OSHA: Texas Recycler Failed to Protect Workers from Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued Greenstar Mid-America LLC 10 serious and 10 other-than-serious citations after an inspection found that workers processing trash were not protected against hypodermic needle sticks and other hazards at the company’s facility in San Antonio. Proposed penalties total $53,000.

“This company has put its workers’ health at risk by potentially exposing them to bloodborne pathogens, such as hepatitis B,” said Jeff Funke, director of OSHA’s San Antonio Area Office. “In this case, it is fortunate that no evidence suggests any workers have contracted a disease.”

OSHA’s San Antonio Area Office initiated a safety and health inspection on July 28, 2010, at the company’s facility on Cornerway Boulevard, following a complaint that employees were being stuck by hypodermic needles while sorting trash that was to be recycled.

Serious citations allege failure to provide puncture-resistant gloves for handling trash, provide a tie-off point to prevent employees from falling, use lockout/tagout procedures on machinery, provide a fire alarm system, ensure a fire evacuation plan was followed and ensure workers facing exposure to hepatitis B are vaccinated.

The other-than-serious citations allege failure to record injuries within a seven-day period, record restricted days, record days when workers were absent and complete logs with detailed information.

Houston, Texas-based Greenstar is a private national recycling facility that recycles paper, glass and plastic waste from municipal curbside bins.

The company, which employs about 145 workers in San Antonio and about 1,000 nationwide, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in San Antonio or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA