OSHA is claiming that a New Jersey chain-link fencing manufacturer failed to correct similar violations issued two years ago and has proposed penalties of $199,996.
Agency inspectors identified multiple violations, including inadequate lighting; lack of machine guards; failing to keep the workroom clean and dry; failing to inspect and ensure proper use of fall protection; and failing to provide effective training on hazardous chemicals in a June 2017 inspection. A prior OSHA investigation in August 2015 found similar violations.
OSHA issued three failure to abate citations, including one for failure to establish an energy control program; failure to provide adequate machine guarding; and failure to record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case. In 2015, an employee was attempting to fix the fingers on the turret of a 12-foot weaver machine when two of his fingers were caught in the chain and sprocket and amputated. The hazard that caused the amputation in 2015 still hadn’t been abated in 2017. The proposed fine for the three failure to abate citations is $151,195.
The company contested the citations issued in 2015 before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. In that case, OSHA issued nine serious citations and six other citations with proposed penalties of $31,100. Following a decision from an administrative law judge, the penalties were reduced to $9,000.
“Aruvil International has failed to correct similar violations cited two years ago,” said OSHA Marlton Area Office Director Paula Dixon-Roderick. “To protect its workers, the employer should abate these repeatedly identified hazards.”
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with Dixon-Roderick or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.