Georgia parts manufacturer fails to correct previously identified workplace hazards; more than $92K in penalties proposed

CONYERS, Ga. — Truss Components of Atlanta Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration with one failure-to-abate, five repeat and two serious safety and health violations, following an inspection in February at the company's facility on Old Covington Highway. OSHA initiated the inspection as a follow up to a previous inspection conducted in November 2013. Proposed penalties total $92,851.

"Truss Components of Atlanta either never corrected the known hazards or allowed those hazards to reoccur. Employers must take the safety and health of their workers seriously, otherwise they risk their employees falling seriously ill, being injured or dying," said William Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.

The failure-to-abate citation, with $50,000 in penalties, was issued for failing to establish a hearing test program for workers exposed to high noise levels. The employer was previously cited for this violation in 2013. A failure-to-abate citation is issued when an employer fails to fix or address previously cited hazardous conditions, practices or noncompliant equipment.

With $36,960 in penalties, the repeat citations were issued for the employer's failure to establish a training program for workers exposed to high noise levels, develop and implement a hazard communication program, and identify pedestrian walkways in areas where industrial trucks operated. Additionally, the employer exposed workers to fire and explosion hazards due to combustible wood dust accumulation. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Truss Components of Atlanta was previously cited for these same violations in 2013 at this facility.

The serious citations, with $5,891 in penalties, were issued for failing to develop and implement written instructions for disconnecting electricity from equipment while workers performed maintenance and service activities and for not requiring workers to conduct daily safety checks of forklift trucks prior to use. 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.

Truss Components of Atlanta, a manufacturer of wooden trusses for use in the construction industry based in Conyers, employs approximately 27 workers. The manufacturer has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, fatal work injuries in Georgia accounted for 101 of the 4,628 fatal work injuries reported nationally in 2012. Additional details are available at http://www.bls.gov.

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 Atlanta-East Area Office at 770-493-6644.

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.