Ohio Fabrication Plant Fined $90,760 for Altering Injury, Illness Logs
OSHA initiated an inspection of the fabrication plant after receiving a complaint alleging that injured workers, who were unable to perform their normal jobs, were moved to other jobs to avoid recordable injuries on the OSHA 300 logs.
OSHA has cited Odom Industries in Milford, Ohio, for 38 safety and health violations, including three willful violations for allegedly amending the company's OSHA 300 injury and illness logs by removing all recordable injuries. OSHA initiated an inspection of the fabrication plant after receiving a complaint alleging that injured workers, who were unable to perform their normal jobs, were moved to other jobs to avoid recordable injuries on the OSHA 300 logs. Proposed fines total $90,760.
"Employers who alter injury and illness logs and fail to conduct required training demonstrate a lack of commitment to workplace safety and health," said Bill Wilkerson, director of OSHA's Cincinnati Area Office. "The injury and illness rate computed by OSHA shows that the company had a rate above the national average for a three-year period. OSHA is committed to protecting workers, especially when employers fail to do so."
Investigators determined the company intentionally amended OSHA 300 logs by removing all recordable injuries during the calendar years of 2008, 2009, and 2010. Using a medical access order, investigators found that the employer also failed to record other work-related injuries for the three calendar years. OSHA determined there were 14 work-related injuries in 2008, six in 2009, and seven in 2010 that should have been added to the logs. A willful health violation was cited for each of the three calendar years the logs were amended.
Additionally, 16 serious safety violations were cited for failing to inspect and train employees in the use of personal protective gear, failing to conduct electrical safety training, lack of fall protection, lack of a lockout/tagout program for the energy sources of machines, lack of machine guarding, and the misuse of metal ladders. Three serious health violations also were cited for failing to conduct annual audiograms for employees exposed to noise hazards, failing to provide welding shields and screens, and failing to conduct hexavalent chromium training.
Sixteen other-than-serious safety and health violations were cited, including failing to document inspections of crane hooks and chains, failing to establish a respiratory program including fit-testing, failing to provide medical evaluations and training, failing to conduct a hazard assessment for personal protective equipment needs, and failing to inform employees about voluntary respirator use.