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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 - 09/18/2002 - Safety & Health Hazards Result in Nearly $124,000 in Fines Against Bronx, N.Y., Solder Manufacturing Company |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 2 News Release: BOS 2002-191 Wednesday, September 18, 2002 Contact: John M. Chavez Phone: (617) 565-2075 Safety & Health Hazards Result in Nearly $124,000 in Fines Against Bronx, N.Y., Solder Manufacturing Company NEW YORK -- Numerous safety and health infractions, including the failure to prevent employees from being exposed to excessive levels of lead in the workplace, have resulted in $123,750 in proposed fines against New York Solder Co., Inc., located at 684 East 133rd St., Bronx, New York. The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the company, which manufactures solder wire and bar solder from lead-based alloys, for alleged willful, serious and other-than-serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The company has until October 3, 2002, to contest the citations. According to Philip Peist, OSHA's Area Director in Tarrytown, N.Y., the action results from an investigation conducted from March 15, 2002 through September 10, 2002, initiated as part of OSHA's national emphasis program on lead. In stressing the severity of the alleged violations, Peist noted that "exposure to lead is one of the leading causes of serious workplace illnesses, and this employer is well aware of the hazards." As a result of OSHA's inspection, New York Solder Co. has been cited for six alleged willful violations of federal safety and health standards, which include a proposed penalty of $108,000. The alleged willful violations include the employer's failure to: prevent employees from being exposed to excessive lead levels; conduct exposure monitoring for employees exposed to lead; maintain surfaces free as practicable from accumulations of lead and to provide separate storage facilities for lead-contaminated work clothing and clean clothing; ensure food and beverages were not consumed and tobacco products were not used in areas where employees were exposed to excessive lead levels; institute a medical surveillance program for employees exposed to lead; and failure to require employees to wear protective clothing and equipment to protect them against contact with molten metal and hazardous chemicals. The company was also cited for twenty-four alleged serious violations carrying proposed penalties totaling $15,750. These included the employer's failure to: select respirators that provided protection against lead; provide fit-testing, medical examinations and training for employees wearing respirators; provide employees with protective clothing against lead; provide employee training on the dangers of lead; and failure to establish and implement a lead compliance program, among numerous other safety and health infractions. Finally, the company was cited for two alleged other-than-serious violations, including failure to certify forklift training and evaluation, and failure to provide covers for electrical junction boxes, for which no penalties were proposed. A "willful" violation is defined by OSHA as one committed with an intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. A "serious" violation is defined as a condition that exists where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm can result. An "other-than-serious" violation is a hazardous condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety and health of employees. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Tarrytown area office, located at 660 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, N.Y. The telephone number is (914) 524-7510. ### The information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (617) 565 2072. TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) Message Referral Phone: 800 347 8029. |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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