OSHA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 3/4

The OSH Act of 1970 requires US employers to provide a safe, healthy workplace for every employee. Failure to comply with applicable OSHA health & safety standards can easily lead to preventable injuries and fatal accidents at workplaces of all types.

The enforcement actions highlighted below provide insight into how and why OSHA issues citations for workplace safety violations. All violations discussed are alleged only unless we say otherwise.

We withhold the names of organizations and individuals subject to enforcement to protect their privacy. Check out OSHA’s latest list of the 10 most-cited safety Standards here.

Green Bay cleaning products manufacturer penalized after worker allegedly suffers fingertip amputation.

A company that makes sanitation wipes, laundry scent beads and dryer sheets was subject to investigation after an employee’s fingertip was allegedly amputated in August 2023. The company was cited for one repeat, four serious, and two other-than-serious violations and faces $194,518 in proposed penalties.

OSHA says it found that the company lacked written lockout/tagout procedures that “would have prevented employees from contact with moving machine parts,” failed to retrain employees, lacked machine guarding, failed to develop and implement a respiratory protection program, and failed to report the amputation injury as required.

Similar citations were issued to the company in 2019 and 2021.

NJ steel fabricator penalized $348,683 for allegations related to training, Hazard Communication, and more.

OSHA has cited a steel fabrication business after allegedly the company willfully exposed workers to safety and health hazards at its New Jersey shop.

The company was issued four willful and seven serious violations and faces $348,683 in penalties. The citations include failures to:

• Train new hires on chemical safety.
• Label containers and maintain safety data sheets for chemicals.
• Ensure proper use of welding screens.
• Medically evaluate new employees required to wear respirators.

Oklahoma aeronautical parts manufacturer subject to $284,963 in penalties for 24 alleged violations.

An aeronautical parts manufacturer faces $284,963 in penalties for 23 serious and one other-than serious violation, according to OSHA.

Officials allege that the employer failed to confirm that chemical containers were labeled, provide personal protective equipment to employees working with acids and caustic chemicals, ensure electrical equipment was used as intended and free from hazards, follow federal regulations for confined spaces, and more.

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