Looking to make sure employers and employees operate with the utmost safety standards in place, OSHA recently fined a Connecticut-Based business.
OSHA cited Jarosz Welding Company Inc., a Hartford-based contractor, for not correcting specific workplace safety hazards cited during a previous OSHA inspection of the company’s 544 Ledyard St. welding shop in Hartford.
“We found no evidence that the employer made any effort to safeguard its workers from these serious hazards that prompted great concern and various citations upon initial inspection,” stated Warren Simpson, OSHA’s area director in Hartford. “Left uncorrected, workers are exposed to burns, falls, lacerations and other potential injuries. For the health and well-being of its workers, the employer must take effective action to correct these hazards and prevent their recurrence.”
Business Hit with Follow-Up Inspection
OSHA’s Hartford Area Office launched a follow-up inspection after the employer failed to provide abatement documents proving correction of violations cited in August 2012. The follow-up inspection identified eight specific hazards left uncorrected, including failing to provide welding screens near welding stations; maintain suitable extinguishing equipment in ready condition during welding operations; provide workers with training on hazardous chemicals in their work area; store oxygen and fuel gas cylinders separately; provide a guardrail; and install safety guards on machinery.
Eight failure-to-abate notifications, with $165,550 in fines, were issued for these conditions. A failure-to-abate notice applies to a condition, hazard or practice for which the employer was originally cited, and upon re-inspection, was found uncorrected.
The company also received one serious citation, with a fine of $2,200, regarding blocked access to electrical panels. 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.
The company was given 15 business days from receipt of its failure-to-abate notices, citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet informally with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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