OSHA Cites Company for Safety Hazards at Ga. Plant

The U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Diamond Plastics Corporation, and proposed penalties totaling $66,500, for safety hazards observed during an inspection of the company’s Macon, Ga., plant.

“Employees reported the unsafe conditions to the company,” said Gei Thae Breezley, OSHA’s Atlanta-East area director. “OSHA was contacted when the company failed to abate the hazards.”

Breezley added that the inspection was conducted under a national emphasis program to reduce worker amputation injuries. The company had reportedly been cited previously for exposing workers to these safety hazards.

OSHA issued three repeat citations, with proposed penalties of $45,000, for exposing workers to amputations from unguarded machinery; for failing to train employees in lockout-tagout procedures to ensure that energized equipment was rendered inoperable during servicing and repair; and for failing to maintain and assure that eyewash showers were available for employees working with and around corrosive chemicals.

The company also received seven serious citations, with proposed penalties of $21,500, for failing to: develop and implement procedures to control equipment energy sources during service and repair; inspect and properly maintain cranes and hoists; properly guard machinery; and assure that welding operations were conducted in an area free of combustible material.

The Nebraska-based company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.