Region 4 News Release: 11-1816-ATL (007)
Jan. 11, 2012
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078
Email: d'aquino.michael@dol.gov wald.michael@dol.gov

Georgia plastics manufacturer cited by US Department of Labor's OSHA
for exposing workers to falls, shocks, combustible dust and other hazards

CANTON, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Go Plastics LLC with 22 safety and health violations for exposing workers to a variety of hazards at its Canton facility following an inspection that was initiated in August based on a complaint. Proposed penalties total $55,755.

Sixteen serious safety violations with penalties of $46,235 involve failing to provide machine guarding on the rotational molding machine, router, bench grinder and drill press; develop specific lockout/tagout procedures for energy sources; train maintenance workers required to perform lockout/tagout procedures; place fire extinguishers in their designated areas; properly store oxygen and acetylene tanks; inspect powered industrial trucks; and address electrical deficiencies. Additionally, exits were blocked by wooden crates and totes, workers were exposed to fall hazards and slings were used without safety latches.

Four serious health violations with $9,520 in proposed penalties include allowing combustible dust to accumulate on walls and pipes; failing to ensure that isolation devices were installed on dust collection systems to prevent the dust from spreading; provide noise training: and label spray bottles containing acetone with a hazard warning. 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.

Two other-than-serious violations with no monetary penalties include failing to provide workers using respirators with Appendix D of the related OSHA standard and provide employees using tight-fitting respirators with a medical evaluation. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

"This inspection identified a broad range of hazards that, if left uncorrected, expose workers to electric shocks, potential falls and combustible dust hazards," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "Employers cannot wait for an OSHA inspection to identify the hazards that expose their employees to serious injury. It is good business to implement preventive programs to ensure that such hazards are identified and corrected as part of day-to-day operations."

Go Plastics specializes in rotational molding and manufactures products such as displays, storage containers and waste containers. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings 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 Atlanta-East office at 770-493-6644.

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, visithttp://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 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.