Region 2 News Release:   NY 114
February 13, 2001
Contact: Chester J. Fultz
Phone: 212-337-2319

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration has cited Charles Beseler Co., of 1600 Lower Road, Linden, New Jersey and proposed penalties totaling $78,000 against the firm., alleging thirty-four serious and five other-than-serious violations of OSHA standards. The company has until February 27 to contest the citations.

According to Robert D. Kulick, OSHA area director, the citations resulted from a safety and a health inspection conducted from August 18, 2000, through January 26, 2001, following an employee complaint.

Following the two inspections, OSHA cited the company for a total of thirty-four alleged serious violations, including:

- failure to provide adequate fall protection during lifting operations when using fork lifts; and failure to provide forklift training and training certification to employees.
- failure to maintain fire alarm systems.
- failure to properly identify and arrange emergency exits.
- failure to properly store and clean up combustible liquids and waste products.
- failure to ensuring that employees used proper eye and face protection.
- failure to implement a lockout/tagout program to prevent unexpected start-up of machinery and equipment.
- failure to provide employees with fire extinguisher training.
- failure to provide hazard communication training to employees.
- failure to properly guard machinery.
- failure to properly store oxygen and fuel-gas cylinders.
- failure to properly maintain, label and guard electrical equipment.

The alleged serious violations carry a total proposed penalty of $76,400.

The employer was also cited for alleged other than serious violations, including:

- failure to maintain safety eyewash in sanitary operating condition.
- failure to have a respirator program.
- failure to monitor employees for lead exposure.
- failure to train employees about the hazards of working with lead.

The alleged other-than-serious violations carry a total proposed penalty of $1,600.

A serious violation is defined as a condition which exists where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm can result. An other than serious violation is one in which the hazard would not result in death or serious physical harm.

The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Avenel Area Office, located at 1030 St. Georges Avenue, Suite 205, Avenel, New Jersey 07001, telephone 732-750-3270.