OSHA initiated its investigation as a follow-up to a comprehensive inspection conducted in 2005. The company has been issued citations for five willful violations with penalties totaling $99,000; four repeat violations with penalties totaling $40,160; one serious violation, with a penalty of $1,600; and two other-than-serious violations, which carry no penalties.
"Lloyd Industries continues to permit hazards that compromise employee safety and health," says Jean Kulp, area director for OSHA's Allentown Area Office. "The company needs to take immediate action to eliminate the identified violations."
The willful violations are due to the company's failure to provide elements of a hearing conservation program to include audiometric testing and training to employees exposed to noise levels above 85 dBA. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.
The repeat violations are due to the company's failure to properly record employee injuries and illnesses, failure to guard the point of operation on rivet machines and an electrical hazard. OSHA issues repeat violations when it finds a substantially similar violation to a previous one cited of any standard, regulation, rule or order.
The serious violation reflects the company's failure to make the main exit accessible by at least 28 inches wide at all points. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Lloyd Industries has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
