An employee of a Walmart Distribution Center in Pennsylvania suffered a severe workplace injury during the last week of December. The manner in which the man was injured on the job was not disclosed. It was revealed, however, that an industrial accident caused the worker to lose his arm. Walmart said more details will be provided upon completion of the accident investigation.
An ambulance service said they responded to the incident on the afternoon of Dec. 30. Upon arrival, emergency workers found that the man’s arm was completely severed, and it was kept on ice during his transfer to the hospital. It was reported that the man was still in the hospital at the time of the report. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reportedly investigating the incident.
OSHA is a federal agency that prescribes safety regulations with which company owners must comply. Whenever an employee is seriously injured or killed at work, OSHA investigates the incident. One focus of the inquiry is to determine the company’s compliance with safety regulations and, when applicable, issue citations and fines as enforcement.
It is not known whether this Pennsylvania worker’s arm was successfully reattached, and the injury will likely have a significant impact on his ability to earn an income in his chosen field of work. He may have to make many lifestyle adjustments. A worker who is injured on the job may pursue a workers’ compensation benefits claim. The insurance program typically provides compensation for medical expenses and lost income, but in cases of amputation and disabilities, additional compensation is usually awarded.
Source: phillyvoice.com, “OSHA investigates after Pa. man loses arm at Wal-Mart Distribution Center“, Michael Tanenbaum, Jan. 6, 2016