TLD Ace Corp. cited for exposing workers to fall, fire and electrical hazards

HARTFORD, Conn. — An inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that workers at the TLD Ace Corp. manufacturing plant in Windsor were exposed to potential falls, burns and electric shock due to missing or inadequate safeguards at the company's manufacturing plant.

"This inspection started with a focus on one hazard, but a review of the plant's illness and injury records showed a higher-than-industry-average rate of workdays lost due to injury and illness. For this reason, we expanded our investigation to encompass the entire plant," said Warren Simpson, OSHA's area director in Hartford. "What we found were conditions that could seriously injure workers or negatively impact their health. It's crucial for this company to correct these conditions now and take action to prevent them from happening again."

As a result, OSHA cited the manufacturer of aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment for 17 serious violations of workplace safety standards. TLD Ace Corp. faces $85,146 in proposed fines for these violations.

OSHA's Hartford Area Office began its inspection on Feb. 20, 2014, in response to a complaint that employees were exposed to falls while removing snow from the plant's roof. OSHA found that the employees lacked safety railings or fall arrest systems; the roof lacked barricades to keep employees from areas where they could fall into an electrical substation; and a ladder used to access the roof did not extend at least 3 feet over the roof's edge to ensure required stability. The workers faced potential falls of more than 16 feet to the ground below.

Other hazards were misused electrical equipment and wiring; failure to provide proper training and appropriate personal protective equipment to employees who performed electrical testing; improper storage of flammable materials; no sprinklers where flammable adhesive was applied; use of an ungrounded paint sprayer to apply flammable adhesive; failure to retest, refit and retrain an employee whose audiogram revealed a shift in his hearing level, indicating hearing loss; and failure to select and require the use of effective hearing protectors for employees who worked in damaging noise levels. 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.

TLD Ace Corp. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet informally 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 Hartford Area Office at 860-240-3152.

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.