Inspection finds Ohio foundry continues to expose workers to hazards

FRANKLIN, Ohio – A federal workplace safety and health inspection found workers exposed to the risks of amputation, hearing loss and respiratory damage at A&B Foundry & Machining Inc. due to same hazards identified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the Franklin foundry in 2012.

On June 15, OSHA issued the foundry 12 repeated and two serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation. The violations, found during the agency’s January 2016 follow-up inspection, carry penalties of $143,150.

“A&B Foundry continues to maintain an environment where employees are exposed to serious noise, dangerous machinery and debilitating respiratory hazards,” said Ken Montgomery, area director of OSHA’s Cincinnati office. “The company needs to re-evaluate its safety and health programs and ensure workers are provided the training and equipment necessary to protect them from injury and illness on the job.”

OSHA’s follow-up inspection found the employer:

• Allowed a machine to operate without safety guards.
• Failed to review procedures to prevent unintentional operation of machinery during service and maintenance periodically for accuracy.
• Allowed multiple violations of respiratory protection standards, such as not providing fit testing and medical evaluations for employees.
• Did not train workers about noise hazards or evaluate them annually for occupational exposure to noise.
• Allowed the use of devices not capable of lifting loads within the rated capacity.
• Failed to train employees on hazardous chemicals used in the facility.
• Did not require workers to wear required personal protective equipment, including head and face protection.
• Allowed the use of damaged personal protective equipment.
• Did not close electrical openings and junction boxes as required.

View the current safety and health citations.

A & B Foundry has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal 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 Cincinnati Area Office at (513)-841-4132.

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.