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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2004 - 08/10/2004 - Georgia Pesticide Manufacturer Cited for Hazardous Work Conditions |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 4 News Release Release Number: 04-1468-ATL (167) Date: Tues., August 10, 2004 Contact: John Deifer Jo Anne Burgoyne Phone: (912) 652-4393 (404) 562-2076 Georgia Pesticide Manufacturer Cited for Hazardous Work Conditions
OSHA Proposes over $69,000 in Penalties SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited HPI Products Inc. for failing to protect workers from health and safety hazards at its Damascus, Ga., plant. The agency is proposing $69,200 in penalties against the pesticide manufacturer. "Employees at this facility were exposed to hazards that can lead to falls, amputations and electrocutions," said John Deifer, OSHA's Savannah area director. "The citations and proposed penalties in this case should send a strong message that such conditions will not be tolerated." OSHA issued six repeat citations to the company, with proposed penalties of $31,200, for failing to assess workplace health hazards; not providing employees with personal protective equipment, such as gloves and coveralls; and failure to have a written respirator protection program, including medical evaluations and fit-testing for employees required to wear respirators in areas containing high concentrations of pesticide dust. The agency also issued 20 serious citations, with proposed penalties of $38,000, for exposing workers to fall hazards from unguarded open-sided floors, tanks and stairways; failure to provide electrical and machine guards to protect workers from burns, shocks and "caught-by" injuries; and failure to have a lockout-tagout program that would render equipment, such as augers and feed hoppers, inoperable during maintenance and repair. OSHA issues a repeat citation when an employer has been cited previously for a substantially similar condition and the citation has become a final order of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The company has 15 working days to contest the latest OSHA citations and proposed penalty before the Commission. Staff from the Savannah area office - located at 450 Mall Blvd., Suite J; phone: (912) 652-4393 - conducted the investigation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted almost 40,000 inspections in fiscal year (FY) 2003, an increase of more than 2,000 over FY 2002 inspection levels; more than half focused on high-hazard industries. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of American'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. ###
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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