One OSHA inspection with violations can be expensive enough. But follow-up visits from the agency can be even more costly when violations are labeled “repeat,” as this manufacturer found.
OSHA conducted a follow-up inspection of A & D Wood Products Inc. in Elida, OH, a container and pallet manufacturer, on Oct. 5, 2016.
The agency found repeat violations and eight more willful citations on top of that, for a total of $261,725 in fines.
The repeat violations include failure to:
- develop and use procedures for control of hazardous energy
- train employees on hazardous energy control
- keep walking-working surfaces clean from saw dust and wood debris that causes a fire hazard
- use safe wiring methods
- train employees about hearing conservation
- train employees about use of powered industrial trucks
- certify forklift operators
- cover electrical junction boxes
- cover light switches
- develop a written hazard communications policy
- have safety data sheets on site for chemicals employees use, and
- train employees about chemical hazards.
The willful violations include failure to:
- properly guard a saw to prevent lacerations and amputations
- properly guard pulleys to prevent rotating parts hazards
- properly guard a drive chain to prevent rotating parts hazards
- provide lavatories with hot and cold, or tepid water for washing hands and flushing toilets, and
- inspect fire extinguishers on a regular basis (the last time one fire extinguisher at the facility was inspected was in 2009).
A & D Wood Products has 15 business days to accept and pay the fines, enter into talks with OSHA to reach a settlement, or contest the penalties to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.