Region 2 News Release:   NY 101
January 2, 2001
Contact: Chester J. Fultz
PHONE: 212-337-2319

The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Party City Corporation, of 945 White Plains Road, Bronx, New York, and proposed penalties of $111,150 against the firm for two alleged willful and five alleged serious violations of OSHA standards. The company has until January 23 to contest the citations.

According to OSHA area director Philip Peist, the action results from an investigation conducted from July 5 through October 19, 2000 at the party-supply store following a complaint concerning a locked fire exit.

OSHA alleges that the company willfully violated OSHA's fire protection standard by failing to keep exits unlocked and unobstructed in order to provide means of free escape from the building. The alleged willful violations carry a proposed penalty of $99,000.

The alleged serious violations for which the employer was cited included:

• failure to properly train employees in the use of fire extinguishers and hazards associated with their use;


• failure to provide handrails on stairs;


• failure to provide directional exit signs;


• failure to properly stack boxes so as to prevent their falling on employees;


• failure to properly secure helium cylinders during use.

The alleged serious violations carry a total proposed penalty of $12,150.

A willful violation is defined by OSHA as one committed with an intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSHA act and regulations. A serious violation is defined as a condition which exists where there is a substantial possibility that death or serious physical harm can result.

The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Tarrytown area office, located at 660 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New York, telephone (914) 524-7510.