Region 5 News Release: 11-700-CHI
May 18, 2011
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976 312-353-4807
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA cites Multi-Cast Corp. for safety and
health violations at foundry; proposed penalties total $178,500
Employees working with molten metal lacked fire-retardant clothing, faced other hazards

WAUSEON, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Multi-Cast Corp. in Wauseon for 13 safety and health violations, including failing to ensure foundry employees wore fire-retardant clothing and protective equipment while working with molten metal. The company faces $178,500 in fines as a result of a November 2010 inspection.

"Employers have a responsibility to ensure employees have safe working environments, which includes taking all necessary precautions to protect them from hazards such as molten metal," said Jule Hovi, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "Multi-Cast is well aware of OSHA's safety and health regulations, but has irresponsibly ignored them and put its employees in harm's way."

Three willful violations, with proposed penalties of $147,000, include failing to ensure employees wore fire-retardant clothing and used face shields while working around molten metal, as well as ensure machine guarding was in place on a roll-over mold-making machine. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

Four serious safety violations, with proposed fines of $17,500, are failing to ensure crane hooks were equipped with properly functioning safety latches, provide guards on stair railings, and provide adequate personal protective clothing and equipment.

Three serious health violations, with proposed fines of $11,900, involve failing to provide lead standard training, not having combustion safeguards installed on a natural gas furnace and allowing an employee to work under a 2,500 pound sand mold. 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.

Three other-than-serious record-keeping violations, with proposed penalties of $2,100, are failing to ensure the OSHA 300 form for workplace-related injuries and illnesses was completed in detail for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. 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 investigation falls under the requirements of OSHA's Severe Violators Enforcement Program. Initiated in 2010, SVEP is intended to focus on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. For more information on SVEP, visit http://www.osha.gov/dep/svep-directive.pdf*.

Multi-Cast Corp. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Toledo office at 419-259-7542. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

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.

* Accessibility Assistance Contact OSHA's Office of Communications at 202-693-1999 for assistance accessing PDF documents.