US Department of Labor's OSHA cites 2 Tuscumbia, Ala., companies for 40 safety and health violations with $121,800 in penalties
Feb. 14, 2011
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078
E-mail: d'[email protected] [email protected]
US Department of Labor's OSHA cites 2 Tuscumbia, Ala., companies
for 40 safety and health violations with $121,800 in penalties
TUSCUMBIA, Ala. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing $121,800 in penalties for 40 safety and health violations at two Tuscumbia companies with shared family ownership, Tri-Cities Manufacturing Inc. and Tool Masters Inc.
OSHA began its safety investigation at Tri-Cities Manufacturing as part of its national emphasis program on amputations and later expanded it to include a health inspection. A safety and health inspection was initiated at Tool Masters once it was determined that both plants share equipment and employees.
"Employers are responsible for the safety and health of their workplaces, and this owner needs to take the steps necessary to eliminate workplace hazards," said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's area director in Birmingham.
OSHA cited Tri-Cities with 15 serious safety violations and Tool Masters with six serious safety violations for a combined $72,100 in proposed penalties. The violations cited include failing to lock out/tag out energy sources for equipment; remove blocks around fire extinguishers and exit doors; provide machine guarding; and address various electrical deficiencies.
Health inspections at Tri-Cities and Tool Masters revealed seven serious violations for each company with a combined $48,300 in proposed penalties. The health hazards for both companies include failing to provide automatic extinguishing systems for spray booths, use administrative controls for noise, provide proper personnel protective equipment, provide a respiratory protection program, provide a hazard communications program and train workers regarding exposure to flammable or corrosive chemicals. They also include hazards related to spray booths built of combustible material and exposing workers engaged in powder coating spraying operations to total dust at 1.4 times the permissible exposure limit. A serious citation is issued 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.
OSHA cited Tri-Cities with two other-than-serious safety violations for failing to complete OSHA 300 logs for two years. These violations carry $1,400 in proposed penalties. Also, Tri-Cities received one and Tool Masters received two other-than-serious health violations with no proposed penalties. 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 companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed 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. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Birmingham Area Office, telephone 205-731-1534. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.