"inspections identified a disturbing cross-section of hazards...."

Government safety organizations around the globe for the most part have been established to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted stories of government safety organizations fining aluminium companies after onsite inspections. We do this not to shame the aluminium company (though we omit the company name and location) nor the industry, but to make aware of the hazards that are identified in an aluminium company. We challenge the reader afterwards to take this post and walk through your plant(s) and look for any of the below mentioned safety hazards. Here is a recent story.

An aluminium foundry in Eastern United States was cited for serious workplace violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is facing more than €88,000 in fines.

The foundry which creates components for the aerospace and energy industries as well as for other commercial ventures, was cited for over 20 serious violations in February 2016. The metal-castings manufacturer had been cited for two other serious violations after a January 2016 inspection.

The February inspection resulted in proposed penalties of €80,000 for the company. The earlier report had called for over €12,000 in fines.

"Our inspections identified a disturbing cross-section of hazards," said the local OSHA area director said in a statement.

OSHA said hazards included:

• lack of protection for workers around electrical equipment
• exposed live electrical parts
• lack of emergency eye washes
• inadequate safety glasses
• flammable liquids improperly stored
• unsecured compressed gas containers.

The workplace hazards could have led to fires, explosions, amputations and hearing loss, among other concerns, said the local OSHA area director.

"It's imperative for the health and well being of its employees that the foundry takes comprehensive, effective and ongoing corrective action to eliminate these hazards," said the local OSHA area director.

The company, which was cited earlier this year for being one of the region's top polluters, did not have an immediate comment about the allegations when contacted. The company was listed in the top 10 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of top toxic-chemical releasers in the region when the EPA released its 2016 Toxic Release Inventory report.

The foundry was given 15 business days to come in compliance with OSHA rules. It can also contest OSHA's findings with a review board within the same timeframe.

The APSB has posted incidents (not involving this company) involving a majority of the violations listed above. Each and every one of these violations could result in a worker injury or fatality. The unsecured compressed gas cylinder is hazard that many in all industries fall to acknowledge. Please watch this video:

  
We hope that the above mentioned violations are corrected. 

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.