In the midst of stories highlighting the devastating consequences of Tennessee workplace accidents, it’s a relief to hear instead about a TN-based company that puts the safety of its workers first. The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development announced last month that Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc. was chosen to receive the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award for achieving a safe and healthy work environment for its employees. Unfortunately, not all Tennessee employers consider worker safety a top priority. If you have suffered serious injuries in a work-related accident in Nashville, or elsewhere in Tennessee, contact our reputable attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to discuss your legal options.
“Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc. shows a continued dedication to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace,” said Steve Hawkins, Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administrator, who presented the SHARP award to the company on March 25. “We are pleased to honor this fine company for their notable safety record.” The SHARP award is designed for employers with fewer than 250 workers in high-hazard industrial classifications, and is considered one of Tennessee’s highest honors for workplace safety and health. In addition to rewarding employers who promote a safe and healthy workplace, the program also allows employers to be removed from programmed compliance inspection lists for a certain period of time.
Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc. was established in 2007 and currently employs 410 people at its location in Memphis, Tennessee. The company produces large round blooms and rolls it into finished bars, which are primarily used for industrial equipment parts. For Tennessee workers in the steel industry who work with heavy machinery and other dangerous equipment, the risk of being injured or killed on the job is significant. Unfortunately, when employers in Tennessee fail to adhere to workplace safety standards established by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), that risk unnecessarily climbs higher and higher.
The workers’ compensation system in Tennessee was established to provide critical financial assistance to workers statewide who have suffered debilitating injuries on the job and to their families as well. However, some injured workers in Tennessee are denied workers’ comp benefits, or are offered compensation far below the amount they are entitled to. Under these circumstances, a severe work injury in Tennessee can put not only physical limitations on a worker, but can result in a significant financial burden for his or her family as well. If you have been injured in a workplace accident in TN, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to explore your compensation options.
