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Region 8 News Release:   03-OSHA
01-31-2000
Contact: Rich Kulczewski
PHONE: Office:303-844-1302/Home: (303) 690-3824

OSHA FINES SACHS LAWLOR IN DENVER $111,200
FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION

Sachs Lawlor Company, Denver, Colo., has been cited for one willful, 26 serious, and five other-than-serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and issued proposed penalties totaling $111,200. An inspection found numerous violations which resulted in worker injuries including amputated and crushed fingers.

The violations and penalties against the firm which manufactures speciality signs were issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Denver Area Office. This inspection was initiated on July 28, 1999, as part of OSHA's Site Specific Targeting Plan which is based on the employer's Lost Workday Injury and Illness Rate.

Bobby Glover, OSHA Area Director in Denver, said Sachs Lawlor employees have sustained serious injuries such as amputations due to the employer not addressing basic safety hazards prior to the inspection. "Reducing amputations is a national OSHA priority," said Glover.

Glover can be reached at (303)844-5285 (x-105).

The OSHA inspection cited Sachs Lawlor for:

• Failure to guard three shears which resulted in amputation hazards.

One Willful violation $56,000

• Failure to provide adequate means of egress; Failure to ensure safe transfer of flammable liquids; Failure to ensure paint spray booth was properly constructed and maintained; Failure to implement adequate lockout/tagout procedures and training; Failure to ensure forklift operators were trained and defective forklift removed from service; Failure to ensure proper machine guarding on saws, grinders, engraving machines, stock feed machines, air compressors and drill presses; Failure to ensure guarding, labeling, training and inspection program on mechanical power presses; Failure to ensure compressed air reduced to 30 psi when used for cleaning; Failure to ensure proper securing and storage of compressed gas cylinders; Failure to protect against electrical shock hazards through inadequate labeling, blocked electrical panels, uncovered breaker boxes, damaged strain relief devices, use of flexible extension cords and use of non-waterproof electrical outlets in wet locations; Failure to provide emergency action plans for fire and chemical releases; Failure to provide training on fire extinguisher use; Failure to ensure adequate hearing conservation program; Failure to assess use of personal protective equipment; Failure to provide eyewash facilities; Failure to inform employees about the presence of asbestos; and Failure to perform air monitoring for methylene chloride.

26 Serious violations total $52,800

• Failure to ensure adequate injury and illness record keeping; Inadequate housekeeping; Failure to implement appropriate respiratory protection program for respirators used voluntarily; Failure to inform employees of availability of exposure records; Failure to maintain an adequate hazard communication program.

Five Other-than-serious violations total $2,400

Willful violations are those committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSH Act and its regulations.

A serious violation is defined as one committed where there is substantial probability that death or physical harm could result and the employer knew of should have known of the hazard.

An other-than-serious violation is defined as one where the most serious injury or illness that would be likely to result cannot reasonably be predicted to cause death or serious physical harm but does have a direct and immediate relationship to safety and health of employees.

Sachs Lawlor has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to request an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.