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OSHA News Release
2007 - 07/31/2007 - U.S. Labor Department's OSHA cites North Attleboro, Mass., stone fabricator for failing to correct previously cited health and safety hazards |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 1 News Release: 07-1147-BOS/BOS 2007-202 July 31, 2007 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: (202) 693-4676 U.S. Labor Department's OSHA cites North Attleboro, Mass., stone fabricator for failing to correct previously cited health and safety hazards
Mountain Marble and Granite faces nearly $40,000 in additional fines BRAINTREE, Mass. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed an additional $39,200 in fines against a North Attleboro, Mass., stone fabricator for allegedly failing to correct health and safety hazards cited in a previous OSHA inspection. OSHA first cited Mountain Marble and Granite in February of this year for six serious violations of health and safety standards, and fined the company $5,200. OSHA's inspection was prompted by an October 2006 accident at the 45 Elm St. facility in which an employee's finger was crushed between two pieces of granite. The company paid the original fine but did not provide OSHA with proof that the hazards had been corrected. This situation led to follow-up inspections in June during which OSHA found several hazards still outstanding. As a result, OSHA has now cited Mountain Marble and Granite for five instances of failing to abate previously cited hazards and proposed the additional fines. The outstanding hazards encompass lack of respiratory protection and hazard communication programs for employees exposed to silica and other hazardous substances while grinding, cutting and polishing stone slabs; untrained forklift operators; a forklift that was improperly modified to lift stone slabs; and unguarded cutting wheels on a stone grinder. "The ongoing failure to fix these hazards leaves employees continually exposed to potential lung disease, crushing hazards, lacerations and amputations," said Robert Hooper, OSHA's acting area director for southeastern Massachusetts. "It should not take escalating fines and the potential for additional injuries and illnesses to prompt this employer to provide and maintain essential and legally required safeguards for its employees." Mountain Marble and Granite has 15 business days to respond by requesting and participating in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contesting the failure to abate notices and fines to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspections were conducted by OSHA's Braintree Area Office, telephone (617) 565-6924. 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. DOL 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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