COMPUSPAR USA Inc. has been cited again by OSHA for failing to abate previously cited workplace safety and health violations. Penalties total $101,700.

OSHA initiated its investigation on Sept. 15, 2009, to determine the abatement status of previously identified hazards. As a result of the investigation, the company has been cited with four failure to abate violations with a penalty of $83,400. The company also has been cited for six repeat violations with a penalty of $11,400; six serious violations with a penalty of $6,900; and one other-than-serious violation, which carries no penalty.

“The company’s refusal to abate these violations leaves its employees exposed to a variety of hazards and at risk of injury and illness,” said Jean Kulp, area director of OSHA’s Allentown office. “It is imperative that COMPUSPAR take all necessary steps to remove these hazards to ensure the safety and health of workers at the Allentown facility.”

The failure to abate citations address the company’s failure to maintain OSHA 300 logs for two years; to develop and implement a hazard communication program; to train employees on hazardous chemicals; and to develop and implement a respiratory protection program. The repeat violations include the company’s failure to maintain a material safety data sheet for hazardous chemicals used in the spray painting operation; failure to cover flammable liquids; use of unapproved electrical equipment in hazardous locations; lack of proper ventilation in a spray booth and the lack of cleanliness of the spray area. OSHA issues a repeat violation when an employer previously was cited for the same or similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facilities in federal enforcement states within the last three years.

The serious violations are due to the company’s failure to properly label a drum containing hazardous chemicals; failure to properly guard machinery; improper use of electric boxes and the use of a power strip as an alternative to fixed wiring.

COMPUSPAR USA Inc. repairs and reworks electronic and electromechanical equipment, and employs 76 workers at its Allentown Pennsylvania site.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 21st, 2010 at 6:55 am and is filed under Machine Safety, Electrical, Hazard Communication, Recordkeeping, OSHA Inspections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.