Region 2 News Release: NY 101
Tuesday, January 5, 1999
Contact: Chester J. Fultz, (212) 337-2319

The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Arrow Lock Manufacturing Co., of 103-00 Foster Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, and proposed penalties of $53,700 against the firm for 21 alleged serious violations of OSHA standards. The company has until January 26 to contest the citations.

According to OSHA area director Robert D. Kulick, the action results from an investigation begun July 8 under an OSHA program to focus on companies whose injury and illness rates are at least two times the national average for their industry. The firm manufactures door locks.

The alleged serious violations for which the employer was cited included:

• failure to provide employee training and procedures to lock out or tag out machines to prevent accidental start-up during servicing or maintenance;

• failure to provide devices to be used to lock or tag machines during die changes;

• failure to properly dispose of spray booth filter pads, to maintain clear space on all sides of spray booths, and to require the use of non-sparking tools for cleaning spray booths;

• failure to properly guard radial saws and other machines;

• failure to protect battery chargers from damage by trucks, and using battery charger cables with damaged insulation;

• failure to take required measures to prevent accidental or unintentional operation of power presses;

• failure to have a noise monitoring program and ensure that employees use hearing protection;

• permitting exit doors to be locked and routes to exits to be obstructed.

A serious violation is defined as a condition which exists where there is a substantial possibility that death or serious physical harm can result.

The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Manhattan area office, located at 6 World Trade Center, room 881, New York, New York, telephone (212) 466-2481.

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

Voice phone:(212) 337-2319;
TDD phone: 800-347-8029;
OASAM TDD message referral phone number: 800-326-2577.