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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 09/05/2003 - Company Agrees to $103,500 Penalty for 24 Health, Safety Violations, OSHA Announces |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 4 News Release ATL 03-218 Fri., Sept. 5, 2003 Contact: Roberto Sanchez Jo Anne Burgoyne Phone: (205) 731-1534 (404) 562-2076 Company Agrees to $103,500 Penalty for 24 Health, Safety Violations, OSHA Announces ANNISTON, Ala. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and M & H Valve Company have entered into a settlement agreement that involves payment of a $103,500 penalty for safety and health violations and improvement of working conditions at the company's Anniston, Ala., facility. M & H Valve is owned by McWane Industries. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Anniston facility, where approximately 285 employees manufacture fire hydrants and commercial valves, admitted to 21 serious and three repeat violations. The company agreed to pay the penalty and to have an outside consultant conduct lead air monitoring for six consecutive months to determine employee exposure and to share the data with OSHA. OSHA cited the company for serious violations of its lead standard, fall hazards from fixed ladders and stairways, storage of unsecured material, unguarded machinery, and electrical hazards. Repeat violations involved inadequate lead sampling, insufficient hazard communication with employees and failure to guard loading dock areas. The company will work with the local unions at the facility -- The Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics, and Allied Workers International Union (AFL-CIO-CIC), Local 324, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 2802 -- District 92 IAM, to improve safety and health conditions. M & H Valve is one of five McWane facilities subject to a comprehensive safety and health inspection by OSHA as the result of a previous settlement agreement between the agency and the parent corporation. As part of a September 2002 agreement, McWane, Inc. agreed to allow OSHA to enter five of its facilities to conduct comprehensive safety and health inspections. Results of the inspections are being used by OSHA to help McWane improve their safety and health programs in a collaborative manner. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. Inspection of the facility was conducted by the Birmingham Area Office located at Vestavia Village, 2047 Canyon Road, Birmingham, Alabama, 35216-1981; phone: (205)731-1534. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information visit www.osha.gov. ### |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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