Unguarded Conveyor Injures Carwash Worker

OSHA has cited Clearwater Management Inc., doing business as Splash Handwash, for alleged repeat and serious violations of safety standards, proposing a total of $62,500 in fines after an employee was injured at the company's Fairfield, Conn., carwash. The agency said the worker suffered foot and ankle injuries after he became caught in an unguarded opening on the operating conveyor track that moves vehicles through the carwash. OSHA's inspection found that the opening should have been covered or guarded to prevent employees from being caught in the conveyor.

"You might not think of a carwash as a particularly dangerous workplace, but hazards can be present in any workplace if the proper safeguards are not provided and maintained," said Robert Kowalski, OSHA's area director in Bridgeport, Conn. "In this case, in addition to the unguarded conveyor opening, OSHA identified mechanical, chemical, electrical and other hazards associated with the equipment and chemicals used in carwashes."

As a result of its inspection, OSHA has issued the company 11 serious citations, carrying $29,500 in proposed fines, for the unguarded conveyor opening and the following conditions: uncovered electrical outlets in wet areas; misused extension cords; energized grounding terminals; a locked emergency exit; a too narrow exit aisle; unmarked exit doors; tripping hazards from uneven concrete and hoses and cords lying in work areas; unguarded belts and pulleys and untested safety valves on air compressors; and lack of an emergency eyewash for employees working with corrosive cleaners. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

Three repeat citations, with $30,000 in fines, have been issued for lack of eye and face protection for a worker spraying chemical cleaners and for not training workers on chemical hazards and required personal protective equipment. OSHA had cited the company in 2008 for similar hazards at Splash Handwash locations in Norwalk and Greenwich, Conn. Five other-than-serious citations, with $3,000 in fines, have been issued, chiefly for incomplete and uncertified injury and illness logs.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Industrial Hygiene Product Showcase

  • M-Power Defense System™ Impact 3 Glove

    M-Power Defense System™ Impact 3 Glove

    Sacrifice Nothing: Experience next level impact protection with the M-Power Defense System™ from Magid. Heavy-duty back-of-hand protection with a unique ventilated honeycomb design that offers extreme protection with 9 times more airflow and maximum flexibility. Try the unbeatable combination of lightweight Impact 3 protection and amplified grip! You can have it all. Try it FREE! 3

  • BAND V2

    BAND V2

    SlateSafety’s BAND V2 is the most rugged, easy-to-use connected safety wearable to help prevent heat stress incidents in the workplace. No additional hardware is needed to monitor large teams performing tough jobs across vast worksites. This physiological monitor worn on the upper-arm measures biometric data and sends real-time safety alerts when customized thresholds are met. BAND V2 includes a wide range of functionality such as worker physiological monitoring, real-time location status, automated work/rest cycles and more. Organizations can keep larger workforces safe with real-time, secure and transparent data. Stop by booth #408 at AIHce for a live demonstration! 3

  • Emerson Location Awareness

    Emerson Location Awareness

    Protect personnel and create safer industrial facilities with Emerson Location Awareness. Enabled by WirelessHART® technology, wearable location tags, location anchors, and user-friendly software, this robust digital safety solution provides relevant-time monitoring of your most valued resource – your people. Digitally transform your facility’s safety practices with features like geofencing, safety mustering, and safety alerts. Geofencing helps keeps workers safe by creating zones of known hazardous locations. Designated areas can also be created for safety mustering in the event of a drill or emergency. And safety alerts enable a quicker and more direct response in emergency situations. 3

Featured

Webinars