Dowa THT America Inc. is now a member of OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program after an agency investigation.
The Bowling Green, Ohio-based heat treatment business is facing a total of $1.3 million in penalties for 25 health and safety violations.
“The violations identified exposed employees to serious, and potentially life-threatening injuries and illnesses,” said Loren Sweatt, acting assistant secretary of labor. “Employers have a legal obligation to assess their workplaces for hazards, and establish appropriate safety and health programs to protect their workers.”
An OSHA investigation discovered workers were exposed to numerous atmospheric, thermal, electrical, and mechanical hazards as they performed maintenance inside heat-treating furnaces.
The 25 willful, serious, and other-than-serious violations for hazards were related to confined spaces, falls, machine guarding, respiratory protection, chemical exposures and electrical equipment. Dowa THT America also failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment and did not train their workers on hazards in the facility.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
