Region 3 News Release: 13-1329-PHI (osha 13-067)
July 16, 2013
Contact: Joanna Hawkins Leni Fortson
Phone: 215-861-5101 215-861-5102
Email: hawkins.joanna@dol.gov uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov

Shippensburg, Pa., foundry faces more than $96,000 in US Labor Department
OSHA fines for safety and health hazards

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Domestic Casting Co. for four alleged repeat and 19 serious safety and health violations found at the company's gray and ductile foundry in Shippensburg. OSHA's January investigation was initiated in response to a complaint and as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program for Noise Hazards and National Emphasis Program on Crystalline Silica. Proposed penalties total $96,250.

Carrying a penalty of $26,180, the repeat violations were due to the company's failure to properly guard live electrical parts, chains, sprockets, pulleys, belts and include a standard railing on a platform. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. OSHA cited similar violations in 2011.

The serious violations, with a $70,070 penalty, include multiple electrical and machine guarding hazards; overexposure and lack of engineering controls relating to silica, sulfur dioxide and iron oxide; doors on abrasive blasting enclosures not flanged and tight; accumulations of dust and shot outside of an abrasive-blasting enclosure; lack of engineering controls and audiograms for workers exposed to occupational noise; and failure to properly follow-up with workers who experienced a Standard Threshold Shift due to changes in occupational noise exposure. Additionally, there were deficiencies in the company's programs addressing respiratory protection, permit-required confined space entry, control of hazardous energy and hazard communications; workers were permitted to eat and drink in an area contaminated by toxic materials; there was a lack of a standard railing on an open-sided floor; and exit doors and paths were not clearly marked. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

"By not correcting the cited hazards, this company continues to jeopardize the safety and health of its workers, which will not be tolerated," said Kevin Kilp, director of OSHA's Harrisburg Area Office. "OSHA will hold employers responsible when they fail to protect workers and provide safe and healthful workplaces."

Domestic Casting Co. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Harrisburg, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Harrisburg Area Office at 717-782-3902.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 252-693-7828 or TTY 252-693-7755.