Kansas Company Racks Up 95 Alleged OSHA Violations and a Big Fine

OSHA Regional Administrator Charles E. Adkins, CIH, said an inspection was conducted at the facility in March which uncovered 87 alleged serious violations and eight alleged other-than-serious violations. The alleged serious safety violations included deficiencies in walking and working surfaces; stairs and ladders; emergency egress; emergency actions plans; control of hazardous energy; crane inspection and maintenance; machine guarding; hand and portable power tools; and welding and cutting. The other-than- serious violations included the absence of hand rails on enclosed stairs, uneven abrasive wheels, welding terminals and cables, and electrical hazards.

Alleged serious violations under the health inspection included failure to comply with standards for illumination, abrasive blasting ventilation systems, storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids, personal protective equipment, respirator use, permit-required confined spaces, eye wash and emergency showers, oxygen cylinder storage and air contaminant exposures. Program deficiencies in hearing and respiratory protection and unlabeled, flammable storage cabinets were the alleged other-than-serious health violations.

OSHA defines a serious violation as one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.