The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties totaling $130,200 for the aluminum firm Matalco following an inspection at the company’s Canton, Ohio, plant on March 24, 2014. The inspection was initiated following a complaint.
OSHA says it also has placed Matalco US Inc. on OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
“This company allowed workers to stand on blocks elevated by a forklift, and that’s just one visible example of the total disregard for worker safety and health at this plant,” says Howard Eberts, OSHA area director in Cleveland. “By placing Matalco US in our Severe Violator Enforcement Program, OSHA is putting the company on notice that this is unacceptable.”
OSHA says its inspection found one willful violation for insufficient machine guarding on a robot cell that exposed workers to amputation hazards. A second willful violation was cited for failing to remove a crane with broken safety mechanisms from service. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement or with plain indifference to employee safety and health, according to OSHA.
At the Canton facility, employees were exposed to a fall hazard of more than 23 feet because the company had not installed guardrails over an open pit, and employees that worked in the pit area were not provided fall protection, OSHA says. The administration previously cited the Matalco facility for the same violation in 2012.
OSHA issues repeat violations if an employer was previously cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
During the inspection, workers were found standing on aluminum blocks elevated by a forklift to perform tasks on a furnace, which exposed workers to falls of at least 8 feet, OSHA says. The agency also says it found that live electric equipment operating at high voltages was not guarded against human contact. These hazards resulted in the issuance of two serious violations. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.
A spokesperson for Matalco Inc., Matalaco US’s parent company in Ontario refused comment.
OSHA says it also has placed Matalco US Inc. on OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
“This company allowed workers to stand on blocks elevated by a forklift, and that’s just one visible example of the total disregard for worker safety and health at this plant,” says Howard Eberts, OSHA area director in Cleveland. “By placing Matalco US in our Severe Violator Enforcement Program, OSHA is putting the company on notice that this is unacceptable.”
OSHA says its inspection found one willful violation for insufficient machine guarding on a robot cell that exposed workers to amputation hazards. A second willful violation was cited for failing to remove a crane with broken safety mechanisms from service. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement or with plain indifference to employee safety and health, according to OSHA.
At the Canton facility, employees were exposed to a fall hazard of more than 23 feet because the company had not installed guardrails over an open pit, and employees that worked in the pit area were not provided fall protection, OSHA says. The administration previously cited the Matalco facility for the same violation in 2012.
OSHA issues repeat violations if an employer was previously cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
During the inspection, workers were found standing on aluminum blocks elevated by a forklift to perform tasks on a furnace, which exposed workers to falls of at least 8 feet, OSHA says. The agency also says it found that live electric equipment operating at high voltages was not guarded against human contact. These hazards resulted in the issuance of two serious violations. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.
A spokesperson for Matalco Inc., Matalaco US’s parent company in Ontario refused comment.
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