A Connecticut company that casts components for aerospace, energy, and commercial applications is facing fines of $104,000 for inadequately protecting its employees, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced.
Among the hazards identified during OSHA's inspections:
- Lack of hand, face and body protection for employees working on or near electrical equipment.
- Exposed live electrical parts; misused electrical equipment and power cords; inadequate working space around electrical panelboards; and an ungrounded extension cord.
- Unguarded points of operation of hydraulic presses.
- Failure to inspect energy control procedures periodically to prevent the unintended startup of machinery during maintenance and cleaning.
- No program to inspect chain alloy slings used to lift materials and equipment.
- Lack of emergency eyewashes where employees worked with corrosive chemicals.
- Inadequate safety glasses for employees working with chemicals.
- Inadequately labeled containers of hazardous chemicals.
- Flammable liquids not stored in closed containers; improper disposal of combustible waste.
- Unsecured compressed gas cylinders.
- Incompatible chemicals stored together in a cabinet.
- Employees exposed to high noise levels not provided with a choice of hearing protection.
As a result of these conditions, OSHA cited the company for 20 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards on February 19, with proposed penalties of $90,000. OSHA earlier cited the facility on Jan. 5 for two serious violations concerning inadequate fall protection equipment and an unprotected table saw. Fines of $14,000 were proposed for those violations.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Hartford office at 860-240-3152