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OSHA Fines Colorado Springs
Pharmaceutical Manufacturer $251,500
The U.S. Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has fined a Colorado Springs pharmaceutical manufacturer a total
of $251,500 in proposed penalties for alleged willful and serious
violations of safety and health standards.
A comprehensive investigation
of the company, which manufactures pharmaceutical tablets and
syrups, began August 16, 2006, after the company did not adequately
address a complaint related to alleged employee exposure to air
contaminants or an allegation that employees were covered in
dust while performing work in the manufacturing area and when
leaving the work area. Citations were issued for seven serious
violations with a proposed penalty of $17,500, six willful violations
with a proposed penalty of $234,000 and one other violation with
no penalty.
"Employers must provide
a safe and healthful working environment and ensure that all
employees are protected from hazardous conditions," said
John Healy, OSHA area office director in Englewood, Colo. "This
employer is well aware of the standards that will protect employees
from the hazards we found during our inspection, yet did not
comply with them."
The alleged serious health
violations include employee exposure to hazardous levels of methscopolamine
nitrate (MSN), an inadequate respiratory protection program,
a lack of eye/face protection, housekeeping and sanitation deficiencies,
unguarded rotating shafts, confined space hazards, lockout/tagout
violations, unguarded live electrical parts, lack of electrical
cord strain relief and a lack of a chemical hygiene plan.
The alleged willful safety
violations address a fall hazard, lack of personal protective
clothing, lack of forklift training, inadequate machine guarding,
improper electrical receptacles used in wet or damp locations
and the lack of chemical hazard information training. The other
alleged violation is for recordkeeping deficiencies.
Provident Pharmaceutical
has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply with
them, request and participate in an informal conference with
the OSHA area director or contest them before the independent
Occupational Safety and Health Commission.
Under the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing
a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role
is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and
women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training,
outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging
continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.
Source: OSHA News Release 2/20/07
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