FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties of $73,700 against Arch Aluminum and Glass Co. Inc. for one repeat and 10 serious safety violations found at its manufacturing plant in Fort Pierce, Fla., between November 2006 and March 2007.
Inspectors visited the plant as part of OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting Program, which targets the most hazardous workplaces for inspection based on their histories of having high numbers of injury and illness cases
OSHA proposed one repeat citation, with a proposed penalty of $50,000, for the company's failure to develop and implement lockout/tagout procedures, which are used to prevent machinery from accidental operation while employees are making repairs. Arch Aluminum and Glass had agreed to implement lockout/tagout procedures at all of its locations during previous OSHA inspections of its other facilities.
OSHA also found 10 serious safety violations resulting in $23,700 in proposed penalties. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.