Chicago Container Manufacturer Cited After 4 Workers Suffer Injuries
BWAY Corp., a Chicago container manufacturer, was cited by OSHA for multiple repeated and serious safety violations after the agency responded to four separate reports of employee injuries. One employee suffered two broken bones in his hand after it was crushed by equipment. Three other employees suffered amputations from unguarded chain and sprocket assemblies. Violations include failing to train workers on lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental machine start-up; failing to lockout equipment prior to clearing jams; and inadequate machine guarding. Proposed penalties total $503,380. Read the news release for more information.
Michigan Fines Metal Processing Company for Safety Violations
Michigan OSHA issued 10 citations and $102,600 in penalties to SET Enterprises Inc. in New Boston for exposing workers to amputation hazards. Inspectors determined that the company failed to: train workers on potential hazards and safe operation of machines; ensure proper machine guarding; and provide workers with gloves designed to prevent cuts.
Virginia Cites Air Conditioning Company Following Worker Fatality
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health issued six citations and $225,995 in penalties to James River Air Conditioning Company Inc. in Richmond after a worker was fatally injured from falling through an unprotected roof hole. An employee working on a roof fell 28 feet through an unmarked unsecured hole cover that did not hold his weight. The company was cited for failing to protect workers from falls of more than 6 feet and provide hole covers that support the weight of both employees and equipment. The company was also cited for failing to mark, secure, and install roof hole covers for HVAC openings.
OSHA Resumes Regular Enforcement in Texas and Louisiana
On Oct. 10, OSHA resumed normal operations throughout Texas and Louisiana after temporarily suspending most programmed enforcement actions following Hurricane Harvey. During initial cleanup and recovery operations, OSHA focused its efforts on compliance assistance and outreach to employers and workers in a number of counties and parishes in the two states. OSHA provided safety and health technical assistance to thousands of crews and individual workers involved in hurricane recovery. For more information, see the news release.
New Jersey Contractor Cited for Scaffold Hazards
OSHA has cited the owner of a South Jersey construction company for exposing workers to serious scaffold hazards at a job site in Philadelphia. Inspectors found employees performing work using a scaffold that was dangerously close to power lines. Vyacheslav Leshko, owner of DH Construction LLC, was cited for repeat and serious violations that include exposing workers to fall and electrical hazards, failing to train employees on scaffold hazards and not implementing an accident prevention program. The owner faces $191,215 in proposed penalties. Read the news release for more information.
Alabama Framing Company Cited for Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards
Structural Subcontractors Service LLC, a Birmingham-based structural framing company, was issued willful and serious citations after OSHA inspectors found workers exposed to fall hazards. The agency initiated an inspection as part of a regional emphasis program to limit falls in construction. Inspectors found workers wearing fall protection harnesses, but were not tied off to prevent a fall. Violations also included failing to train employees to recognize fall hazards, and exposing employees to falls of approximately nine feet. The company was proposed penalties totaling $102,669. For more information, read the news release.
California Cites Construction Company for Fall Protection Violations
California OSHA issued two serious citations and $80,000 in penalties to HBuilt Inc. in Oakland for exposing workers to fall hazards. Inspectors determined that the company failed to provide handrails, scaffolding, guardrails, and personal fall protection systems.
Wyoming Cites Contractor for Exposing Workers to Trenching and Excavation Hazards
Wyoming OSHA issued five citations and $111,796 in penalties to Simon Contractors in Cheyenne for exposing workers to trenching and excavation hazards. Inspectors concluded that the company failed to provide: a competent person to inspect the worksite; cave-in protection and form of egress; and protection against hazards produced by an excavator digging near workers in a trench.
For more information or assistance with your Environmental and Health & Safety regulatory compliance needs, contact Ralph Carito at Total Environmental & Safety, LLC (Total) at rcarito@TotalEnviron.com or 908-442-8599.