Featured This Week

Employment Safety

• OSHA proposes more than $77,000 in fines against Sodexho Inc. for safety and health hazards at Buffalo, N.Y., industrial laundry
• OSHA proposes $115,000 in penalties against Hollywood, Fla., contractor for safety and health violations
• OSHA cites United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport for numerous workplace safety violations

OSHA proposes more than $77,000 in fines against Sodexho Inc. for safety and health hazards at Buffalo, N.Y., industrial laundry

Inadequate employee safeguards at a Buffalo, N.Y., industrial laundry have resulted in a total of $77,125 in proposed OSHA fines. Sodexho, Inc., was cited for 13 alleged repeat and serious violations of safety and health standards following OSHA inspections at the 60 Grider St. location that were initiated in January 2008 in response to employee complaints.

"These citations address employees' exposure to a variety of hazards including falls, burns, electrocution, explosions, confined spaces, respiratory hazards, bloodborne pathogens, lack of personal protective equipment and being caught in unguarded or unexpectedly energized driers and other machinery," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "It is of paramount importance that these conditions be addressed effectively and quickly."

OSHA issued six repeat citations, carrying $63,100 in proposed fines, for the lack of procedures and training to prevent the unexpected startup of dryers and other equipment while employees were working on them; accumulations of dust, lint and debris on work surfaces or in work areas; using an electrical extension cord in place of permanent wiring; no bloodborne pathogen training for employees exposed to contaminated clothing and sharp instruments; and no log for recording injuries from sharp instruments.

A repeat citation is issued when an employer has previously been cited for similar hazards and those citations have become final. In this case, the repeat citations stem from citations issued in 2005 and 2006 for Sodexho facilities in Pittsburgh, Penn.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Portland, Maine.

The Buffalo laundry was also issued seven serious citations, with $14,025 in fines, for unguarded open pits and runways; unguarded moving conveyor parts; failure to identify and label confined spaces; lack of personal protective equipment; using an electrical conduit cover as a walkway; and inadequate respiratory protection. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Buffalo Area Office; telephone 716-551-3053. Employment Safety and Health Guide Daily Document Update ¶20,782a.

OSHA proposes $115,000 in penalties against Hollywood, Fla., contractor for safety and health violations

OSHA has proposed $115,000 in penalties against John Moriarty & Associates of Florida, Inc. (JMAF), for two alleged willful violations and one serious violation of OSHA standards that were uncovered during an inspection of the company's construction site on Brickell Avenue in Miami.

Three employees contracted from a temporary help company were injured after they were instructed by JMAF supervisors to clean the inside of a tank that contained concrete slurry waste. Two of the employees were admitted to a local hospital with second-degree chemical burns.

"These employees were placed in a hazardous situation by JMAF's supervisors who ignored OSHA standards and the warning of their own safety professional," said Darlene Fossum, OSHA's area director in Fort Lauderdale.

OSHA cited the company for two willful violations, with proposed penalties of $110,000, for instructing the employees to enter a confined space, without first identifying and correcting any possible hazards, thereby, exposing the employees to concrete slurry waste. The employer failed to instruct employees on the hazards associated with confined spaces and failed to train the employees on the use of protective and emergency equipment. A serious violation, with a $5,000 penalty, was issued for failing to require employees to wear appropriate protective equipment, including eye and face protection, while working with a hazardous material.

The company has 15 business days to contest the citations, and proposed penalties, before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Fort Lauderdale Area Office, 8040 Peters Road, Building H-100, telephone 954-424-0242. Employment Safety and Health Guide Daily Document Update ¶20,781a.

OSHA cites United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport for numerous workplace safety violations

OSHA has proposed $215,500 in fines against United Airlines, Inc., in Chicago, for alleged multiple serious and repeat violations of federal workplace safety standards.

OSHA selected United Airlines for inspection after reviewing occupational injury and illness data, which included ramp services, customer service areas, air freight, aircraft and ground equipment maintenance, building/facility maintenance, business operations, strategic procurement, medical facilities and flight attendant operations. As a result of its inspection, OSHA issued 43 serious violations and four repeat violations.

The serious violations address hazards associated with fall protection, hazardous energy control procedures and training, storage of oxygen and fuel-gas cylinders, platform load ratings and electrical hazards. The four repeat violations, based on citations issued and affirmed in 2006 and 2007, cover machine guarding and electrical issues. Proposed penalties for the repeat violations alone total $57,500.

"Falls, electrical hazards and machine guarding issues, as well as energy lockout/tagout procedures, which are intended to prevent accidental start-up of machinery during maintenance, are problems that should not exist at any worksite," said Diane Turek, director of OSHA's Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines, Ill. "They are problems that can be avoided if an employer is dedicated to protecting employees. Employers must remain dedicated to keeping the workplace safe and healthful, or face close scrutiny by this agency."

Since 2004, OSHA has inspected United Airlines 22 times at various locations nationwide. United Airlines operations at O'Hare International Airport have been inspected eight times since 2000 with only three of those inspections resulting in citations. Employment Safety and Health Guide Daily Document Update ¶20,780a.

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