Workers Exposed to Excessive Noise, Lack of Machine Guarding, and Other Hazards

OSHA cited American Marazzi Tile Inc. with 25 safety and health violations for exposing workers to excessive noise levels, machine guarding hazards, and other dangerous conditions at its facility in Sunnyvale, TX. Proposed penalties total $318,000.

OSHA’s Dallas Area Office initiated an investigation on July 13 at the company’s Clay Road facility as part of the agency’s Site-Specific Targeting Program, which directs enforcement resources to workplaces with higher-than-average injury and illness rates.

“This company knowingly failed to implement necessary safety and health programs to protect employees from coming into contact with moving parts of machinery and prevent hearing loss,” said John Hermanson, OSHA’s regional administrator in Dallas. “It’s the employer’s responsibility to know the hazards and safeguard workers from these hazards in order to provide a working environment free of injuries and illnesses.”

Three willful violations involve failing to establish and maintain a hearing conservation program for workers exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 decibels; provide the required machine guards for exposed belts, pulleys, chains and sprockets; and establish a lockout/tagout program for energy sources to protect workers from the unexpected start up of machinery. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Twenty-one serious violations involve failing to provide personal protective equipment, provide confined space training, provide machine guarding to prevent workers from coming into contact with rotating parts, develop energy control procedures for machines with more than one energy source, provide fire extinguisher training, properly store oxygen and acetylene cylinders, develop a bloodborne pathogens program, and train employees on hazardous chemicals used in the facility. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

One other-than-serious violation is for failing to post a copy of the hearing conservation standard in the workplace. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

American Marazzi Tile employs about 254 workers who produce ceramic wall and floor tile products at the Sunnyvale location. OSHA has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Initiated in June 2010, the program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. For more information on SVEP, visit http://s.dol.gov/J3.

The citations can be viewed at:

http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmericanMarazziTile_314183450_0112_12.pdf*

http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmericanMarazziTile_314183492_0112_12.pdf*.

More than $146,000 in Proposed Penalties

OSHA cited American Felt & Filter Co. for 35 alleged violations of workplace safety and health standards at its New Windsor plant. The company, which manufactures woolen felt for a variety of products, faces a total of $146,300 in proposed fines following an inspection by OSHA’s Albany Area Office.

“Our inspections identified numerous safety and health hazards, including several similar to those cited during earlier OSHA inspections of this facility,” said Arthur Dube, the agency’s acting area director in Albany.” Left uncorrected, these hazards expose employees to possible electrocution, crushing and struck-by injuries, being caught in moving machine parts, hearing loss, falls, eye and hand injuries, asbestos and lead.”

In addition to identifying machine guarding and electrical hazards, OSHA found that the plant failed to inspect cranes and lifting devices; remove an unsafe powered industrial truck from service; properly stack materials; monitor noise levels, and test and train employees exposed to excessive noise levels; provide first-aid supplies, eye and hand protection, and an emergency eyewash; ensure appropriate respiratory protection and other safeguards for employees exposed to lead; perform asbestos exposure monitoring; identify and label asbestos-containing materials; and provide training for employees on asbestos hazards. These conditions resulted in citations for 32 serious violations carrying $118,580 in penalties. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Three repeat violations carrying $27,720 in fines involve unguarded lathes and failure to implement an effective respiratory protection program. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. OSHA cited the plant for similar hazards in 2007.

“One means of preventing new and recurring hazards is to implement and maintain an effective illness and injury prevention program in which management and employees work together to proactively identify and eliminate hazardous conditions,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in New York.

The citations can be viewed at

http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmericanFeltandFilterCo-315750224-12282011.pdf  http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmericanFeltandFilterCo-313764250-12282011.pdf

37 Violations Received after Fatality

OSHA cited Resource Management Cos. at its Earth City, MO recycling facility for 37 safety and health violations. An inspection was opened after a worker died from injuries sustained on June 12 when he entered a baling machine to clear a jam and it became energized.  Proposed fines total $195,930.

“Resource Management Cos. has a responsibility to ensure that its workers are protected from hazardous working conditions, especially ones related to dangerous equipment such as baling machines,” said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. “Employers are required by law to ensure that work environments are safe and healthful. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so.”

Twenty-two serious safety violations have been cited, including failing to lock out and tag out the energy sources of equipment and install adequate machine guarding. They also involve hazards related to fall protection, exits, flammable liquids, fire extinguishers, powered industrial trucks, and welding and electrical equipment. Additionally, eight serious health violations involve inadequate housekeeping, excessive noise, improper personal protective equipment, permit required space program, and blood borne pathogens hazards. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

One repeat safety violation has been cited relating to defective powered industrial trucks that were not taken out of service. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The company was cited in April 2010 for a similar violation.

Six other-than-serious safety and health violations have been cited, involving egress, fire extinguisher, personal protective equipment and hazard communications deficiencies. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ResourceMgt_315652776_1206_11.pdf*
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ResourceMgt_315464289_1206_11.pdf*

35 Serious Safety and Health Violations Discovered

Remington Arms Co. Inc. was cited by OSHA for 35 alleged serious violations of workplace safety and health standards at its Ilion, NY manufacturing plant. The firearms manufacturer faces a total of $170,000 in proposed penalties for a variety of mechanical, electrical, and chemical hazards identified during inspections by OSHA’s Syracuse Area Office.

“Left uncorrected, these conditions expose the plant’s workers to electrocution, falls, burns, lacerations, amputation, crushing and “struck-by” injuries, as well as exposure to hazardous substances and being caught in operating or unintentionally energized machinery,” said Christopher Adams, OSHA’s area director for central New York. “For the safety and health of these workers, this employer must ensure that these hazards are corrected and take effective steps to prevent their recurrence.

“Specifically, OSHA found violations involving a lack of personal protective equipment; accumulations of toxic substances lead and cadmium on surfaces in the plant; food and beverages stored and consumed at cadmium-contaminated work stations; failing to provide workers with training and information on lead and cadmium; and not determining cadmium exposure levels. The inspection also identified numerous electrical hazards and instances of unguarded moving machine parts; improper storage and transfer of flammable liquids; a lack of procedures to lock out machines’ power sources to prevent their unintended startup during maintenance; unguarded openings and defective ladders; defective powered industrial trucks and untrained drivers; inadequate fire extinguisher training and availability; unlabeled permit-required confined spaces; no continuous, effective extermination program for vermin; unlabeled containers of hazardous chemicals; and several exit deficiencies including a locked exit door, obstructed exit routes, umarked exits, and non-functioning emergency and exit lighting. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

“An effective illness and injury prevention program in which employers and employees work together to identify and eliminate hazards is one way of preventing initial and recurring workplace hazards such as these,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional director in New York.

The citations can be viewed at

http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RemingtonArms_314352477_1104_11.pdf
and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RemingtonArms_314352329_1104_11.pdf

EAP, Fall Protection, PPE among Many Problems

OSHA cited Sigma Processed Meats Inc. for 16 serious and three repeat violations following an inspection that found workers were exposed to fall and other hazards at the company’s processing plant in Seminole, OK. Proposed penalties total $204,800.

OSHA’s Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation June 1 at the company’s plant on East Goodhope Road after receiving a complaint. Serious violations include failing to provide guardrails as fall protection for employees working on elevated walking/working surfaces, provide an adequate emergency action plan, provide personal protective equipment such as goggles or face shields, train employees on the use of hazardous chemicals and address hazards created by deficiencies in the company’s process safety management system for anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is used for the refrigeration system. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The repeat violations include failing to develop and implement a lockout/tagout program for isolation of energy sources as well as to provide training for employees on the use of lockout/tagout devices. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.“Failure to effectively implement OSHA’s safety and health regulations to protect workers from potential hazards could lead to serious injury or death. OSHA will not tolerate such negligence,” said David Bates, OSHA’s area director in Oklahoma City.

The citations can be viewed here and here.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – OSHA cited Corpus Christi Grain Co. in Corpus Christi for six willful and 20 serious violations with total proposed penalties of $258,900. OSHA’s Corpus Christi Area Office initiated its inspection at the company’s facility on Talbert Lane after it was reported that a worker was engulfed while emptying grain from a storage bin. The employee was rescued due to the exceptional efforts of the Corpus Christi Fire Department.

“Employees working in grain storage buildings are exposed to dangerous conditions, and proper safety measures must be taken,” said Michael Rivera, director of OSHA’s Corpus Christi office. “If OSHA’s standards were followed, it is possible this unfortunate incident could have been avoided.”

The willful violations include failing to provide personal protective equipment, such as a body harness and life line, for employees working with stored grain; perform lockout/tagout procedures for the energy sources of equipment, such as augers and conveyors, while workers are inside the grain bins; and have a competent attendant present with rescue equipment when workers enter grain storage bins. A willful violation is one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for OSHA’s requirements or employee safety and health.

The serious violations include failing to ensure that employees are trained on the hazards associated with grain handling, cover openings with grates in grain bins, ensure that workroom floors are clear of combustible dust, and provide a preventive maintenance schedule for machinery. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

In addition to the agency’s enforcement actions to promote grain bin safety, OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels sent a notification letter in August 2010 and another in February 2011 to a total of more than 13,000 grain elevator operators warning them of proper safety precautions. These include prohibiting entry in grain storage facilities while grain is being emptied out or flowing in or out of the bin, prohibiting employees from “walking down the grain” and ensuring that employees enter the bin with the proper safety equipment.

Corpus Christi Grain, which employs about 25 workers, has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Corpus Christi, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

View the citations here.

US Department of Labor’s OSHA cites Parker Hannifin facility in Mississippi with 33 safety and health violations, proposes more than $487,000 in fines

Federal OSHA has issued 33 citations to the Parker Hannifin Corp. plant in Batesville, alleging numerous safety and health violations as the result of an inspection that began November 2010. Proposed penalties total $487,700. Cleveland, Ohio-based Parker Hannifin has 170 facilities throughout the U.S. and manufactures machinery for hydraulics, air conditioning, refrigeration and aerospace systems.

OSHA issued 16 repeat citations with $407,000 in fines. Fifteen are safety-related and cover such violations as allowing the air pressure to exceed more than 30 pounds per square inch for cleaning equipment, failing to conduct periodic inspections of the lockout/tagout process in place to prevent accidental energy start-up, failing to train workers on lockout/tagout procedures, failing to unblock exit doors and routes, failing to provide machine guarding and failing to correct electrical deficiencies. One health-related violation was cited for failing to attach hazardous warning labels to five dipping tanks that contained hazardous substances such as potassium hydroxide and isoparaffinic hydrocarbon. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The repeat violations are based on previous inspections conducted at other company locations, including a facility in Olive Branch.

OSHA issued 17 serious citations with $80,700 in fines. Fifteen are safety-related and include such violations as exposing employees to struck-by hazards due to a defective safety latch on a hoist and damaged hooks on an overhead crane; allowing unapproved electrical equipment to be used in a hazardous location where flammable chemicals were present; failing to remove and replace spiral stairs with a conventional stairways; failing to post signage indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit; failing to provide a danger permit-required confined space sign; failing to mark a web sling with the rated load capacity; and failing to require workers to wear goggles or suitable eye protection while welding. Two health-related citations cover failing to establish an effective hearing program and to provide personal protective equipment. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

“Companies that cut corners at the expense of worker safety must be held accountable,” said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. “In this case, Parker Hannifin not only failed to make safety its top priority, but the company ignored many violations that OSHA previously had brought to its attention.”

Volvo Aero Connecticut has been cited by OSHA for 17 alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards at its Newington manufacturing plant. The airplane engine parts manufacturer faces a total of $83,400 in proposed fines for a cross section of hazards identified during a comprehensive OSHA inspection.

“Our inspection found employees exposed to a range of hazards that could result in potentially serious or fatal injuries if not promptly and effectively corrected,” said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA’s area director in Hartford. “Workers at this plant face the risks of falls, fires, explosions, electrocution, struck-by injuries, chemical exposure and being caught in unguarded operating machinery. For the safety and health of its workers, the company must address these issues so that they do not occur again.”

Specific violations cited by OSHA included workers being hoisted on the load hook of an overhead crane; an improperly designed combustible dust collection system; a lack of personal protective equipment; uncovered containers of flammable liquids; improper disposal of combustible rags; failure to conduct air monitoring to determine employees’ exposure to hexavalent chromium; unguarded milling machines, belts, pulleys and grinders; and failure to re-evaluate workers’ ability to safely operate fork trucks and provide operators with refresher training.

In addition, the company was cited for several electrical safety violations. These included electrical equipment unapproved for a Class II (combustible dust) location, flexible cords used in lieu of permanent wiring, defective electrical equipment, a lack of an electrical safety-related work practices program and failure to provide such training to maintenance employees.

OSHA cites Home Depot in San Antonio for lack of worker protective equipment, improper recordkeeping.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued serious and repeat citations to Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. at 9115 North Loop 1604 in San Antonio for lacking adequate personal protective equipment and deficient injury recordkeeping. Proposed penalties total $70,500.

“As a large, national employer with a history of OSHA inspections and citations at other facilities, we are disappointed to find so many of the same or similar hazards at this facility,” said Jeff Funke, OSHA’s area director in San Antonio. “It’s imperative that this company and all employers adhere to safety and health standards to prevent worker injuries.”

OSHA began its inspection on July 30, which found that an employee had sustained chemical burns due to lack of appropriate personal protective equipment and training for protective equipment.

Serious violations cited include failure to train employees on the proper use of protective equipment, failure to teach employees how to safely clean up spills and not assessing respiratory hazards. A serious citation is issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Repeat violations cited include failure to ensure eye protection was utilized; failure to provide adequate eye wash and quick drenching facilities; failure to properly record and describe injuries on the OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping form; and improper certification of the form. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. However, at the time this inspection began, the current repeat violation policy was within the last three years.

OSHA has cited C & F Packing Co. Inc. of Lake Villa Illinois with two alleged willful and 12 serious violations for failing to ensure lockout procedures and guarding devices were applied to machinery. Proposed fines total $140,700.

“C & F Packing has demonstrated a disregard for worker safety by placing workers at risk for serious injury from machine rotating parts,” said OSHA Area Director Diane M. Turek in Des Plaines, Ill. “That is not acceptable, and we are committed to seeing that the workers at this facility are provided a safe and healthy workplace.”

OSHA initiated its inspection in April. As a result, the company was cited for two willful citations with proposed fines of $112,000 for failing to ensure lockout devices were applied to machinery when workers were performing tasks where lockout was required and for failing to ensure rotating parts on machinery were properly guarded. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

The serious violations with proposed penalties of $28,700 were cited for failing to provide standard railings on open-sided platforms, require protective eye and face wear for employees working with corrosive chemicals, conduct required periodic inspections of energy control procedures, provide training on lockout/tagout procedures and ensure guards were affixed to machinery to cover dangerous areas. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company, which manufactures sausages, meats and frozen meat toppings, has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.