NJ Firm Cited for OSHA Violations - National Manufacturing Co.

National Manufacturing Co. exposes workers to chemical hazards,
workplace safety dangers at North Jersey facility
Flash fires at company lead to inspections, $56K in fines for 10 OSHA violations

Employer name: National Manufacturing Co. Inc.

Inspection site: 12 River Road, Chatham, New Jersey

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for 10 serious safety violations on July 25, 2016.

Investigation findings: Borough of Chatham officials alerted OSHA after a flash fire burned an employee as the worker cleaned a degreasing tank at National Manufacturing on Jan. 29, 2016. The agency initiated a safety inspection on Feb. 1, 2016. The agency then opened a health inspection on Feb. 18, 2016, to evaluate chemical related health hazards after the safety inspection revealed the company's use of N-Propyl Bromide, also known as 1-Bromopropane, a chemical used to degrease metals, plastics and electronic and optical components.

Inspectors identified multiple workplace safety violations. They found the company:

• Exposed employees to hazards related to N-Propyl Bromide.
• Failed to provide fall protection for workers exposed to falls up to 7 feet.
• Allowed electrical and housekeeping hazards.
• Failed to medically evaluate and fit test employees using respirators.

Quote: "National Manufacturing Co. put workers in harm's way by not properly controlling chemical hazards at its facility in Chatham. We found the company's lack of effective hazard management relating to its degreasing system directly resulted in flash fires on Jan. 29 and Feb. 9, 2016, just 11 days apart," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office. "This company must do what's right to protect its workers and provide a safe and healthy workplace."

Proposed penalties: $56,300

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NationalManufacturing_1122937.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NationalManufacturing_1126715.pdf

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OSHA finds Clifton company again exposes employees to life-threatening falls

Employer name: Furia Roofing Co. Inc., 2 Monhegan St., Clifton, New Jersey

Inspection site: 699 Route 46 East, Teterboro, New Jersey

Citations issued: On Aug. 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for one repeat and three serious violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA initiated an inspection on April 25, 2016, after a compliance officer observed Furia Roofing employees working on low slope roofs without fall protection and without effective fall protection, resulting in the repeat violations.

The serious violations relate to issues with fall protection equipment.

Quote: "Furia Roofing has repeatedly violated OSHA standards by failing to provide employees with fall protection and continuing to expose construction workers to serious injury or death. This failure to ensure worker safety indicates a problematic safety and health management system," said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA's Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. "OSHA will not tolerate this company continually endangering its workers. Furia should correct these hazards and implement an effective injury and illness prevention program for its workers."

Proposed penalties: $79,240

The citation can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/FuriaRoofingCoInc_1142474.pdf

….

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.

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 protection. Hazard 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

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Wei-Chuan_1114139.pdf

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.

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