OSHA Penalizes Company in Another Machine Guarding Case Involving Temps
"Management continues to allow workers to clean equipment without following safety procedures and without guards being properly installed. This company needs to address all workplace hazards, not just the ones for which penalties have been proposed," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.
OSHA has cited American Air Filter Co. Inc., an air filter manufacturer doing business as AAF International, after inspecting its facility at 2624 Weaver Way in Atlanta, Ga., citing the company for two repeat, two serious, and one other-than-serious violation Aug. 21. The case is another machine guarding case involving an employer that uses temporary workers, according to the agency.
American Air Filter employs temporary workers from two staffing agencies: JTJ Staffing Inc., doing business as True Staffing; and JEZ Staffing Inc., doing business as Microtech Staffing. OSHA did not cite the staffing agencies.
The safety violations identified during the inspection include failing to provide proper machine guarding to protect employees from amputation hazards and not following safety procedures to prevent machinery from starting up unexpectedly during maintenance and servicing. OSHA has proposed $119,900 in penalties.
"This is the second significant enforcement action we've conducted at AAF International in the last six months," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "We found the same type of hazards during a recent inspection in a different area at the same plant. Management continues to allow workers to clean equipment without following safety procedures and without guards being properly installed. This company needs to address all workplace hazards, not just the ones for which penalties have been proposed."
American Air Filter Co. Inc. is currently in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.