Region 5 News Release: 13-823-CHI
May 28, 2013
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA cites Quality Trailers Enterprise for 15 violations
following complaint inspection at Salem, Ohio, manufacturing facility

SALEM, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Quality Trailers Enterprise Inc. with 15 serious safety violations, including a lack of personal protective equipment and exposing workers to machine guarding hazards, at its Salem trailer manufacturing facility. Proposed fines from the Feb. 4 complaint inspection total $55,300.

"Quality Trailers Enterprises has a responsibility to train and protect workers from known hazards, such as noise and machinery in its manufacturing facility," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "OSHA is committed to common-sense safety and health regulations, which protect workers on the job."

Ten serious safety violations involve lack of machine guarding; failing to develop a lockout/tagout program to control the release of hazardous energy while servicing and maintaining equipment and training workers in the program; lack of fire extinguisher training; failing to train workers in the operation of powered industrial trucks; not providing welding shields and curtains; and exposing workers to live wiring.

Additionally, five serious health violations were cited for exposure to noise; lack of personal protective equipment; improper oxygen cylinder storage; allowing combustible paint residue to accumulate in the paint booth; and failing to conduct a workplace hazard assessment program and to develop and train workers on a hazard communication program.

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.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and notice of proposed penalties to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. If the company does not file or contest within that period, it must abate the cited conditions within the period ordered in the citations and pay the proposed penalties.

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 Cleveland Area Office at 216-615-4266.

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.