Recycling company faces $84K in fines after failing to correct previously cited workplace safety hazards

Employer name: ALSS Recycling Inc.

Inspection site: 2600 Republic Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35203

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued ALSS Recycling failure-to-abate citations on March 11, including one serious and three other-than-serious safety violations. The inspection was initiated as a follow-up to a previous assessment at the facility in June 2015.

Investigation findings: The serious violation was cited for not ensuring employees were trained to operate powered industrial trucks. The other-than-serious citations relate to the employer not inspecting fire extinguishers annually and failing to ensure employees voluntarily wearing respirators were medically cleared. Additionally, the company did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program for employees who handle recycled iron products.

Proposed penalties: $84,000

Quote: “ALSS Recycling did not fulfill its requirement to ensure the hazards that were cited in the previous inspection were corrected,” said Ramona Morris, OSHA’s area director in Birmingham. “We are expecting management to take immediate action to permanently correct the hazards in order to protect its employees.”

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/legacy-files/documents/newsroom/releases/OSHA20160471.pdf

ALSS Recycling Inc. recycles sintered iron and sells it to foundries. The recycler 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 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 Birmingham Area Office at 205-731-1534.

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.