![]() ![]() “Providing employees with clearly recognized and legally required safeguards, such as unimpeded exit access, properly stored materials and readily available fire extinguishers, must be a priority for any employer and should not be ignored,” explained OSHA Area Director Robert Sestito in Providence, Rhode Island. OSHA inspectors responded to complaints about unsafe conditions at the two stores and found employees exposed to the following hazards: blocked exits (large piles of materials blocked access to emergency exits) unsafe storage of materials (boxed merchandise stacked up to 7 feet high) fire extinguishers (storage room materials completely blocked access to fire extinguishers) and compressed gas storage (inspectors found helium compressed gas cylinders stored and labeled improperly). Before these three inspections, OSHA cited the company for violations at least five times beginning in 2006, including for failing to ensure employees wore fall protection repeatedly.Ī discount retailer chain was cited with seven repeat violations at two of its stores in Rhode Island. Five days later, OSHA found similar hazards at other worksites and again in May 2019 when the company exposed employees to falls of up to 15 and 21 feet, respectively. OSHA determined the owner failed to ensure employees wore the required fall protection. The agency opened the first inspection in December 2018 after an employee fell more than 21 feet to their death from a steep pitched roof. OSHA cited a roofing company owner’s Maine-based business for 14 willful, 2 repeat, and 4 serious workplace safety violations after a series of inspections. Repeat fall hazards lead to seven-figure fine OSHA placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program. Specifically, inspectors identified the following failures and hazards: deficient lockout/tagout procedures to isolate energy during service and maintenance a lack of adequate machine guards on dough mixers and sprocket wheels and chains exposing employees working on dough mixers and an oven to fall hazards exposing workers to the risk of electrical hazards not ensuring adequate electrical personal protective equipment usage and exposing workers to potential for eye injuries by failing to provide appropriate protection. ![]() The agency found that temporary workers hadn’t been trained or given the authority to stop equipment from moving before cleaning. The temporary worker was using compressed air to clean a spiral conveyer as it moved to cool pizza when the worker’s head became caught in the machinery. Violations at the stores included blocked exit routes, doors, fire extinguishers, and electrical panels unsafely stacked merchandise unsafe electrical cords failure to inspect fire extinguishers monthly failure to provide employees with adequate respiratory protection and personal protective equipment (PPE) and failure to train employees on safe handling of hazardous chemicals and proper cleanup.įollowing the death of a sanitation worker, OSHA cited a pizza manufacturer in Illinois with 16 willful egregious violations, 1 willful violation, and 12 serious violations. OSHA cited a national discount retailer with 48 violations following 9 inspections at its stores in Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. National discount retailer fined $3.4 million ![]()
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