Aluminium extrusion plant fails safety inspection....

Government safety organizations were created to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has a recent story where an aluminium foundry was fined after failing a safety inspection by one such government agency.

Because this company will have the opportunity to contest this fine, the APSB has left out the company name.

Workers at an aluminum extruding plant in the United States were exposed to the hazardous substance chromium, high noise levels and falls of up to 5 meters due to the employer's failure to provide and ensure proper safeguards. The company faces $30,000 pounds in fines following OSHA inspections last year by the local OSHA Area Office, prompted by a complaint.

"These employees faced both short- and long-term risks to their health and well-being, ranging from potentially fatal falls and hearing loss to cumulative damage to the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin and eyes from chromium exposure," said the OSHA area director. "The aluminium company must take prompt and effective action to ensure that these conditions are corrected and do not pose future risk to employees."

OSHA found that employees were exposed to high noise levels and that a aluminium extrusion company did not ensure the use of hearing protectors or train workers in their use and care. The aluminium extrusion company  failed to check that personal protective equipment, clothing and respiratory devices were provided, used and maintained in a sanitary condition, and that workers were trained to use them.

The aluminium extrusion company failed to determine workers' exposure levels to chromium and ensure that surfaces were free from chromium accumulation; to ensure proper, clean changing areas for employees' working with chromium; and to ensure that chromium-contaminated clothing was stored and transported in sealed containers. Employees were exposed to 5 meter foot falls into a work pit that lacked a guardrail and to being caught in or injured by unintended machinery start-up. Procedures and training for turning off machine power sources before maintenance and servicing were lacking.

Because of these conditions, OSHA cited the aluminium extrusion company for 11 serious violations. A serious violation occurs 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.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

This company had been cited for numerous violations. Some of the violations listed were:

• Failed to determine workers' exposure levels to chromium
• Failure to ensure that surfaces were free from chromium accumulation
• Failure to ensure proper, clean changing areas for employees' working with chromium
• Failure to ensure that chromium-contaminated clothing was stored and transported in sealed containers.
•  Employees were exposed to 5 meter foot falls into a work pit that lacked a guardrail
• Employees were exposed to being caught in or injured by unintended machinery start-up
• Procedures and training for turning off machine power sources before maintenance and servicing were lacking.

The APSB has posted incidents (not involving this company) involving a majority of the violations listed above. Each and everyone of these violations could result in a worker injury or fatality. Sadly, in the future the APSB will be posting stories that involved one or more of the above mentioned issues that have recently resulted in a fatality.

So after reading this article what should you do? 

A. Laugh and say "I am sure glad I don't work there".
B. Print this article out and use these violations for a quick inspection of your facility.

C. Print this article out and place it in your boss’s mailbox.

The answer is B. You should print this article out and use these violations for a quick inspection on your plant. Record your findings and make corrections as needed. 

Feel free to contact the APSB if you have any questions on remedies for the cited violations in this post. 

Please comment.