In April, OSHA personnel conducted a safety and health inspection at the facility under the agency's site-specific targeting program that identifies workplaces with high rates of injuries and illnesses. The program is used to target inspections based on an annual survey of some 80,000 workplaces in high-hazard industries.
"The goal of site-specific targeting is to identify and correct hazards that contribute to worker injuries, illnesses and deaths," said John Deifer, OSHA's area director in Savannah.
The Brunswick site is a trucking terminal for car-hauling operations and includes a large maintenance and repair shop. OSHA issued 23 serious citations with penalties totaling $45,000. Alleged violations include exposing workers to falls, amputations, electrical and fire hazards.
The company also was cited for its alleged failures to:
- Develop and implement a hazard communication program;
- Provide eyewashes for employees working with corrosive materials; and
- Train forklift operators and employees who worked with hazardous chemicals.
In addition, the company received five other-than-serious citations with $1,800 in proposed penalties for allegedly failing to:
- Develop and implement a respiratory program;
- Provide annual training for employees who perform spray painting and fiberglass repair work;
- Provide required safety labeling on equipment; and
- Post the annual illness and injury summary.