OSHA Cites Ohio Foundry for More than Two Dozen Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Elyria Foundry Co. LLC, Elyria, Ohio, with 29 alleged serious and three repeat safety and health violations after a worker sustained an injury that required a lower arm amputation. Proposed penalties total $201,500.

Based on a November 2009 safety inspection, OSHA cited the company with 25 serious and three repeat safety violations with $183,000 in proposed penalties. Some of the violations addressed the company's failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment to employees; failure to provide proper eye protection while working with a sulfur dioxide tank; a lack of emergency escape respirators for workers; a lack of proper guarding on power band saws; blocked exit doors; failure to provide safety latches on crane hooks; and failure to provide fall protection.

The employer also has been cited with four serious health violations and a proposed $18,500 penalty. The citations address the company's alleged failure to provide proper respiratory protection and engineering controls for workers exposed to dust containing silica; failure to ensure workers used proper hearing protection; and a lack of proper labeling on hazardous material storage containers.

"It is the responsibility of employers to ensure workers are provided proper protective equipment and to ensure all safety and health regulations are being adhered to, especially at dangerous workplaces like a foundry," says OSHA Area Director Jule Hovi. "Those who ignore these safety and health regulations are inviting tragedy into the lives of their workers."

The foundry has been inspected by OSHA 10 times since 1984 and previously has been issued 21 serious violations. The company employs approximately 285 workers at its foundry in Elyria and more than 350 employees companywide.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.