Claiming the company did not provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or training for workers, OSHA has cited A & B Foundry & Machining LLC in Franklin, Ohio with 33 health and safety violations, including four repeat violations. The Nov. 15, 2012, inspection was initiated under the national emphasis program targeting the primary metals industry. Proposed fines total $170,107.
The facility employs about 55 workers and four previous inspections dating back to 2004 have resulted in multiple citations.
“A & B Foundry & Machining has a responsibility to train and protect workers from known industry hazards, such as exposure to noise, respiratory and machine guarding," said Bill Wilkerson, OSHA’s area director in Cincinnati. “Programmed inspections help OSHA achieve its goal of reducing worker injuries and illnesses by directing enforcement resources to industries where the highest rates of injuries and illness have occurred.”
The four repeat violations involve failure to provide fire extinguisher, noise and chemical hazards training; failure to perform medical evaluations of workers required to use respirators and failure to fit-test respirators. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last 5 years. The same violations were cited in 2009.
Twenty-six serious violations include failing to: ensure use of PPE, prevent use of damaged PPE and conduct annual audiograms. OSHA also found fall hazards, poor housekeeping, inoperative safety latches on crane hoists, lack of machine guarding on multiple machines, electric safety violations and a failure to train workers on and conduct periodic inspections of energy control procedures. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Three other-than-serious violations include not conducting performance evaluations for forklift operators, having a partially blocked exit door and a lack of certification of a workplace hazard assessment. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with Wilkerson or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.