Georgia plant cited for safety violations

The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited Goldens' Foundry & Machine Company for exposing workers to safety and health hazards at its Columbus, Ga., manufacturing plant. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $117,950.

"OSHA is committed to reducing hazards that lead to worker injuries, illnesses and deaths," said Andre Richards, OSHA's Atlanta-West area director. "We initiated this inspection after being notified of unsafe working conditions at the facility."

The company received 59 serious citations for alleged safety and health violations observed during the April 2005 inspection.

OSHA cited 51 safety hazards that exposed workers to falls, amputations, electrocutions and "struck-by" accidents. The proposed penalties, which individually range from $1,050 to $3,500, totaled $102,200. Hazards included a damaged hoisting crane; lack of required guards on machinery throughout the plant; unguarded floor openings; missing guardrails on stairways; defective tools; unmarked emergency routes and exit doors; electrical hazards; and failing to use "lockout-tagout" procedures to render machinery inoperable during maintenance or repair.

The company received eight citations for exposing workers to health hazards. The proposed penalties totaled $15,750 and also ranged from $1,050 to $3,500. The cited hazards included permitting workers to smoke in flammable areas; storing flammable, corrosive chemicals in defective cabinets; failing to provide adequate eye protection, including readily accessible eye wash stations for employees working with chemicals; failing to properly label chemicals; and exposing workers to silica above the permissible exposure limit.