Most workers throughout the country would agree that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration plays an important role in today's society. The federal agency is charged with keeping workers in Pennsylvania and other states safe at work. Workers should be provided a workplace environment that does not lead to workplace accidents or illnesses.

Despite actions OSHA takes to keep workplace accidents and illnesses to a minimum, they nonetheless do occur more than anyone would like. It is often after situations where someone has been hurt or become ill at work that OSHA will decide to investigate the matter.

There is more to these investigations that just determining who was at fault for the incident. If, in the course of the investigation OSHA determines that the employer has failed in some way to comply with safety regulations, it is possible that it will have to pay large fines. Recently, a soft drink company based in the state of Pennsylvania was assessed such fines. All told, the fines total $129,745.

The fines were a result of 16 workplace violations OSHA uncovered. Most disturbing may be the fact that all but two of those violations were due to violations for which the soft drink company had already been fined. Failing to rectify issues with the electrical and noise level, were two of those repeat violations.

It is upsetting that a business which employs so many residents of the state of Pennsylvania would decide to not take the steps necessary to keep its workers safe. Why it failed to do so is unclear.

Source: Occupational Health & Safety, "OSHA Fines Pennsylvania Soft Drink Company Nearly $130,000," Feb. 6, 2013