OSHA Fines NY Recycler for Fatality

Frontier Fibers Inc., North Tonawanda, NY, was cited for 20 alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards following an accident last summer in which a worker fell into a baler while attempting to clear a jam in a chute that fed material into the baler.

OSHA's inspection found that the chute opening through which the worker fell lacked fall protection and that there was no emergency stopping device in the immediate vicinity of the worker to prevent his being carried into the baler. In addition, there were no procedures in place to shut down the baler and lock out its power source while clearing jams or performing maintenance; no employee training in such procedures, and no inspections to ensure such procedures were effective and in use.

Howard Wiseman, president of Frontier, says that there were some violations for the company. However, he contends that a good number of the 20 violations were not serious in nature, and had nothing to do with the accident that occurred. “No doubt there were compliance issues. However, we are concerned that the citations portrays us as an uncaring and unsafe operation,” he says.

In fact, he notes that many of the abatements required by OSHA have already been taken care of. And several that haven’t the company has requested a modification.

Other hazards cited during OSHA's inspection include various fall hazards; unguarded moving machine parts; blocked access to fire extinguishers; lack of fire extinguisher training; debris and cardboard blocking work areas and aisles; inadequate training for employees operating powered industrial trucks; no hazard communication program and employee training, and various electrical hazards.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Wiseman adds that in the 50 years in which the company has been in business the company has only had two serious accidents.