OSHA cites Jersey City food manufacturer after worker dies after 24-foot fall

Employer name: Wei-Chuan U.S.A. Inc.
Inspection site: 80 Amity St., Jersey City, New Jersey
Citations issued: On June 22, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to Wei-Chuan U.S.A. Inc. for one willful, one repeat and sixserious violations.
Inspection findings: OSHA initiated an inspection on Dec. 27, 2015, after the Jersey City Police Department notified the agency of a worker's death at the company's Jersey City food distribution warehouse. Inspectors found a 60-year-old warehouse supervisor died after falling 24 feet from a top-tier warehouse rack. Inspectors learned the company knowingly allowed forklifts to elevate employees on pallets as they conducted inventory.
OSHA cited the company with a willful violation for its failure to use an approved platform for raising employees on forklifts, and failure to provide fall protectionHazard communication training deficiencies resulted in the repeat citation, for which OSHA cited Wei-Chuan previously in February 2011.
The agency found the serious violations were due to employees being allowed to improperly climb warehouse racks, lack of hand protection while handling hazardous materials, electrical hazards, hazard communication deficiencies and lack of forklift training.
Quote: "Wei-Chuan U.S.A. failed to provide required fall protection and ensure its forklift practices were safe, resulting in a preventable fatality. This tragedy could have been prevented if the company used basic safeguards and properly trained its employees to recognize workplace hazards," said Brian Flynn, acting director at OSHA's Parsippany Area Office.
Proposed penalties: $107,000
Wei-Chuan U.S.A. Inc. is a food manufacturing and distribution company that produces frozen food products and is headquartered in Bell Gardens, California.
The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independentOccupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com  has been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

Related Articles:

May 9, 2016 ... Elizabeth NJ contractor again exposes workers to dangerous risk of falls. OSHA finds at downtown Jersey City build site. Cajamarca ...
idoctor-health.blogspot.com
Dec 8, 2014 ... NHTSA says Chrysler's expanded air bag recall falls short. Today's post was shared by Take Justice Back and comes from www.freep.com ...
idoctor-health.blogspot.com
Aug 30, 2012 ... OSHA cites Brick, NJ-based contractor for continuing to expose workers to falls and other hazards at Secaucus work site. The U.S. Department ...
idoctor-health.blogspot.com
Feb 21, 2015 ... Drums with hazardous waste removed from industrial ruins near Paterson's Great Falls. NJ's toxic legacy continues. Today's ppost is shared ...
idoctor-health.blogspot.com

Share this

Related Posts

Previous
Next Post »