Employees exposed to dangerous workplace hazards at Pennsauken aluminum services plant; company fined $308K

OSHA's investigation found 44 safety violations, including one willful

Employer name: Aluminum Shapes LLC, 9000 River Road, Delair, New Jersey.

Citations issued: On Sept. 21, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for one willful, three repeat, 35 serious, and five other-than-serious violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA launched an investigation April 16, 2015, after being notified that an employee suffered a broken leg on March 24 while operating a crane and was hospitalized. The company failed to report the incident to the agency within 24 hours, as required.

The willful citation involved electrical equipment with damaged parts that could adversely affect the safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment. In addition, pendant control boxes for a crane were damaged, malfunctioning and not clearly marked; damaged slings were not removed from service; and metal saws were not guarded to prevent employee exposure, resulting in the repeat citations. Unguarded floor openings, lack of machine guarding and confined space training were among the serious violations.

The other-than-serious violations included the employer's failure to report the hospitalization and an inadequate hazard communication program.

Proposed Penalties: $308,000

Quote: "The number of safety violations found at Aluminum Shapes' plant is completely unacceptable. This employer blatantly ignored known safety requirements, causing a preventable worker injury," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York. "This company is now paying a hefty price for its negligence. The hazards identified in the investigation should be immediately addressed to prevent future incidents and ensure worker safety."

View the citations: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Aluminum_Shapes_LLC_1059368_Sept_23_2015.pdf

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, 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 Marlton Area Office at 856-596-5200.