OSHA has cited American Modern Metals Corp., Kearny, N.J., and proposed penalties of $278,250 for violations of OSHA standards.
The action resulted from an investigation conducted from Jan. 13 to June 14 in response to an employee complaint of unsafe conditions at the plant, which employs about 75 workers making aluminum baseball bats.
"This employer, despite being notified of the potential danger, knowingly allowed employees to operate numerous machines without adequate guarding, and knowingly failed to ensure that employees wore protective eye equipment when exposed to flying pieces of metal," said David Ippolito, OSHA area director.
OSHA cited the company for failing to ensure that employees wore eye protection, failing to train employees on the hazards associated with chemicals in the workplace and for various specific instances of unguarded dangerous machinery.
American Modern Metals has until July 31 to contest the citations.
by Virginia Sutcliffe