Region 4 News Release: 13-1911-ATL (254)
Sept. 25, 2013
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Lindsay Williams
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078
Email: d'aquino.michael@dol.gov williams.lindsay.l@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA cites Texas-based IFCO Systems North
America for repeat violations at its Jacksonville, Fla., facility

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pallet Companies Inc., doing business as IFCO Systems North America Inc., for four safety and health violations following a complaint received in July concerning workplace hazards at the company's Jacksonville facility. Proposed penalties total $61,600.

OSHA issued a repeat safety citation and a repeat health citation, for a total of $55,000 in penalties, for failing to develop, document and utilize procedures to control potentially hazardous energy while servicing or maintaining equipment, and not implementing an effective hearing conservation program whenever noise exposures equal or exceed the permissible exposure limit. 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 facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited in 2009 and 2011.

A serious safety violation, with a $6,600 penalty, was cited for not ensuring conductors were protected from abrasion when entering cutout boxes, cabinets or fittings. 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.

One other-than-serious violation was also cited, with no proposed penalty, for failing to verify whether the required workplace hazard assessment had been conducted through a written certification process. An other-than-serious violation is issued when a violation has a direct relationship to safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

"This employer continues to put employees at risk of serious injury or death by failing to implement proper protections," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville. "It's the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace."

IFCO Systems North America is a wood pallet sort and repair facility with corporate offices in Houston. 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 Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.

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 or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 216-893-7828 or TTY 216-893-7755.