Americold Logistics, Pride Plating face large OSHA fines

Discussion

September 11, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Fri Sep 11, 2009, 09:34 PM CDT

By Andy Ostmeyer

aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com

Companies in Carthage and Grove, Okla., have been cited for workplace safety and health hazards with the proposed fines combined at $326,000.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a statement released Friday that it has cited Americold Logistics in Carthage for 19 alleged serious violations and one lesser violation. OSHA has proposed $117,000 in fines.

Calls to the company’s Carthage office and to Americold’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., were not returned.

OSHA on Wednesday cited Pride Plating Inc., in Grove, for “alleged willful, repeat and serious violations.” That proposed fine is $209,000.

Officials with Pride Plating did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

In each case, the violations stemmed from a plant inspection.

On Friday, Barb Theriot, acting director of OSHA’s regional office in Kansas City, noted the violations for Americold Logistics are only “alleged” and that negotiations regarding the fine are still ongoing.

“I really can’t go into a lot of it because it is still proposed,” she said.

Companies have 15 days to contest the citations and proposed fines informally, in meetings with OSHA, and they also can contest the decisions in court, she said.

Americold

The serious violations stem from what OSHA said was “inadequate safety process management of highly hazardous chemicals, lack of emergency preparedness and response procedures, and poor respiratory protection for workers. Furthermore, violations were identified relating to permit-required confined spaces, lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up, electrical equipment and safe-work practices, and powered industrial truck operations.”

OSHA issues a serious violation when death or serious harm could result from a hazard that an employer either knew about or should have known about.

The less serious violation stemmed from inadequate employee access to personal sampling results.

Pride Plating

David Bates, OSHA’s area director in Oklahoma City, Okla., said in a statement announcing the Pride Plating citation: “Employees should not be exposed to safety and health hazards. In this case, the significant penalty of $209,000 demonstrates OSHA’s commitment to eliminating safety and health hazards in the workplace.”

OSHA’s Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation March 4 at the company’s plant at 2900 East Highway 10.

A willful-violation citation was issued for failure to perform periodic monitoring after initial monitoring indicated workers were exposed to chromium VI in excess of OSHA’s permissible exposure limit.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional disregard or indifference to OSHA rules.

A citation for 10 repeat violations was issued for failure to provide safe walking surfaces, provide personal protective equipment for workers exposed to chromium, prevent workers from being overexposed to chromium VI, and properly train workers who have been exposed to chromium, caustics and corrosives. A repeat citation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for a similar condition and the citation has become a final order.

A serious citation was issued for failure to provide adequate washing facilities for workers exposed to chromium VI, and failure to prohibit tobacco products in chromium-regulated areas.

OSHA also issued a notice of failure-to-abate citation to Pride Plating relating to three violations: The company’s failure to implement a respiratory program, institute a medical-surveillance program for workers overexposed to chromium VI, and develop and implement a hazard communication program for workers exposed to caustics and corrosives.

Work force size

Pride Plating employs about 90 workers in Grove, Okla., according to OSHA. No details were available on Americold’s work force in Carthage.

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Americold Logistics, Pride Plating face large OSHA fines

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