The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined J&J Bronze & Aluminum Casting Corp. $144,750 for 33 violations. The fine followed an investigation of the Brooklyn, NY foundry that started Feb. 2, 2006.
During its investigation OSHA found that employees exposed to high noise levels were not provided an audiometric testing program and audiograms to measure possible hearing loss, and that saw blades and abrasive grinders were not guarded against employee contact. These conditions resulted in the issuance of three willful citations, which account for $99,000 of the total fines.
The company was also issued 28 serious citations, with $45,250 in fines for various health and safety hazards. Chief among the safety hazards was a potential steam explosion hazard in the plant’s furnace and mold form areas that had a wet fire sprinkler system.