Reference no: EM132749128

Your company is a small distribution warehouse, where you specialize in materials handling. The forklifts you use are all powered by propane, and do produce fumes that can potentially compromise the indoor air quality, especially when all of the doors to the warehouse are closed.

Within the past two months, you have had four workers compensation claims related to dizziness and associated headaches. Although none of these workers compensation claims showed or proved that the issues are a direct result of the fumes from your forklifts, the perception of the employees is that this is the case.

This morning, you held a meeting with your employees to discuss the situation. The employees collectively stated that while they may not be completely sure that the forklifts are the cause of these health situations, they would rather file a workers compensation claim than use their company sponsored health insurance. When you asked them to elaborate, they stated that since the company changed health insurance plans as a result of the new health care reform, their coverage has gotten worse, and that some situations that used to be covered well are not any longer. As a result, they are very reluctant to use their company sponsored health insurance unless they absolutely have to. The employees went on to say that the company can expect a lot more workers compensation claims from now on.

Problem 1: What potential violations has your company committed with regard to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, if any.

Problem 2: How might this case impact your future decision regarding your company sponsored health insurance plan?

Problem 3: What should your response, and subsequent guidance, be to your employees following this meetinG