Pressed Paperboard Technologies will pay $81,450 in penalties after US Department of Labor OSHA cites safety violations at Findlay facility

FINDLAY, Ohio — Pressed Paperboard Technologies LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine safety and health violations at the company's Findlay facility.

The company has entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the citations that includes providing enhancements to their safety and health program to further protect employees. The company will pay penalties of $81,450.

"Pressed Paperboard Technologies has a responsibility to protect workers from electrical hazards at work," said Kim Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "These hazards expose workers to the dangers of arc flash, electric shock and electrocution. Employers must train workers to work safely with electricity."

Two willful violations of federal safety standards concerning electrical work were cited after maintenance employees worked on energized electrical equipment without proper training and personal protective equipment.

A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Five serious safety violations include failing to develop machine-specific procedures to prevent accidental startup or movement of machine parts that can cause injury; not training workers in lockout/tagout procedures when conducting maintenance on machinery; failing to disconnect electrical panels from all energy sources prior to conducting maintenance work; inadequate machine guarding on milling machines; and failing to test electrical personal protective equipment every six months.

Two serious health violations involve exposing workers to explosion and fire hazards while working near an indoor dust collector that lacked a means of explosion protection, and failing to establish and implement a written respiratory protection program. 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.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Toledo Area Office at 419-259-7542.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.