New York workers should never have to risk their lives or their health in order to earn a paycheck. Although there has been a great deal of progress made in making our workplaces safer, we see stories and accounts of people being injured on the job all too often. Whether an employee is engaged in a high-risk occupation like construction work, manufacturing or working with heavy equipment or in an occupation that many consider to be relatively safe, such as work in a retail environment, workers are still at risk for being hurt on the job.

There are multiple government departments and agencies involved in ensuring workplace safety and helping injured workers get back on their feet. Because of the frequency of workplace injuries, the State of New York makes employers obtain workers' compensation insurance, which is designed to help an injured worker recover medical expenses and lost wages.

There are other governmental agencies involved as well, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. While the workers' compensation system is designed to compensate workers, OSHA's role is different. OSHA was established to prevent workplace accidents and injuries. It establishes safety regulations and fines employers when safety guidelines are violated.

Recently, OSHA recommended fining Wal-Mart after it found violations of safety regulations at one of its retail locations in New York. OSHA representatives state that the agency received a complaint about the store and conducted an on-site investigation. OSHA states that the inspection uncovered two dozen violations, including obstructed exit routers and fall hazards. Reportedly, OSHA gave Wal-Mart 15 days to correct the violations. In the meantime, OSHA has recommended a fine of $365,500.

Source: FederalNewsRadio.com, "OSHA recommends fines for Wal-Mart over NY store," Feb. 8, 2012