OSHA cites Protech Environmental South Inc. with 46 serious safety and health violations

US Erosion Control Products exposed workers to combustible dust hazards
SAVANNAH, Ga. (MMD Newswire) February 8, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Protech Environmental South Inc., doing business as U.S. Erosion Control Products Inc., following an inspection that uncovered 46 alleged safety and health hazards including worker exposure to heavy accumulations of combustible dust. Proposed penalties total $55,250.

After receiving a complaint, OSHA began an inspection in August 2010 at the company's site in Willacoochee, Ga. Serious citations were issued for violations that included exposing workers to explosion hazards resulting from inadequate dust control, exposing workers to dust without respiratory protection, failing to clean up thick dust accumulations, using unapproved electrical equipment and forklifts in locations that may include flammable or combustible materials, absence of a fire extinguisher in a straw storage area and fire extinguishers missing from their mounts.

Additional serious citations included exposing workers to fall hazards, electrical hazards, obstructed exit routes, hazards related to the use of liquid propane gas, amputation hazards from a lack of machine guards, hazards from damaged forklifts, and hazards related to lack of eye protection and lack of a hearing conservation program. OSHA issues a serious citation 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.

"Combustible dust is a major safety and health hazard, and employers must recognize and correct hazards that expose their employees to death or serious physical harm," said Robert Vazzi, OSHA's area director in Savannah.

OSHA initiated its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program on Oct. 18, 2007, to inspect facilities that generate or handle combustible dust that poses a deflagration/explosion or other fire hazard. Following a massive sugar dust explosion at Imperial Sugar's Port Wentworth, Ga., facility on Feb. 7, 2008, that killed 14 workers and injured many more, OSHA revised the combustible dust program to include more inspections and to focus on industries with frequent and high consequence dust incidents. More information on combustible dust is available at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/index.html.

After the inspection, the company moved to Pearson, Ga., where it continues to produce erosion control products using natural materials such as straw.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with the OSHA area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by OSHA's area office in Savannah; telephone 912-652-4393. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

Whitaker Finishing LLC fined $15,000 by OSHA

Whitaker Finishing LLC, a company that does metal finishing has been fined $15,000 for safety violations found by federal inspectors during a visit Aug. 26 to the company’s operations in Northwood, OH.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Whitaker Finishing LLC, 2707 Tracy Rd., for five serious violations after finding employees were not using protective equipment when exposed to harmful substances and chemicals and that a railing on tanks containing caustic substances did not meet specifications.

The company either pay the fine and correct the violations or contest the citations.

OSHA proposes $235,500 in fines to NER Construction Management Inc

US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $235,500 in fines to Wilmington, Mass., contractor for fall and scaffold hazards at Boston's Rowes Wharf

BRAINTREE, Mass.-- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued willful and serious citations to NER Construction Management Inc. for exposing workers to fall, scaffolding and other hazards at a worksite at 20 Rowes Wharf in Boston, Mass. The Wilmington, Mass., building restoration and masonry contractor faces a total of $235,500 in proposed fines.

OSHA's inspection found NER employees exposed to falls of up to 17 feet due to a lack of fall protection while power washing the side of a building and while dismantling scaffolding. An additional fall hazard stemmed from the employer's failure to fully plank the scaffolding from which the employee performed the power washing.

"A fatal or disabling fall can end a life or a career in seconds," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA's area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. "Scaffolding is an essential tool - and fall protection a basic and required safeguard - for this type of work. There's no reason for an employer's failure to have proper and effective protections in place and in use at all times at all jobsites."

As a result of these conditions, OSHA has issued the company three willful citations with $210,000 in proposed fines. A willful violation exists when an employer has demonstrated either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

NER also has been issued six serious citations with $23,500 in fines for improper scaffold erection; missing guardrails; failure to certify that employees had been trained and evaluated to safely operate powered industrial trucks; lack of emergency eyewashing facilities; and failure to ensure the use of eye, face and head protection. Finally, NER has been issued two other-than-serious citations with $2,000 in fines for inadequate recordkeeping. OSHA issues a serious citation 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 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.

Detailed information on hazards and safeguards for scaffolds and falls in construction is available to workers and employers at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/index.html and http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/construction.html.

NER Construction Management has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with the OSHA area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. This inspection was conducted by OSHA's Braintree Area Office; telephone 617-565-6924. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

OSHA fines Georgoulis Construction Inc. $54,000 for Hazards at Tewksbury Site

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Georgoulis Construction Inc. for alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards for fall hazards at a Tewksbury worksite. The Dracut roofing contractor faces a total of $53,900 in proposed fines.

The citations and penalties stem from an OSHA inspection opened Nov. 10, 2010. An OSHA inspector en route to his office observed employees exposed to apparent fall hazards while driving by 279 Chandler St. An inspection was opened on the spot. OSHA found Georgoulis employees exposed to falls while working atop a roof greater than 6 feet without any fall protection. They were exposed to an additional fall hazard while accessing the roof by using a ladder that did not extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface for required stability.

“The size of this penalty reflects the gravity of the hazard and the employer’s knowledge of its existence,” said Jeffery A. Erskine, OSHA’s area director for Middlesex and Essex counties. “A fall can occur in seconds but the resulting injuries can be permanent or end a life. There’s no reason for failing to provide this essential and legally required safeguard for workers.”

As a result of its inspection, OSHA has issued Georgoulis Construction one willful citation with a $49,000 fine for the lack of fall protection and one serious citation with a fine of $4,900 for the ladder hazard. A willful violation exists when an employer has demonstrated either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law or plain indifference to employee safety and health. OSHA issues a serious citation 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.

Detailed information for workers and employers on construction fall hazards and safeguards is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/construction.html.

Georgoulis Construction Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with the OSHA area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. This latest inspection was conducted by OSHA’s Andover Area Office; telephone 978- 837-4460. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA(6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

OSHA proposes $49K fine for NorthWestern Energy

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations to NorthWestern Energy for one repeat and two serious safety violations after an employee was injured while working on high-voltage equipment.

Christine Webb, OSHA area director in Billings, explained, "An apprentice lineman came into contact with 7,200 volts and was seriously injured because this employer failed to implement safety standards, even though the company previously had been cited for similar violations at its Corwin Springs, Montana, facility."

The repeat citation was issued for failing to implement a minimum distance from high-voltage equipment.

A repeat citation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, or rule at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
NorthWestern Energy was cited with two serious violations for failing to train workers on equipment used to energize electrical lines, and to examine, clean and test electrical equipment.

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.

OSHA has proposed penalties totaling $49,000 for the citations.

NorthWestern Energy has 15 days from receiving notice of the citation to either comply or contest the action.

OSHA Fines New York Manufacturer $220K

OSHA has fined an Upstate New York manufacturer $2200,000 for a range of workplace safety violations.

Syracuse-based Oberdorfer — which manufactures aluminum castings —had 28 alleged violations of workplace health and safety standards, including failing to correct some hazards cited during a previous OSHA inspection, the federal agency said.

OSHA previously cited the company for a variety of violations involving employee overexposure to airborne concentrations of silica, which has been classified as a carcinogen. This newest inspection found the company failed to implement engineering controls to reduce workers' exposure to silica. In addition, the inspection found that an employee who was overexposed to silica lacked a respirator.

"This company was given the time and opportunity to take effective corrective action, yet our latest inspections identified silica-related hazards that either went uncorrected or were allowed to recur. This is unacceptable," said Christopher Adams, OSHA's area director in Syracuse. "The sizable fines levied here reflect the severity and recurring nature of these conditions. They must be corrected - once and for all - to help ensure the health and safety of the workers at this plant."

As a result of its latest inspections, OSHA issued the company two failure-to-abate notices carrying $75,000 in fines for the uncorrected conditions and one willful citation with a $70,000 fine for the lack of respiratory protection. A failure-to-abate notice is issued, and additional fines proposed, when an employer fails to correct previously cited hazards. A willful violation exists when an employer has demonstrated either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

The company also was issued 21 serious citations with $72,000 in fines for fall, electrical and machine guarding hazards; a locked exit door; lack of a permit-required confined space program and training; failure to develop specific lockout/tagout procedures to prevent the unintended start up of machinery; lack of an eyewash station; and failing to provide training on silica. Finally, the company was issued four other-than-serious citations with $3,000 in fines for inadequate recording of workplace injuries and illnesses.

The company has 15 days to respond to fines and allegations.

The U.S. Dept. of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited roofing contractor Sheriff-Goslin Co. of Mansfield with one alleged willful and one repeat safety violation for failing to provide fall protection for employees working on a residential roofing project in Sandusky.

The company faces penalties totaling $86,500.

The citation follows an investigation conducted Nov. 9. 2010, under the residential construction and fall protection emphasis program. Sheriff-Goslin has been issued one willful citation, with a proposed penalty of $70,000, for failing to provide fall protection on a steep-sloped roof where workers were exposed to a 27-foot fall hazard. A willful violation exists when an employer has demonstrated either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

"Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in the workplace. Sheriff-Goslin Co. has a history of failing to follow standards to protect workers from fall hazards," said Jule Hovi, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "This is unacceptable, and OSHA is committed to ensuring employers abide by safety and health regulations."

Sheriff-Goslion also has been issued one repeat citations with a proposed penalty of $16,500, for failing to ensure workers exposed to overhead hazards were wearing proper head protection. OSHA issues a repeat citation if an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The company was cited for lack of head protection in June, 2009, as well as a lack of fall protection at job sites in June, 2009, and July, August and September, 2010.

OSHA standards require an effective form of fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems, be in use when workers perform residential construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level. Detailed information on fall protection hazards and safeguards is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citation 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.

Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Toledo office at 419-259-7542. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA(6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

OSHA issues fines in Fatal Pennsylvania Zinc Plant blast

It is reported that federal regulators have issued USD 45,000 in fines to a Pittsburgh area zinc processing plant where an explosion killed two workers in July.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday handed down fines against Horsehead Corp. stemming from the July 22 explosion at its plant in Potter Township, Beaver County. The explosion killed 53 year old James Taylor of Aliquippa and 41 year old Mr Corey Keller of Newell West Virginia.

Ms Leni Uddyback Fortson OSHA spokeswoman said Horsehead was fined a maximum of USD 7,000 for five of ten violations deemed serious.

A statement from the company says Horsehead has cooperated with federal investigators and employees in a safety review.

Horsehead has 15 days to pay the fines, appeal or ask for a meeting with OSHA officials. The company said it is still reviewing the document.

(Sourced from www.claimsjournal.com)

2 companies fined over deaths OSHA accuses

Two northwest Ohio companies have been fined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged safety violations that may have contributed to employee deaths. And two other area firms received fines above $50,000 for violations.

Charles Jones Produce LLC of Oak Harbor was fined $17,600 this month after one of the company's employees died in October, according to OSHA. The worker reportedly was struck and killed by a fork truck being driven by another employee. OSHA says the firm failed to ensure the truck driver's path was clear, among other violations.

Guardsmark LLC, a security services firm in Lima, was fined $18,900 last month after OSHA said it improperly modified an industrial truck used for security patrols. OSHA Area Director Jule Hovi said a death resulted from the alleged safety hazards, which took place in July, but she did not provide details of the accident.

Charles Jones Produce has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday with OSHA officials, while Guardsmark has not responded to the citation, Ms. Hovi said. Neither company could be reached for comment Friday.

Separately, Chase Brass & Copper Co. LLC in Montpelier was fined $57,600 this month for violations found in September during a routine inspection. The company allegedly did not properly protect employees from potential falls, breathing hazards, and cadmium exposure, among other citations. The company has not contacted OSHA, Ms. Hovi said.

In a statement, Chase Brass said, "We take worker health and safety very seriously and are working with OSHA to address these citations."

INEOS USA LLC, a chemical production facility in Lima, was fined $62,500 this month for reportedly failing to provide proper ventilation and exposing employees to explosion hazards, along with other alleged violations. Ms. Hovi said an inspection that took place in July stemmed from an employee complaint. The company has not contacted OSHA about the citations, she said. INEOS could not reached for comment Friday.

Due to repeat violations, Gerardi Sewer & Water Co to provide a monthly report to OSHA

"This is only the second time that the department has invoked the statutory authority to order 'other appropriate relief,'" said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith. "All available legal tools will be used where necessary to protect workers from future harm."

In an unusual move, the U.S. Labor Department is seeking an administrative court order requiring Gerardi Sewer & Water Co., a Norridge, Ill.-based contractor, to provide a monthly report to OSHA of its work locations, permit unannounced job site audits by qualified independent consultants, and train workers annually on cave-in protection for the next two years. OSHA's assistant secretary, Dr. David Michaels, said, "The company's severe violator history has led us to seek this order to ensure that these work sites are safe for employees. Cave-ins are the leading cause of death in trenching operations, and Gerardi Sewer & Water Co. has demonstrated a history of blatant disregard for worker safety."

The department filed an administrative complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission after Gerardi Sewer & Water contested 13 citations and $360,000 in penalties issued Dec. 17, 2010, by OSHA. DOL asked the commission to uphold the cited violations and penalties and also issue an order for additional compliance requirements to ensure the safety of workers on future job sites.

The citations allege the company did not protect workers from cave-ins during trenching operations noted in four separate inspections conducted in 2010 as part of OSHA's Trenching and Excavation Special Emphasis Program. The citations are for work done in Elmhurst, Park Ridge, Oak Lawn, and Des Plaines, Ill..

"This is only the second time that the department has invoked the statutory authority to order 'other appropriate relief,'" said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith. "All available legal tools will be used where necessary to protect workers from future harm."

OSHA says the citations meet the requirements of its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which is intended to focus enforcement resources on "employers with a history of safety violations that endanger workers by demonstrating indifference to their responsibilities under the law." SVEP dictates follow-up inspections and inspections by OSHA of other work sites of the same employer where similar hazards and deficiencies may be present.

Contractor Cited For Labor Violations At Midtown Mall

By Darren Dodge

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The contractor who had been doing renovation work at the former Midtown Mall has been cited for labor violations.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined demolition Contractor M.J. Scoville $52,500 for 2 willful and 7 serious violations.

OSHA says Scoville exposed workers to fall and lead hazards.
The former Midtown Mall burned down just 4 weeks ago.
The OSHA report says at the 83 Court Street site, inspectors found employees were exposed to potential falls of up to 40 feet as they tore down walls when working on the 4th floor elevator shaft and 14 foot falls from an unguarded scaffold.
The OSHA investigation also found Scoville failed to perform personal air monitoring to track lead exposure levels for demolition workers.
M.J. Scoville has 15 business days to respond to the citations and proposed penalties.
It must comply with OSHA regulations by then, and can also contest the citations.
83 Court Street is the former Midtown Mall, which was being gutted to turn into student housing.
It was burned badly in a fire the week before Christmas.
No cause has been found.

OSHA clears Minnesota Power work site in electrocution death

Albuquerque Express
Source: Pioneer Press)

What caused the electrocution death of a Minnesota Power employee at a Schroeder worksite in September remains a mystery, even after a state investigation wrapped up last week.

The nearly five-month probe by the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration found no hazards at the site that could have caused the death of Kyle Damberg, a longtime company employee whose body was found in a building under construction.

No citations will be issued in the incident for unsafe practices, the final report says.

"We believe OSHA did a thorough investigation," said Amy Rutledge, a Minnesota Power spokeswoman.

"We certainly agree with their findings. It did confirm that our work site was safe, that Minnesota Power's safety practices meet or exceed OSHA's safety standards."

OSHA cites La. plant for workplace violations

PLAQUEMINE, La. (AP) — Federal workplace safety regulators have cited a plant in Plaquemine with 14 serious violations for exposing workers to multiple safety and health hazards at the facility.

Proposed penalties announced Tuesday against Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls LLC total $55,000. The company specializes in the production of chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer, vinyl resins, phenol and acetone.

Dorinda Folse, director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's office in Baton Rouge, said they opened an investigation on July 20 after an inspector saw violations by employees while conducting a separate probe of a different company contracted to do maintenance work inside the facility.

The violations include failing to illuminate exit routes, train workers performing preventive maintenance on safety critical instruments, and ensure eyewashes had adequate flow and capped nozzles.

Georgia Gulf, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., has 15 days to comply, request an informal conference with Folse's office or contest the citations and penalties before an independent commission.

Copyright © 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

OSHA and WRR settle on fine, new safety measures

Eau Claire (WQOW) - WRR reaches a settlement with OSHA, regarding safety violations discovered after last June's explosion and fire.

In December, OSHA proposed fining WRR $787,000. The agency says WRR failed to prevent potentially catastrophic chemical fires and explosions.

Now the two sides have reached an agreement on settling the case. WRR has been fined $340,000. The firm also plans to hire a consultant to develop a program for the safe processing of chemicals. WRR is also ordered to submit quarterly reports to OSHA for the next 3 years, and the company cannot ask for warrants if OSHA makes a surprise inspection.

An OSHA spokesperson says WRR was very cooperative in the negotiations.

U.S. Steel, Power Piping fined by OSHA

United States Steel Corp. and its contractor Power Piping Co. are being fined $175,000 by federal regulators for citations of major safety violations related to an explosion last summer at the Clairton Works facility.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) had two “willful” violations and 11 serious violations and fined the integrated steel maker $143,500. Power Piping Co. was found to have six serious violations and was fined $31,500, according to a government statement.

The investigation was the result of a July 14 explosion that injured 20 people. Injuries included first, second and third-degree burns, according to OSHA.

In a statement, U.S. Steel said it had cooperated with the government investigation and had received the citations.

“We are currently reviewing the citations. Safety is a core value for our company, and we will continue our extensive, company-wide efforts to ensure the safety of every individual who performs work in our facilities,” the company said in a statement.

According to OSHA, a “willful” violation exists when an employer either intentionally disregards safety requirements or shows an indifference to employee health and safety. The regulator said U.S. Steel did not provide energy control procedure. Additionally, the company was cited for a “lack of fall protection, inadequate lockout/tagout to prevent the inadvertent release of energy, a deficient process safety management program, and failure to implement an emergency response plan, evaluate respiratory hazards, use flame retardant gloves and use approved electrical equipment.”

Power Piping’s violations included “inadequate energy control procedures, a lack of flame retardant hand protection” and “failure to evaluate the respiratory hazards posed by coke oven gas.”

Power Piping declined to comment.

The companies have 15 days to comply with the citations or request a review.

U.S. Steel is scheduled to report its fourth quarter financial results Jan. 25. In the third quarter, the company narrowed its losses.

Read more: U.S. Steel, Power Piping fined by OSHA | Pittsburgh Business Times

OSHA impersonator suspect arrested again

By MATT ELOFSON

A Rehobeth man out of jail on bond for allegedly passing himself off as a federal health inspectornow faces a new felony charge.

According to a Dothan police statement, officers arrested Michael Sean Allmon on Tuesday and charged him with felony unlawful breaking and entering of a motor vehicle.

Court records indicated police charged Allmon with breaking into a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado earlier this month. According to a police statement, police said the charge stemmed from a man watching someone break into his vehicle in the 3100 block of Ross Clark Circle and steal his shotgun.

Dothan police charged Allmon late last year with multiple felony theft charges.

Police said one of the earlier thefts included a charge of taking cash from the Golden Corral restaurant on Oct. 23 after he’d passed himself off as an inspector with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA). Court records indicate police charged Allmon with stealing $2,360 in cash from the restaurant.

Police also charged Allmon with stealing jewelry from two homes by passing himself off as a potential homebuyer.

After his most recent arrest Allmon, 41, of West Cook Road, Rehobeth, is being held without bond, which was set by Circuit Court Judge Brad Mendheim.

OSHA investigating Leetsdale Copper Plant explosion

It is reported that OSHA officials are investigating an explosion that injured three people at a copper plant in Leetsdale early recently.

As per report, the explosion happened at Hussey Copper along Washington Street at about 9:30 AM. Investigators described the explosion as minor and said it happened when water spilled beneath ingots during the copper-making process.

Mr James Santucci Leetsdale Police Chief said "We had two other victims who were down in the hole. Once the minor explosion occurred they were burned about twenty percent of their body."

All three victims are being treated in the burn unit at UPMC Mercy Hospital. None of the victims’ names or conditions have been released. The plant was not evacuated and continued to operate normally Tuesday.

Target 11 discovered that OSHA has fined Hussey Copper nearly USD 60,000 during the past decade. Some of those fines were from an explosion in 2000 that injured five workers.

That blast was triggered when a broken water line leaked into the copper casting process. The company was also fined USD 5,000 for lack of personal protective equipment. There is no word on whether Hussey will be fined in conjunction with the incident Tuesday.

OSHA Cites El Paso Plastering Company

By Bob Grotenhuis - Producer

EL PASO - Federal safety experts have issued five repeat citations to Best Plastering Contractors in El Paso for exposing workers to fall hazards.

Proposed penalties total $99,000.

“Falls are one of the most common and well-known hazards at a construction site. This is not the first time this company has jeopardized the safety of its workers,” said Jack Rector, OSHA’s area director in El Paso. “Falls can injure or kill a worker within seconds. It is fortunate in this case that there were no injuries or fatalities.”

OSHA’s El Paso Area Office initiated this inspection on Oct. 19, 2010, when employees were observed working on a scaffold without the use of fall protection equipment at a worksite on Carole Jeschke Court in El Paso.

Best Plastering employs about 18 workers at its El Paso facility and eight of them were at this worksite.

In 2009, the company was fined more than $106,000 and cited with four willful and three serious violations for exposing employees to the same safety hazards.

The company has three weeks to contest the citations and penalties.

OSHA fines Georgia Gulf $55,000

BATON ROUGE, LA. (Updated Jan. 13, 10:40 a.m. ET) -- PVC maker Georgia Gulf Corp. has been fined $55,000 by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged safety and health violations at its plant in Plaquemine, La.

OSHA cited the Plaquemine site for 14 serious violations for exposing workers to multiple safety and health hazards.

“An employer’s greatest resource is its workers, and exposing them to preventable injuries and illnesses will not be tolerated,” OSHA’s Dorinda Folse said in a Jan. 12 news release. Folse is director of OSHA’s office in Baton Rouge, La.

Violations listed by OSHA include failure to illuminate exit routes and failure to train workers performing preventive maintenance on safety critical instruments.

A spokesman with Atlanta-based Georgia Gulf said that his firm had seen the citation and will review it before deciding to take action.

“If after reviewing it, we decide that we want to contest it, we will,” he added. “We take everything OSHA says very seriously. We’re proud of our safety record and of the work environment we have for our employees.”

The Plaqumeine site employs about 600 and produces PVC and related products including chlorine, caustic soda and vinyl chloride monomer.

OSHA fines North Bergen recycling plant for continued safety violations and hazards

By ASHLEY STRAIN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER


NORTH BERGEN - A recycling plant has been fined $71,600 for workplace safety and health hazards, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced.
OSHA conducted an inspection at Eagle Recycling on Dell Avenue in May 2009, and returned to the plant last July 1, officials said.


 During that follow-up visit, inspectors found Eagle had failed to correct violations the company had previously been cited for, including an insufficient lockout/tagout system that's needed to ensure that power machines won't unexpectedly start working, OSHA officials said.


"The lockout/tagout program prevents an inadvertent release of energy or inadvertent start of a machine," said Leni Fortson, with the Department of Labor's Office of Public Affairs.
"It was Eagle Recycling's equipment that conveys and processes materials for recycling with an insufficient lockout/tagout program."


The company was also cited for exposing workers to the hazard of being struck by vehicles. OSHA found uncovered material chutes, a lack of exit signs and failure to provide medical evaluations for employees required to wear respirators.


The company was also cited for having a hole in the floor.


"OSHA will not tolerate employers that fail to abate hazards and leave workers at risk," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's satellite office in Parsippany. "It is vital that the company fully abates all of these hazards immediately to protect the safety and health of its employees."


Eagle Recycling, which is owned by Lieze Associates, did not return calls and no phone number was listed for Lieze Associates.


Eagle has three weeks from the date of the OSHA notice to contest the citations.