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Contractor Fined $237,200
for Alleged Safety and Health Violations by OSHA
The U.S. Department of Labor’s
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a
contractor for 45 alleged serious, willful, and repeat safety
and health violations. OSHA proposed a $237,200 penalty against
the company, a subsidiary of a company headquartered in the United
Kingdom.
The company is a global supplier
of automated material handling products and employs more than
13,000 workers world-wide. This plant primarily manufactures
palletizers with approximately 400 employees.
“An April 24 OSHA inspection
found employee exposure to several severe safety and health hazards
and a lack of employer commitment to ensuring the safety of its
workers,” said Charles E. Adkins, CIH, OSHA regional administrator
in Kansas City.
The 33 serious safety citations
addressed such hazards as lack of fall protection; blocked exit
doors; improper storage of flammable and combustible liquids;
inadequate emergency response plan; inadequate lockout/tagout
training; deficiencies in overhead crane operation, inspection
and use; general electrical deficiencies including the absence
of electrical safe work practices and use of personal protective
equipment.
Included among 10 serious
health citations were such violations as failure to provide a
mechanical exhaust ventilation system for inside storage rooms;
quantity of flammable liquids maintained in the paint spray booths
exceeded the minimum required for operation; and employees were
permitted to consume food and beverages in areas that contained
toxic materials.
Employee exposure to struck-by
or crushing hazards from a deficient overhead crane was the basis
for the single willful citation. The repeat violations cited
the absence of a work rest for employees operating an abrasive
wheel grinder and path to ground was not permanent and continuous.
OSHA previously issued a citation for violation of the same standard
and the company certified corrections were made on October 15,
2004.
Willful violations are those
committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference
to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
Act of 1970 and regulations. Serious violations are those which
could result in death or serious physical harm, about which the
employer knew or should have known. Repeat violations involve
hazards for which the company was previously cited.
One other-than-serious citation
was also issued to FKI Logistex. The company has 15 working days
from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply,
request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA
area director or contest them before the independent Occupational
Safety and Health Review Commission.
Source: OSHA News Releases
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