Government
safety organizations are there 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. Here is a recent news article of the enforcement aspect of a
government safety organization.
The U.S.
Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
cited aluminium window and for exposing
employees to amputation, noise, struck-by and other safety and health hazards
at the manufacturing facility. The window and door manufacturer faces over $150,000
in penalties.
OSHA cited the company
for the following:
- lack of machine guarding,
- failing to develop and implement a hazardous energy control program,
- improperly storing and handling flammable materials,
- electric shock hazards.
Other violations include:
- failing to provide an effective hearing conservation program and adequate personal protective equipment,
- not anchoring machinery,
- exposing employees to slip and trip hazards.
"Employers
are required by law to protect the safety and health of their workers,"
said local OSHA Area Office Director. "OSHA offers compliance assistance
resources and specialists that can help employers identify and correct hazards
in their workplaces."
OSHA has
available resources on how employers can control the release of hazardous
energy and how to protect workers from unguarded machines.
The company
has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed 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.
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
ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and
enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more
information, visit https://www.osha.gov.
The mission
of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the
wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working
conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure
work-related benefits and rights.
We are thankful that no worker was injured or killed at this company which would have resulted in an OSHA inspection. This inspection was in performed in association on a program to prevent amputations.
The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog’s policy regarding safety fines is
not to name the company. Why? Because the company cited has the right to
contest the fines.
Every hazard that the manufacturing company was cited for could have
resulted in a serious injury or fatality. We pray this manufacturing company
will look at these citations and monetary fine as a learning tool. In our
experience the monetary fine issued by OSHA is cheaper than the cost of a
serious injury or fatality that could have resulted by one or more of the
hazards.
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