Mark Lies and Meagan Newman Published in Tower Times
“Safety Violations Could Cost You More Than Money – They May Cost You Your Freedom”

Mark Lies and Meagan Newman’s article, “Safety Violations Could Cost You More Than Money – They May Cost You Your Freedom,” was published in the April 2009 issue of the Tower Times. In their article, Mark and Meagan discuss the potential passage of the Protecting America’s Workers Act, which would broaden the scope of current OSHA regulations and the criminal liabilities for violations. They revisit recent workplace safety cases “that led to criminal charges,” and discuss “the steps that companies, safety managers and supervisors should take to reduce the likelihood of criminal sanctions for workplace safety violations.”

The authors also note that companies, safety managers and supervisors need to be aware of the heightened enforcement of safety regulations and know that the penalties if someone is injured or killed could go beyond monetary fines, it could lead to jail time. Mark and Meagan conclude by explaining that “it is imperative that safety professionals and managers understand that they are potentially at risk for criminal charges for safety violations,” and they provide recommendations on how to demonstrate “good faith efforts” to comply with legal obligations.