13 Safety and Health Violations, 11 Are Serious
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited Lapmaster Precision Finishing Services LLC in Dayton with 13 safety and health violations. Proposed fines total $65,500 following an inspection that OSHA initiated upon receiving a complaint alleging hazards.
"Lapmaster Precision Finishing Services is compromising its workers by failing to evaluate their exposure to and correct hazardous conditions," said Bill Wilkerson, OSHA's area director in Cincinnati. "Training workers is vital to their long-term safety and health. OSHA is committed to protecting workers."
Eleven serious violations include failing to develop energy control and hazard communication programs, train employees on the programs' requirements, provide machine guarding on belts and grinding machines, lock out the energy sources of machinery prior to servicing, require the use of safety glasses, ensure that workers are not exposed to live electrical parts, provide workers with personal protective equipment and training to minimize electrical exposure, train and certify employees who operate powered industrial vehicles, and properly store materials that can cause "struck-by" hazards.
Serious Violation Carries Substantial Probability of Death
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.
Two other-than-serious violations involve a failure to maintain injury and illness forms and a lack of written certification of a hazard assessment. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Lapmaster Precision Finishing Services is a part of Mt. Prospect, Ill.-based Lapmaster International LLC. About 48 workers are employed at the Dayton facility, which processes cast iron, steel and several metal alloys as well as plastics, Teflon, ceramics and composite materials to finish tolerances for automotive and other manufacturing applications.
Company Has 15 Business Days to Comply
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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