Power Company Cited for Willful Bulldozer Violation
OSHA has cited PSEG Power LLC for alleged workplace safety and health violations found at a Hamilton, N.J., worksite, proposing $57,500 in penalties. The agency initiated its investigation on Jan. 21 after being notified of an employee accident. As a result of the investigation, the company has been cited with one willful violation with a $55,000 penalty and one serious violation with a $2,500 penalty.
The willful violation is due to the company’s failure to provide adequate lighting when employees were operating a bulldozer at night. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The serious violation is due to the company’s failure to ensure that employees were wearing a seat belt when operating a bulldozer. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.
PSEG Power is a major supplier of electric energy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets and a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group, a diversified energy company headquartered in Newark, N.J. With approximately 10,500 employees, PSEG is one of the 10 largest electric companies in the United States.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.