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OSHA Cites Universal Stainless & Alloy for Safety and Health Violations
Oct. 2, 2007 The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Inc. for alleged safety and health violations. OSHA is proposing $126,500 in penalties.
OSHA issues a Repeat Citation when an employer previously has been cited for a substantially similar violation and that citation and its penalty have become final.
Serious violations are issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious injury could occur from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
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OSHA’s citations were the result of investigations prompted by a complaint by an employee that received an electrical shock while using an abrasive chop saw. As a result of the investigation, the company was issued citations for one repeat violation with a penalty of $25,000, and 35 serious violations with penalties of $101,500.
The repeat violation was for the company's failure to install guardrails around open-sided floors and platforms more than four feet above the adjacent floor or ground level.
The serious violations include improper storage of compressed gas cylinders; lack of personal protective equipment when employees worked with high voltage equipment and corrosive liquids; failure to develop, document and utilize procedures for the control of hazardous energy; failure to provide first aid training to employees when an infirmary, clinic or hospital was not immediately accessible; and various electrical hazards.
The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to appeal them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.