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OSHA Fines A Pallet Recycler $120,000 for Willful and Serious Safety and Health Hazards
A pallet recycler's failure to safeguard workers against a wide range of safety and health hazards has resulted in $120,000 in fines from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). the company was cited for alleged willful and serious safety and health violations following an inspection OSHA began March 15.OSHA's inspection found that the company failed to develop specific procedures for shutting down machines and locking out their power sources to prevent accidental startup during maintenance or repair work. The company also failed to train workers on these procedures, provide an adequate supply of locks and ensure their use.
"The absence of lockout/tagout procedures, training and tools leaves workers exposed to the potentially fatal hazard of being caught in machinery that's accidentally energized," said John Tomich, OSHA's area director in Albany. "This employer knew these safeguards were required, yet apparently chose not to provide them."
As a result, OSHA cited the company for three willful violations with a proposed penalty of $115,500. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.
Four serious citations, carrying $4,500 in fines, were also issued. These covered hazards involving obstructed exit access, lack of engineering and administrative controls to reduce noise exposure, not training workers on all required elements of a hearing conservation program, lack of labeling on a motor disconnect and improper machine guarding on nail grinders. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm are likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
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