Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said at a July inspection, investigators found seven safety violations at Dayton Superior Corporation on Jesse Cronic Road in Braselton, four of them considered serious and two of them repeat offenses.
The investigation was prompted by a workplace complaint.
OSHA has proposed fines totaling $80,025. The company has 15 days to either comply with the request for fines or contest the findings of the investigation.
In a written release, OSHA said two repeat safety violations, with $66,000 in penalties, involves the employer failing to provide machine guarding against in-going nip points on the press machine and on the point of operation on several pieces of equipment throughout the facility. Dayton received a citation for the same violations in 2011.
The four serious safety and health violations, with $14,025 in penalties, include allowing the presses to have an opening greater than the maximum allowable width given the distance between the openings to the point of operation. The company also failed to protect workers against sparks; perform periodic inspections of the energy control procedures with authorized workers; and complete the required information on the confined space entry permit including the name of the attendant, method of communication between entrants and attendants, personal protective equipment and the equipment that needs to be locked out upon entry. 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.
One other-than-serious violation involves not maintaining a certification of inspection for the presses. No monetary penalty has been assessed. 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.
Dayton, which is headquartered in Miamisburg, OH, opened the plant in Braselton three years ago. The company specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of concrete construction products.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/8/264774