|
U.S. Department of Labor | |
||||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
 |
|
OSHA News Release
2007 - 10/31/2007 - U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $196,000 fine against Cintas Corp.'s Mobile, Ala., facility for 15 safety violations |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
|
Region 4 News Release: 07-1628-ATL Oct. 31, 2007 Contact: Dan Fuqua Michael Wald Phone: 404-562-2078 404-562-2076 U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $196,000 fine against Cintas Corp.'s Mobile, Ala., facility for 15 safety violations
MOBILE, Ala. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $196,000 in penalties against Cintas Corp. for 15 safety violations following an inspection of its Mobile, Ala., facility. "As a large, national employer with a history of OSHA inspections and citations for hazards at other facilities, we are disappointed to find so many of the same or similar hazards at this facility," said Ken Atha, OSHA's area director in Mobile. "OSHA will take aggressive action when employers show indifference to the safety and health of their employees." OSHA has proposed four repeat violations with penalties of $112,500 for failing to develop proper energy control procedures, failing to protect employees from electrical shocks, not providing adequate machine guards, and not instituting proper machinery lockout/tagout procedures, which are intended to prevent inadvertent machine start-ups. These four conditions are substantially similar to conditions discovered in other Cintas facilities in New York state in 2004 and 2005. One willful violation with a $55,000 penalty has been proposed for a potential fall hazard to employees who periodically unjammed a conveyor. Eight serious violations with $27,500 in penalties have been proposed for unguarded pits and floor holes, a damaged electrical conduit, blocked electrical panels, unsuitable receptacles in wet or damp locations, and a broken emergency stop button. Two other-than-serious violations have been cited for failing to record a work-related injury, resulting in a $1,000 penalty, and for allowing an exit door to be partially blocked. Over the past three years, the company has had approximately 36 inspections at various facilities by federal and state OSHA programs. Citations for safety violations were issued in August at Cintas plants in Tulsa, Okla., following a fatality, with a total proposed penalty of $2,782,000, and in Columbus, Ohio, with a total penalty of $117,500. Cintas is the largest uniform supplier in North America, with more than 400 facilities employing more than 34,000 people. The facility in Mobile has 126 employees. The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest them and the proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Mobile Area Office, 1141 Montlimar Drive, Suite 1006; telephone 251-441-6131. OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, conducting more than 39,000 inspections in fiscal year 2007 and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last eight years. In fiscal year 2006, OSHA found more than 89,000 violations of its standards and regulations. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process 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. |
|
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
 Back to Top |
www.osha.gov | www.dol.gov |
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |
||
