OSHA fines Wisconsin foundry for safety violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued two repeat and two serious safety violations to Waupaca Foundry Inc. The company was cited after an investigation at the company’s Waupaca, Wisconsin, foundry found the company overexposed its employees to noise, respirable crystalline silica and carbon monoxide.

According to OSHA, the company also failed to implement a formaldehyde training program and engineering and administrative controls to reduce exposure to hazards.

"Waupaca's willingness to continually allow occupational noise that exceeds safety standards puts its workers at risk of permanent hearing loss and undermines their quality of life," says Robert Bonack, OSHA's area director in Appleton, Wisconsin. "Our inspectors also found workers exposed to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide and silica dust, a known respiratory hazard that can cause cancer and other health complications. Like all employers, Waupaca Foundry is responsible for implementing health and safety programs to protect its employees from exposure to these and other hazards."

OSHA has proposed penalties of $56,950.

In a company statement, Waupaca Foundry says it will meet with regional OSHA representatives in an informal hearing on Aug. 19 to discuss alleged safety violations.

Waupaca adds the following: “The safety of our employees is our number one business priority. Waupaca Foundry has invested millions of dollars to continuously improve our workplace. Investments in air quality, engineering controls, and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment have been made to keep our employees safe.

“Waupaca Foundry employees are also protected and supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE) including, but not limited to hearing protection, respiratory protection, air-supplied and cooled hoods, and more.”

The company adds that results of the informal hearing will be provided pending the Aug. 19 meeting.