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OSHA News Release
2006 - 06/20/2006 - Fatality Investigation Brings Injury and Illness Record Keeping Violations to Light; OSHA Citations and Fines Total $81,600 |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 6 News Release: OSHA-06-1048-DAL Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221 Fatality Investigation Brings Injury and Illness Record Keeping Violations to Light; OSHA Citations and Fines Total $81,600
BATON ROUGE, La. -- A Monroe, La., industrial tank and vessel fabrication company's alleged failure to protect employees from hazards that led to a worker's death, and its inadequate maintenance of injury and illness records have resulted in proposed penalties totaling $81,600 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). James Machine Works Inc. was cited for the alleged violations following a fatality investigation that began Dec. 28, 2005, at a plant in Plaquemine, La. Employees were constructing a new floor within an above ground storage tank when a worker was hit by a skid steer. The company employs approximately 170 workers. Two alleged willful violations were issued for failing to record employee injury and illnesses on the OSHA 300 logs and for not verifying the accuracy of the logs. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. "Accurate worker injury and illness records are vital to identify injury trends and hazards," said Greg Honaker, OSHA's area director in Baton Rouge. "Targeting these trends and providing employee training improves worker safety as well as employee moral." One alleged serious violation was issued for lack of equipment operator training. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. Three other-than-serious violations were issued for failing to complete the OSHA 301 logs (first report of injury), not removing damaged synthetic slings from service, and not providing substantially insulated connections for joining welding cables together. An other-than-serious violation is a condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety or health of the employees. The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Baton Rouge area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Baton Rouge area office at 225-298-5458 or OSHA's toll-free hotline at 1-800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing an imminent danger to workers. Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ###
U.S. Labor Department 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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