Essroc Cement Corp. faces $92K in federal fines for exposing workers to machine, noise and respiratory hazards at its Ohio facility

Employer name: Essroc Cement Corporation, Nazareth, Pennsylvania

Inspection site: 8282 Middlebranch Ave. NE, Middlebranch, Ohio

Citations issued: May 2, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cleveland Area Office cited Essroc Cement Corporation for one repeated and 10 serious safety and health violations.

The agency opened an investigation in November 2015 under OSHA’s National Emphasis Programs on amputation and silica hazards after receiving a complaint alleging unsafe working conditions.

Investigators found the company failed to:

• Install machine guarding on rotating barrels.
• Develop machine specific safety procedures to control hazardous energy.
• Protect workers from excessive noise exposure.
• Establish a hearing conservation program including baseline and annual audiograms.
• Develop a respiratory protection program including medical evaluations and fit-testing.
• Train workers to operate powered industrial vehicles.
• Inspect fire extinguishers and cranes as required.
• Maintain dry, clean floors.

Quote: “Employers have a responsibility to protect workers from exposure to noise and respiratory hazards that can lead to debilitating health conditions,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director in Cleveland. “Essroc needs to immediately re-evaluate its safety and health programs to keep workers safe on the job.”

Proposed Penalties: $92,000

Citations: View here.

Background: Essroc Cement Corporation is a leading North American cement producer with over 6.5 million metric tons of annual capacity. Headquartered in Nazareth, the company operates concrete plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ontario and Quebec. Essoc is a member of the Italcementi Group of companies, a world leader in cement production with operations on four continents.

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 Cleveland Area Office at (216) 447-4194.