Region 5 News Release:   V-140
April 3, 2000

Contact:	Charles E. Burin
	(612) 664-5460
	Tim Kobernat
	(715) 832-9019

Proposed penalties total $238,250
OSHA ISSUES CITATIONS TO AMERICAN COATING TECHNOLOGY INC.,
EAU CLAIRE, WIS., AFTER A WORKPLACE FATALITY

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to American Coatinq Technology Inc., in Eau Claire, Wis., where a worker inside an oven was crushed. The proposed penalties total $238,250.

According to Charles Burin, OSHA's area director in Eau Claire, a safety and health inspection was initiated on Oct. 6, 1999, when the accident occurred. As a result of that inspection, OSHA cited the company for 33 alleged serious and five alleged willful workplace safety and health violations.

A worker was cleaning the inside of a paper coater oven. The hood of the oven was not locked. Another worker accidently closed the hood of the oven while reaching across the control panel. The worker inside the machine was crushed and he died a few days later.

The alleged willful violations related to violations of the confined space standard as well as violations of the lockout/tagout standard.

The alleged serious violations involved fall protection, flammable liquids, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, confined space entry requirements, first aid, and forklift training. Other alleged serious violations involved an overhead crane, lockout/tagout requirements, machine guarding, electrical hazards, bloodborne pathogen standard, and the hazard communication standard.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one in which the employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement or acted with plain indifference to employee safety.

OSHA defines a serious violation as a hazardous condition in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

American Coating Technology Inc. has 15 working days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

This information is available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (312) 353-6976; TDD Message Referral Phone: 1-800-800-4571.