Region 4 News Release: 13-2333-ATL (325)
Dec. 19, 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

Barrette Outdoor Living cited by US Labor Department's OSHA for serious
safety and health violations; more than $66,000 in fines proposed

PENDERGRASS, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Barrette Outdoor Living Inc. for 14 safety and health violations. An inspection of the fence manufacturing facility in Pendergrass began in August after OSHA received a complaint, resulting in $66,550 in proposed penalties.

"This inspection identified a wide range of safety and health hazards that need to be eliminated from the workplace to protect workers from serious injury or death," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta East Area Office. "It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthful work environment."

Twelve serious safety and health violations include failing to:

• Provide training on the hearing protection standard.
• Require workers handling corrosive chemicals to use personal protective equipment.
• Develop a written hazard communication program for workers in areas with chemicals.
• Develop a noise monitoring program.
• Inspect storage racks to prevent collapse.
• Develop an energy control program for maintaining equipment with multiple energy sources.
• Reduce air hose pressure to less than 30 pounds-per-square-inch for cleaning.
• Provide an emergency eyewash station where corrosive chemicals were being used.
• Develop an educational program for the required use of fire extinguishers.
• Provide machine guarding on several pieces of equipment to prevent amputation hazards.

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 safety and health violations, with no monetary penalty, involve failing to post a copy of the hearing protection standard where hearing protection is required and to post the load capacity rating above the office being used for storage. 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.

Barrette Outdoor Living is a vinyl, wood and aluminum manufacturer distributing fencing, railing, garden accents and sheds. 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 Area 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 or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 216-893-7828 or TTY 216-893-7755.