PA Workplace Cited by OSHA for Repeat Safety Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited a Pennsylvania manufacturing company for having more than 30 safety violations at its various facilities. The violations involved a wide range of situations and machinery, including welding equipment, high power machinery and elevated catwalks.

The investigation that led OSHA to issue these citations was a part of the agency’s new Site-Specific Training Program; this program is designed to make efficient use of OSHA resources by looking at locations with high rates of workplace illness and injury.

The company cited here fell well within the criteria for this program, as it had previously been warned about the presence of numerous hazards and violations on its properties. Despite these warnings, the company continued to expose its workers to dangers such as:

• Electrical hazards
• Missing protective screens
• Exits that were unsafe
• Hazardous material exposure
• Missing shields for welders
• Fall hazards of more than 25 feet
• Flying debris
• Machine entanglement hazards
• Amputation hazards (from machinery)
• Potential crush injuries

Due to the fact that many of these dangers were previously noted by OSHA, the company has been issued a substantial fine – nearly $70,000 – for repeat violations.

Despite the threat of fines such as these, many companies continue to ignore state and federal safety regulations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, that are designed to ensure safe and hazard-free workplaces for workers. This means that workers must be proactive in both reporting violations and in discussing any on-the-job injuries with medical and legal professionals.