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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2002 - 07/31/2002 - Workplace Safety Hazards Bring OSHA Citations to Spooner, Wis. Firm |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 5 News Release July 31, 2002 Contact: Mark Hysell Phone: (715) 832-9019 EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- A wide range of unsafe conditions at a custom tool, die, and machinery fabrication shop in Spooner, Wis., have resulted in citations for willful and serious violations of safety and health standards, following an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to OSHA Area Director Charles Burin in Eau Claire, OSHA began investigating workplace safety at T & T Tool Inc. in January. Proposed penalties announced today total $164,000. "Officials at the company are aware these safeguards are required and necessary both to comply with OSHA regulations, and more importantly, to protect workers," Burin said. Three willful violations centered on non-compliance with lockout and tagout procedures that are designed to prevent machinery from accidental startups during repair and maintenance. OSHA alleged the company failed to develop specific procedures to protect workers who service and maintain CNC mills, a lathe, surface grinder, and a laser cutter; failed to conduct periodic inspections of procedures; and failed to train some employees authorized to perform lockout and tagout. The company was also cited for 12 alleged serious violations for failing to protect employees from the hazard of being struck by a closing overhead door, failing to utilize locks and tags to protect workers from electrical circuits and accidental startup of machines, failing to train an employee who operated a forklift, failing to remove damaged synthetic web slings, failing to provide guards on machinery, and failing to ensure the safe operation of a radial arm saw and abrasive wheel grinder. The serious violations included a failure to secure guards on mechanical power presses; failure to establish a die setting procedure; and failure to conduct periodic and weekly inspections of the power presses. OSHA also cited the firm for failing to reduce compressed air used for cleaning to less than 30 p.s.i.; failing to provide protection from welding rays; and failing to use and enclose electrical cords and equipment safely. OSHA defines a willful violation as one in which the company acted with an intentional disregard for or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and its regulations. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. T & T Tool, Inc. has 15 working days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission or to request an informal conference with the area director. U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this release will be made available in alternative format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202-693-7773 or TTY 202-693-7755. |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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