The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted stories of aluminium
companies who were cited and fined by government safety organizations. We omit
the company name in these posts. No doubt if the reader investigated they could
find the company name and location. But in our opinion the company name and
location does not matter except for the individual(s) directly affected. It is
our sincere hope that the reader will look upon their own company, their own plant
and see if they have the same hazards or failures. Here is the story:
An aluminum
manufacturer has been cited for alleged safety and health violations, according
to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, which described the action as the latest in a long string of
issues with the company.
The
company faces proposed penalties of more than $1.9 million over 45 violations
found in the latest inspection, in January. This marks the eighth inspection of
the facility since 2011, OSHA said, resulting in over 55 past citations and an
assessment of more than $450,000 in penalties.
The
latest inspection found that two employees had been hospitalized as a result of
separate workplace incidents, including chemical burn injuries and a
machinery-related broken pelvis.
“Despite
its lengthy OSHA history, (aluminium company) still does not comply with
federal safety and health standards,” director of OSHA’s Area Office, said in a
prepared statement. “These hazards leave workers vulnerable to the risk of
serious injury and possible death.”
OSHA
cited the company for, among other things, allegedly failing to: provide
appropriate personal protective equipment, utilize proper lockout/tagout
procedures, complete a required confined space entry permit, and more.
The
company was also cited over repeat violations, allegedly including: fall
hazards, electrical hazards and more.
“aluminium
company’s extensive list of violations reflects a workplace that does not
prioritize worker safety and health,” an OSHA’s regional administrator, said in
a statement. “The company can more effectively protect its workers by
implementing a comprehensive safety and health management system.”
The
aluminium company had 15 days from receipt of the citations to accept the
penalties, contest them or request a meeting with OSHA officials.
A
company spokesperson issued a statement, saying the company has implemented a
variety of safety measures, as well as criticizing the agency:
"(The
Aluminium Company) takes the safety of its facility extremely seriously. Prior
to OSHA's findings, and as part of our larger revitalization and modernization
efforts, we began working to improve safety throughout our facility, tripling
the number of safety professionals, hiring an OSHA specialist to help guide our
compliance efforts and adding a widely respected safety professional to our
management team. These improvements have made a significant, positive impact on
our culture.
"We
have been diligent in addressing the issues OSHA cited in past inspections. The
vast majority of the issues raised in these past inspections were addressed
before OSHA's latest visit. The investments we have made in the facility — from
the millions of dollars we have put toward safety improvements to the new
equipment that is safer and more efficient — are working.
"However,
OSHA's new fee structure results in higher fine amounts and unfair media
attention, even as conditions improve."
The editors of Aluminium Plant Safety Blog have visited this
facility in this story. Just as we have visited many many of the facilities in
our industry. Reviewing in our mind our visit at this plant we would politely disagree
with the quote above from the OSHA’s regional administrator. In our opinion
this aluminium plant does prioritize safety. We cannot condone the safety
violations that were found and have confidence that they will be rectified by
the aluminium company. We do question the intent of the OSHA visits. We have
heard first hand stories around the world where a government safety
organization is either overzealous or mean spirited on their frequency and
duration of inspections. Worse yet we have heard instances where a specific government
safety inspector is known throughout a state, providence, country for being overzealous.
Regardless, government safety organizations are given the task to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for
working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing
training, outreach, education and assistance. We sometimes wish
government safety organizations would be tasked with providing assistance
first. Rather than enforcement and penalties.
We will update this
post in the near future.
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