot do so, they face serious injury or death from burns and smoke inhalation."
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was created to provide a safe workplace to all employees and prevent employees from injuries or death at work. If you are injured at work, or forced to work in unsafe work conditions, you can obtain assistance from experienced NY workers' compensation lawyers like Markhoff and Mittman.
