A Minnesota veterans health care clinic received 19 safety violations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The government agency discovered the St. Cloud Veterans Affairs Health Care System facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota failed to follow employee injury prevention guidelines, putting workers' safety at risk.

OSHA inspected the facility in July 2011 under its Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program. The health care facility was issued eight repeat safety violations including failing to offer guardrails on open-sided platforms and keeping exit routes obstructed. The government agency cited the clinic for six serious safety violations, three other-than-serious penalties and two repeat health infractions.

OSHA spokesperson Mark Hysell told Occupational Health & Safety the employer is responsible for keeping the workplace safe and failing to implement safety standards could impact productivity in the workplace. The agency has issued safety and health penalties against Department of Veterans Affairs locations in Chicago and Dayton, Ohio in the past.

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