Region 5 News Release: 13-1797-KAN
Sept. 17, 2013
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Piramal Glass USA Inc. cited by US Labor Department for 21 OSHA violations
after worker has finger amputated during work at Park Hills, Mo., plant

PARK HILLS, Mo. – Piramal Glass USA Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 21 safety and health violations after a worker suffered a finger amputation while repairing a machine at the Park Hills manufacturing plant on March 14. Prior to maintenance, the machine was not isolated from its energy source. Proposed penalties total $137,400.

"An employer's failure to power off energy sources before conducting equipment maintenance is unacceptable," said Marcia Drumm, acting regional administrator for OSHA in Kansas City. "Amputation hazards are one of the leading causes of injuries in manufacturing, which companies must address to curb preventable injuries."

One repeat violation, which was previously cited in October 2010, involves improperly mounting metallic receptacle boxes to a firm surface. 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 other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

Thirteen of the serious violations were safety-related, including lack of e-stop devices on lathes, grinding, drilling and milling machines; failing to equip a lathe with a foot-operated guarding device; and unguarded floor holes and missing railings. Several additional safety violations relate to OSHA's lockout/tagout standards, such as failing to complete periodic audits, secure lockout/tagout devices with duct tape, follow adequate procedures and provide production workers with lockout devices and training on isolating energy sources to a bottle-making machine.

Five serious health violations involve failing to develop and implement a noise monitoring program; exposing workers to noise exposure levels above the time-weighted average; failing to ensure the use of hearing protection; lack of personal protective equipment and barrier guards to protect workers from excessive heat exposure; and failing to maintain clean and dry floors in work rooms. 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.

Additionally, two other-than-serious violations include failing to identify machinery on periodic audit records and inspect fire extinguishers. 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 current citations may be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Piramal_902373_0912_13.pdf* and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Piramal_899121_0912_13.pdf*

Piramal Glass, headquartered in Park Hills, also operates facilities in Mays Landing and Williamstown, N.J., as well as in India and Sri Lanka. 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 a 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 St. Louis Area Office at 314-425-4249.

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 materials.