Region 4 News Release: 12-225-ATL (059)
Feb. 22, 2012
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078
Email: d'aquino.michael@dol.gov wald.michael@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Price Industries for
safety and health violations at Georgia manufacturing plant

SUWANEE, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed $53,300 in penalties against air distribution products manufacturer Price Industries Inc. after identifying 13 safety and health violations at the company's Suwanee plant. OSHA's October inspection was initiated in response to a complaint.

Three serious health violations include failing to provide personal protective equipment to workers handling hydrofluoric acid, a highly corrosive chemical; an emergency shower and an emergency eyewash station for employees required to work with corrosive materials; and an emergency response plan in the event of an accidental release of corrosive materials.

Six safety violations involve failing to perform regular inspections of energy control procedures, conduct weekly inspections of mechanical power presses to ensure they were working properly, provide lockout/tagout procedures to prevent the accidental start-up of machinery, guard a mechanical power press to prevent workers from being pulled into the equipment, test safety devices on the mechanical power press, train workers in the operation of safety devices on the power press and have a third party certify the power press safety system. 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.

Four other-than-serious health violations involve failing keep accurate records on the OSHA 300 and 301 logs including recording each injury and illness as required, correctly coding a work-related injury or illness that resulted in days away from work and correctly recording a work-related injury or illness that resulted in restricted work or a job transfer. 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.

"The management of Price Industries must strengthen the company's occupational safety and health program by taking a proactive approach to workplace safety before serious injuries occur," said Nadira Janack, acting director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.

Suwanee-based Price Industries has manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. 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, 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 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.