Big (and many) violations, big (and many) penalties. In the case of the Piping Technology and Products Inc., OSHA proposed penalties totaling a whopping $1,013,000. OSHA said that the unusual penalty total stems from an extraordinary number of violations: 13 willful and 17 serious violations for exposing workers to the risk of amputations and other serious injuries from potentially deadly equipment at the company's Houston facility.
"Repeatedly ignoring the law while risking workers' lives and providing misleading information to federal investigators will not be tolerated," warned Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Employers who endanger the lives and limbs of their employees must be held accountable."
Most employers today require OSHA 30 certification (for supervisors) and OSHA 10 hour training (for workers) to help them identify and eliminate onsite safety and health hazards.
A Piping Technology worker lodged a complaint with OSHA sometime last year pointing to a lack of brakes on overhead cranes and unguarded presses at the company's facility. The complaint prompted OSHA's Houston South Area Office to launch an investigation, which subsequently discovered many other safety violations.
OSHA said that Piping Technology knew about OSHA requirements because it had been cited in 1986, 1994, 2004 and 2005 for similar violations. Because of its recalcitrance, the company has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which employs targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with regulations.
Unfortunately compliance came too late for one construction worker in Texas.
Following the death of a worker and the severe burning accident of another, OSHA cited Dredge & Marine Co. LLC for 12 safety and health violations after its investigation revealed a spark from a light ignited paint vapors inside the compartment of a pontoon dredge that workers were working on.
"Tragic incidents can be avoided by following OSHA's standards and safety requirements," said William Cochran, OSHA area director in Nashville. "It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that workers are trained and provided with appropriate equipment so they can perform their duties safely."
Most employers today require OSHA 30 certification (for supervisors) and OSHA 10 hour training (for workers) as a requisite for employment so they can mitigate or eliminate onsite safety and health hazards.
OSHA reported that two of the serious safety violations connected to the fatality involved exposing the employees to fire and explosion hazards when exhaust ventilation was inadequate, and failing to use explosion-proof lighting.
Among the other serious safety violations were using an extension cord with a missing ground prong; failing to ensure paint buckets, spray guns, and cell phones were properly stowed to prevent the possibility of sparks; and failing to provide fall protection to employees.
OSHACampus.com, the OSHA training portal of e-learning hub 360training.com, offers 10 Hour OSHA Training and 30 Hour OSHA Training for workers, supervisors, and contractors.
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