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Region 2 News Release:   NY 163
Thursday, June 19, 2000
Contact: Chester J. Fultz
PHONE: 212-337-2319

The U. S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited AMI Plastics Incorporated, of 27 East 33rd Street, Paterson, New Jersey, and proposed penalties of $67,200 against the firm, alleging two willful and nine serious violations of OSHA standards.

According to Lisa Levy, OSHA area director, the citations result from an inspection of the company's facilities conducted from February 3, 2000, through June 2, 2000, following an accident. On February 2, OSHA received notification that an employee had been seriously injured while working with machinery used in the manufacture of plastic bags. The employee had six of his fingers amputated when his hands were caught in an unguarded power press.

OSHA cited the company for failure to guard the point of operation of a power press and failure to provide two hand trip controls for a power press, two alleged willful violations carrying a total proposed penalty of $56,000.

The employer was also cited by OSHA for alleged serious violations, including:

- failure to properly inspect power presses.

- failure to properly train employees to set up and operate power presses.

- failure to develop and implement a lockout/tagout procedure.

- failure to develop and implement a chemical hazard communication program.

- failure to guard belts, pulleys, and flywheels.

- failure to maintain lavatories in sanitary condition.

- failure to provide an anti-repeat device on a power press.

The alleged serious violations carry a total proposed penalty of $11,200.

A willful violation is defined by OSHA as one committed with an intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSH act and regulations. A serious violation is defined as a condition which exists where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm can result.

The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Hasbrouck Heights area office, located at 500 Route 17, 2^nd Floor, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J. Telephone: (201) 288-1700.

The company has until July 7 to contest the citations.