$254,000 in Fines Proposed Against New Hampshire Foundry
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Thursday, October 29, 2009 |
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The U.S. Department of
Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited
Franklin Non-Ferrous Foundry Inc. for 17 alleged willful and serious
violations of workplace health and safety standards. The Franklin,
N.H., foundry faces a total of $254,000 in fines following
comprehensive OSHA inspections begun in April.
"Chief among the hazards identified in the foundry are inadequate or
absent protections for workers whose duties expose them to airborne
concentrations of lead," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's area director in
New Hampshire. "Lead is a subtle and insidious hazard that can
seriously damage the blood-forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive
systems. This reality makes it imperative that employers monitor their
workers' lead exposure levels, provide effective respiratory protection
and promptly remove workers from exposure when necessary."
OSHA determined that the foundry did not provide the required
biological monitoring for workers exposed to lead in the course of
their duties, and did not properly fit-test and ensure adequate
respiratory protection for those workers. In addition, it did not
provide required benefits for a worker who was medically removed from
work due to lead overexposure.
The foundry has been cited several times over the past decade for
similar violations. These latest conditions resulted in OSHA issuing
three willful citations with $210,000 in proposed fines. OSHA defines a
willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or
intentional disregard for employee safety and health.
"The sizable fines proposed in this case reflect the fact that this
employer well knows these safeguards are required to protect the health
of its workers, yet has repeatedly refused to provide them," said Ohar.
OSHA also issued the foundry 14 serious citations, with $44,000 in
fines, for damaged and lead-contaminated respirators, and an erroneous
and outdated lead compliance program, as well as for various confined
space, forklift, machine guarding and electrical hazards. OSHA issues
serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to
result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.
The foundry has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and
proposed penalties to comply, participate in an informal conference
with the OSHA area director or contest the citations before the
independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The
inspection was conducted by OSHA's Concord Area Office; telephone
603-225-1629.
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