The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Austin Powder Co. with 51 health and safety violations, amounting to a fine of $258,000, at their facility that uses highly hazardous chemicals. This facility produces commercial explosives for construction and mining jobs.The OSHA area director stated, “By disregarding OSHA’s common-sense standards, this employer endangered the facility’s workers. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially those exposed to hazardous materials, and educating employers about safety and health regulations.”
Twenty-three serious violations relating to safety management include: failing to correct deficiencies found in compliance audits, failing to have operating procedures address consequences of deviation from operating limits, and not following generally accepted good engineering practices for inspection and testing procedures.
Also, twenty-four serious violations were found, including: inadequate labeling of hazardous chemical containers, not developing energy control procedures for the maintenance and servicing of equipment, lack of machine guarding and fall protection, and violations of electrical safety standards.
Four other-than-serious violations were also found. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. These include: failing to identify the worker who applied a lockout device, not effectively closing unused openings in electrical cabinets and boxes, and not including the properties and hazards presented by process chemicals in written operating procedures.
Pulgini & Norton, LLP attorneys have handled workers’ compensation claims for over 25 years in and around Boston and its surrounding areas. If you or a family member has been injured at work and would like to seek legal assistance, please contact us at (781) 843-2200 or (888) 344-2046 or email us.
Cited Sources:
US Labor Department’s OSHA fines Austin Powder Co. $258,000 for multiple safety and health violations at McArthur, Ohio, explosives factory, osha.gov, June 6, 2013