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OSHA News Release
2007 - 11/02/2007 - U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA cites C&A Metal Finishing Co. with proposed penalties exceeding $108,000 following workplace fatality |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 7 News Release: 07-1700-KAN Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: 214-767-4776, ext. 222 or 221 U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA cites C&A Metal Finishing Co. with proposed penalties exceeding $108,000 following workplace fatality
SUNSET HILLS, Mo. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited C&A Metal Finishing Co. for one alleged willful and 14 alleged serious violations of federal health and safety standards following a fatal accident at the company's facility in Sunset Hills. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $108,150. C&A Metal Finishing Co. performs mechanical finishing to small metal parts, along with cleaning small metal parts by means of a solvent-based degreasing unit. OSHA initiated its inspection on May 10 in response to a 40-gallon spill of trichloroethylene, which resulted in the hospitalization of two employees, one of whom subsequently died. "Our inspection revealed that C&A Metal Finishing Co.failed to take appropriate action to protect its employees," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "Employers must remain committed to keeping the workplace safe and healthful at all times." The alleged willful violation was issued to the employer for failure to identify and evaluate respiratory hazards in the workplace. Willful violations are those committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. The serious violations address hazards associated with a lack of load rating signage for places with overhead storage; not developing an emergency response plan for chemical spills; not performing periodic inspections on the trichloroethylene degreasing tank; not providing personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed; failure to certify that a PPE assessment was conducted; failure to establish and maintain a respiratory protection program; not evaluating confined spaces as potential permit-required confined spaces; the lack of an eye-wash station for degreaser employees; not using electrical equipment in accordance with their listing/labeling; unused openings in electrical boxes; employee overexposure to the maximum peak and ceiling levels established for trichloroethylene and not using engineering and or administrative controls to protect employees from overexposure; and not providing hazard communication training on the physical and health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals. Serious violations are those which could result in death or serious physical harm about which the employer knew or should have known. C&A Metal Finishing Co. has 15 working days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, conducting more than 39,000 inspections in fiscal year 2007 and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last eight years. In fiscal year 2006, OSHA found more than 89,000 violations of its standards and regulations. 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 the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ###
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance. |
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