Here’s a review of some recent OSHA enforcement cases. The agency seems to be coming down hard on employers who make the same mistakes over again, who don’t fix problems, and who knowingly fail to comply with requirements.
Manufacturer Fails to Correct Hazards
OSHA Region 2
At a follow-up inspection in April, OSHA discovered that the employer had failed to correct previously cited hazards. The agency issued six failure-to-abate notices, three repeat citations, and two serious citations. Most of the failure-to-abate notices involved the employer’s failure to comply with the respiratory protection standard. Others were for failing to train workers in fire extinguisher use, failing to mark an exit door, and having an exposed opening in an electrical cabinet. Repeat citations were issued for improper respirator storage and lack of a hazard communication program. The two serious violations were for lack of respirator training and an unlighted exit sign.
Penalty: $117,920 fine
Utility Workers Exposed to Cave-In Hazards
OSHA Region 4
Workers installing underground utilities were exposed to cave-in and other hazards while working in a trench at their jobsite. According to OSHA, the employer failed to provide workers with protection against cave-in hazards while they were working in a trench more than 5 feet deep, which led the agency to issue two willful violations. In addition, two serious violations were cited because workers were not provided with hard hats or ladders while entering and exiting the trench, exposing them to fall and struck-by hazards.
Penalty: $106,400 fine
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Combustible Dust and Other Serious Hazards Found
OSHA Region 8
A January inspection of a sugar refinery led OSHA to cite the facility with 17 safety and health violations, including 12 serious violations and 4 repeat violations. According to OSHA, the facility had excessive accumulations of combustible coal dust, unguarded elevated platforms, a lack of signs on permit-required confined spaces, and unguarded horizontal shafting. These hazards triggered the repeat violations. In addition, the facility was cited for electrical hazards, inadequate fire exits, lack of machine guarding, and other serious violations.
Penalty: $193,000 fine
Repeat Violations Lead to Over $200K in Fines
OSHA Region 5
A follow-up inspection led to citations for 16 safety and health violations for a truck manufacturing facility. Two of the violations were classified as willful. These dealt with failing to provide welding screens for workers exposed to welding arcs and violations of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard. The four repeat violations involved failing to provide hazard communication training, failing to ensure equipment was properly grounded, failing to conduct daily and shift inspections of forklifts, and failing to document crane and hook inspections. In addition, 10 serious violations involved among other problems machine guarding, labeling of chemical containers, and the hearing conservation program requirement.
Penalty: $235,800 fine
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Shipyard Cited with 61 Violations
OSHA Region 9
An inspection conducted as part of OSHA’s Local Emphasis Program for shipyards uncovered numerous hazards and led to 61 violations for the facility, including 46 serious violations and 7 repeat violations. The repeat violations included inadequate guardrails and fall protection, failure to remove defective gear used with cranes, lack of eye protection, and electrical wiring hazards. Serious violations included among other problems numerous electrical hazards, a lack of guardrail protection, failure to establish a lockout/tagout program, failure to establish a respiratory protection program, cadmium exposure, and failure to maintain good housekeeping practices.
Penalty: $293,450 fine
Tomorrow, more cases where employers failed to comply with OSHA standards and paid the price.