Texas Manufacturer Faces $99K in Penalties Over Workplace Hazards

A Texas-based pre-cast concrete structure manufacturer has been cited by federal safety officials for 17 repeat, serious workplace safety violations and faces penalties totaling $99, 248.

The Turner Company LLP was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on July 29 over issues at its facility in Rhome, Texas. The agency began an investigation in April after receiving a report of injury and a complaint about unsafe working conditions.

OSHA cited the company for two repeat and 15 serious health and safety violations. The repeat violations were cited for not keeping restrooms clean or in a sanitary condition and not having protective covers on receptacle gang boxes and switches exposing live electrical wiring.

OSHA cited the company for the following serious violations:

• Not providing basic information about respirators to employees.
• Not keeping the yard and work areas clean and sanitary
• Not guarding holes in floors, or guarding open sided floors and platforms.
• Fixed ladder violations such as ladder rungs not 12 inches consistently, hand rails not extending above the work platform and incomplete safety cages.
• Missing rail sweeps and trolley bumpers on overhead cranes.
• Electrical violations such as unused opening, panels not marked and not rated for wet locations.
• Not marking or tagging hazardous chemicals containers.

The Turner Company manufactures different types of pre-cast concrete structures, producing septic tanks, grease traps, storm cellars and manholes. It has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Texas Commercial Lines Workers' Compensation Business Insurance Manufacturing