Safety First News
Texas Foundry Penalized $165,000 By OSHA
BELTON, TEXAS – A Belton manufacturing company is facing more than $165,000 in penalties from OSHA for 50 alleged safety and health violations (32 serious safety violations and 18 serious health violations).
American Spincast, a company that specializes in centrifugal casting and employs about 70 workers, was accused of violating safety and health standards, including:
- Forklift man basket not having safe design and not being properly attached;
- Unsafe walkways and work surfaces;
- Inadequate fall protection;
- Inadequate emergency systems;
- Blocked fire exits;
- Inadequate locking out and tagging out energy when required;
- Incomplete or missing required safety and health training;
- Safety issues with cranes and hoists including missing inspections and unsafe components;
- Some slings and chains used for hoisting loads were not regularly inspected;
- Guards for machines, lathes, saws, sanders, conveyors, belts and pulleys missing;
- Improper compressed air use;
- Some compressed gas cylinders did not have valve caps in place when not in use;
- Electrical deficiencies;
- Lack of hearing conservation program for excessive noise;
- Improper storage of flammable materials and liquids;
- Inadequate use of personal protective equipment;
- Inadequate control of health hazards including silica, chromium IV and methylene chloride;
- Insufficient hazard communication program;
- Inadequate first aid available to workers; and
- Some blocked eyewash stations.
The 50 violations carry a total of $165,200 in proposed fines, according to OSHA.
OSHA has a six-month deadline to make their case and issue citations following an inspection or else they must drop citations until another inspection can take place. It took the agency six months (to the day) to issue the 50 citations to American Spincast and issue a press release.
Each press release from OSHA over the past couple of years regarding citations issued to companies came with an inflammatory quote from a member of OSHA’s leadership, and The American Spincast press release was no different.
“These workers were needlessly exposed to hearing loss, falls and other dangers,” said Casey Perkins, area director of OSHA’s Austin area office. “American Spincast failed to provide the minimal protective standards required by law. Employers need to implement programs for finding and fixing these hazards before workers become seriously injured or receive irreversible health effects.”
The quote from Casey Perkins was issued with the citations – before the company can respond or defend itself and otherwise have accusations reversed by proving OSHA wrong. Yet, American Spincast has 15 days to respond to OSHA’s allegations that OSHA’s quote implies as factual.
Another casting company, Highland Lakes Quality Casting in Marble Falls, Texas, was issued nine citations in January of this year for $28,000. The company was able to successfully refute citations related to lockout/tagout (isolating energy sources) and have the related penalties reduced to $0, but the citations for those alleged violations remain on OSHA’s website, and they will remain there forever –even when OSHA has been proven wrong.
American Spincast intends to contest OSHA’s findings, but even if successful, the 50 alleged citations, as well as the inflammatory quote, will remain on OSHA’s website forever.