The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Haulmark of Georgia Inc. of Fitzgerald for hazardous material exposure and other workplace safety and health violations. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $57,150.
"This inspection was conducted because the company has a history of occupational injuries and illnesses," said John J. Deifer, OSHA's area director in
OSHA issued 29 serious safety and health citations to the trailer manufacturer for failing to prevent worker exposure to methylene chloride, a hazardous chemical used to clean equipment. Serious citations were also issued because the company failed to protect workers from falls, electrical shock, fire hazards associated with the use and storage of flammable paints and compressed gasses, and additional safety and health hazards. Proposed penalties for these violations total $55,350.
Serious citations are issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew or should have known of the hazards.
OSHA also issued four other-than-serious citations with proposed penalties of $1,800 for violations. These citations included the failure to develop and implement a respiratory protection program with medical evaluations for workers spray painting with hazardous solvents.
The inspection of Haulmark of Georgia Inc. was conducted under OSHA's Site Specific Targeting Program, which targets those workplaces with reported high injury and illness rates.
