Wood crate manufacturer fails to protect workers properly from excessive noise, hand injuries, dust hazards and other risks

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. — An inspection of a wood crate manufacturer found that permanent and temporary employees faced excessive noise, improper hand protection and respiratory irritation due to wood dust exposure at the North American Container Corp. in Adairsville. The company makes crates and corrugated boxes for lawn and garden products, such as all-terrain vehicles, tractors, lawn mowers and blowers. Headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, North American Container has eight other production facilities in Georgia, Wisconsin, Tennessee and South Carolina.

After a complaint, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration began an inspection in October 2014 and identified eight safety and health violations, with proposed penalties of $59,400.

"North American Container puts workers at risk of serious injury or illness by disregarding OSHA safety and health standards," said Christi Griffin, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office. "The repeated violations cited in this inspection show the employer's lack of commitment to protect employees from workplace hazards."

Georgia-based North American Container's Adairsville facility

OSHA issued four repeated citations to the container manufacturer for lacking an emergency action plan; failing to anchor a drill press to the floor securely; not providing employee training on the hazards of inhalation of wood dust; and failing to give workers Appendix D of the respirator standard. A repeated 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. North American Container was cited for these same violations in 2010 and 2014.

Four serious violations include equipping exit doors with sliding locks that could prohibit employees from leaving the facility quickly; not providing proper hand protection; failing to establish a noise testing program; and not training employees on the hazards of excessive 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.

North American Container employs temporary workers through staffing agencies TRP Partners LLC, in Dalton, and Flexible Staffing, in Cartersville. North American provides training and oversight for its temporary employees, so OSHA did not cite the staffing agencies after this inspection.

OSHA has inspected North American Container four times since 2010. The company received citations for noise exposure, respirator protection and proper installation of guards to protect users from operating machine parts.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a 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 Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301.

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.