OSHA Stomps on Wisconsin Winery for HazCom Deficiencies
The citations are the result of a follow-up investigation conducted in January. Proposed penalties total $71,280.
OSHA has cited Spurgeon Vineyards and Winery LLC in Highland, Wis., with 12 safety and health—including nine repeat—violations for failing to provide fall protection and a hazard communication program. The citations are the result of a follow-up investigation conducted in January. Proposed penalties total $71,280.
"Employers are responsible for knowing the hazards that exist in their workplaces, and failing to take basic safety precautions to protect workers is unacceptable," said Kim Stille, OSHA's area director in Madison. "Repeat violations portray a disregard for workers' safety and health. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job."
Seven repeat safety violations involve failing to protect workers from fall hazards greater than 4 feet on wine tanks and catwalks, implement and train workers on a lockout/tagout program to control the release of hazardous energy, possess proper guarding and interlocks on a wine bottling machine, provide forklift training, and allowing workers to use damaged electrical cords.
Additionally, the company has been cited with two repeat health violations for failing to implement a personal protective equipment hazard assessment, provide a hazard communication program and training, and provide material safety data sheets for chemicals used in the workplace. Similar violations were cited in July 2011.
Three serious safety and health violations cited include the operation of forklifts under lights without proper head room, a lack of eye protection, and failing to evaluate the risk of ozone exposure.