On Sept. 29, Mavis Tire Supply Corp., dba Mavis Discount Tires, was issued one alleged repeat and seven alleged serious health and safety violations following an inspection at its Westfield, N.J. location.
Acting on an employee allegation that Mavis Tire was exposing workers to safety and health hazards related to water leaking into the workplace’s basement, OSHA contacted the store by phone and fax. OSHA claims the employer failed to respond properly, and the agency initiated a health and safety inspection on March 30. Once completed, OSHA inspectors issued an alleged repeat citation for obstructed exit routes, a violation for which the agency cited Mavis previously in May 2015. That case is closed, with Mavis Tire Supply having reached an informal settlement with OSHA and paying a penalty of $3,240.
OSHA also identified alleged serious violations, including:
- Lack of exit signs.
- Failure to properly store compressed gas cylinders.
- Not providing guardrails on an open-sided platform 9 feet above ground level.
- Failure to train workers on chemical safety hazards, and to provide safety data sheets when requested.
“The hazards cited at Mavis Tire’s Westfield location pose serious safety and health dangers to employees. Improperly stored gas cylinders can leak or explode, unmarked exits can lead to disaster during an emergency and missing guardrails on raised platforms creates the potential for dangerous falls,” said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA’s Avenel area office. “This employer needs to address these issues and the other OSHA violations our inspectors found before someone is hurt or killed.”
The agency has proposed penalties of $103,331.
Mavis has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with Jones or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.