N.Y. manufacturer faces $382,500 in OSHA penalties

RP news wires, Noria Corporation
Tags: workplace safety

Gen-Cap Industries Inc., a Bronx, N.Y., manufacturer of fireproof doors, faces a total of $382,500 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for 76 alleged safety and health violations at its 913 Edgewater Road plant, including 14 instances of failing to correct hazards cited in previous OSHA inspections.

"Left uncorrected, this mixture of new, ongoing and uncorrected hazards exposes employees to potential injury or death from fire, explosion, laceration, amputation, electrocution, chemical burns, hearing loss and crushing," said Diana Cortez, director of OSHA's area office in Tarrytown, N.Y., which conducted the inspections. "The sizable fines proposed here reflect the scope and seriousness of these conditions and the need for them to be promptly and effectively addressed."

OSHA opened follow-up inspections in May 2007 to verify correction of hazards cited in November 2004, when the plant operated as JGB LLC, doing business as General Fireproof Doors. As a result of its latest inspections, OSHA issued the company:

Gen-Cap has until December 12 to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or to contest these citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.