Electrical and machine hazards among 10 serious safety violations found at General Glass International in Secaucus, New Jersey

SECAUCUS, N.J. — General Glass International has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 10 serious safety violations, including electrical and machine hazards found at the company's fabrication and design center at 101 Venture Way in Secaucus. Initiated after a complaint, the March 2014 inspection proposed $45,540 in penalties for these violations.

"Unguarded machinery and electrical hazards are among the leading causes of worker injury and death," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office. "General Glass must correct these violations immediately. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure a safe and healthful workplace."

Five of the 10 cited violations were related to electrical safety hazards. The other five violations were cited for not marking exits clearly, lack of machine guarding, a damaged crane sling and the use of compressed air at a pressure level that was too high for cleaning a work area. Electrical and machine hazards were among OSHA's 10 most cited violations in 2013. 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.

General Glass 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 & 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 Parsippany Area Office at 973-263-1003.

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.