Ohio Companies Fined for Safety Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited two Ohio-based companies — American Warming and Ventilating Inc. in Bradner, Ohio, and Ohio Decorative Products, a die cast metal products manufacturer in Spencerville — for safety violations.

OHSA has proposed penalties in the amount of $55,500 for American Warming and Ventilation, and $91,000 for Ohio Decorative Products.

OSHA opened an inspection at American Warming and Ventilating Inc. in January due to the company’s high injury and illness rates in comparison to the national rates, the agency said.

As a result of the inspection, OSHA issued six serious violations for lack of proper fall protection equipment, improper electrical lockout and tagout procedures to prevent accidental energization start-up, lack of proper machine guarding, lack of proper training for maintenance personnel on power press equipment, damaged welding conductors and lack of eye protection during welding.

The company also received two repeat violations for failing to have proper machine guarding and to provide workers approved electrical protective equipment.

American Warming and Ventilating Inc., one of 30 companies under Mestek Inc., has been inspected by OSHA six times in the past at this location, resulting in 12 violations. There have been 40 inspections for Mestek Inc. companies, resulting in 161 violations.

OSHA opened an inspection of Ohio Decorative Products in December 2009 after receiving a report that a worker was scalped when his hair was entangled in an unprotected rotating shaft on a piece of equipment.

As a result of the inspection, the citations issued — one willful, one serious and one repeat — were all for the employer failing to provide proper machine guarding on equipment.

In the past, OSHA inspected Ohio Decorative Products 12 times resulting in 77 violations.

Each company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA, http://www.osha.gov.