|
U.S. Department of Labor | |
||||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
 |
|
OSHA News Release
2005 - 05/05/2005 - Mexico, N.Y., Food Plant Cited by OSHA for Lockout/Tagout, Machine Guarding and Other Safety Hazards |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
|
Region 2 News Release: 05-802-NEW/BOS 2004-104 Thursday, May 5, 2005 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: (617) 565-2074 Mexico, N.Y., Food Plant Cited by OSHA for Lockout/Tagout,
Machine Guarding and Other Safety Hazards Fines Total More Than $43,000 SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Mexico, N.Y., food plant's alleged failure to safeguard workers against the accidental startup of machinery and other industrial hazards has resulted in a total of $43,350 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Grandma Brown's Beans Inc. was cited for 18 alleged willful and serious violations of workplace safety standards at its 5837 Scenic Ave. production plant. The citations result from an inspection conducted under the Syracuse OSHA office's "Local Emphasis Program on Food Processing Industries." The inspection found that the company failed to develop a lockout/tagout program for machinery in the plant and also failed to guard two labeling machines to prevent employee contact with their moving parts. These citations, which carry $33,000 in proposed penalties, were classified as willful. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. "The purpose of a lockout/tagout program is to ensure that machines are shut down and their power sources locked out before employees begin maintenance," said Chris Adams, OSHA's Syracuse area director. "Such a program is essential in preventing accidental startups that could seriously injure or kill workers." An additional $10,350 in fines was proposed for 16 serious citations. The citations address such hazards as failure to maintain lifting devices; lack of stair railings; failure to label confined spaces; lack of eye wash stations; lack of fire extinguisher training; failure to cover live electrical parts; ungrounded electrical equipment; lack of electrical safety training, and several other machine guarding hazards. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm are likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply with them, to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's area office located at 3300 Vickery Rd., North Syracuse; telephone: (315) 451-0808. 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 http://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) 693-7773 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 |
||
