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OSHA News Release
2007 - 04/02/2007 - Litchfield County concrete plant fined $105,500 by U.S. Labor Department's OSHA for unguarded saws and other hazards |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 1 News Release: 07-462-BOS/BOS 2007-071 Monday, April 2, 2007 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: (617) 565-2074 Litchfield County concrete plant fined $105,500 by U.S. Labor Department's OSHA for unguarded saws and other hazards
HARTFORD, Conn. -- A Thomaston, Conn., precast concrete products plant faces $105,500 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for unguarded saw blades and a variety of chemical, fire and electrical hazards. Coreslab Structures (Conn) Inc. was cited for alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards following an OSHA inspection begun Sept. 28, 2006, in response to a complaint about possible unsafe conditions at the Waterbury Road plant. OSHA's inspection found that circular saws used to cut wood and plastic stock routinely lacked required guards. These guards are meant to keep any part of an employee's body from coming into contact with a saw's operating blades and prevent stock from kicking back during cutting. The absence of guarding exposes employees to the hazards of lacerations, amputation or being struck by kicked back materials. As a result, Coreslab was issued one willful citation, carrying the maximum proposed fine of $70,000, for the lack of guarding. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. "Machine guarding is a vital, common and commonsense safeguard that must not be disregarded by employers," said C. William Freeman III, OSHA's area director in Hartford. "The sizable fine proposed in this case reflects the fact that this employer clearly knew these saws should have been guarded, yet refused to do so." The company also was issued eight serious citations, with $35,500 in proposed fines, for improper storage of flammable chemicals, blocked access to fire extinguishers, improper saw operation, electrical hazards, unlabeled containers of hazardous chemicals and inadequate machine guarding. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Coreslab has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or to contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Hartford Area Office, telephone (860) 240-3152. 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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