Manufacturer Fined Over $100,000 By OSHA

Every year, employee complaints to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) result in safety inspections at businesses.  Roughly 25% of all visits to employers from the agency are attributed to employee complaints.

by, Robert Box, Corridor News Columnist

Every year, employee complaints to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) result in safety inspections at businesses.  Roughly 25% of all visits to employers from the agency are attributed to employee complaints.

A recent employee complaint resulted in an OSHA inspection of a pipe and tube manufacturing facility in Wisconsin that resulted in a citation and proposed penalties of $110,458, stemming from 13 serious safety and health violations.

The employer facing the OSHA violations is Felker Brothers Corporation, who manufactures and custom-fabricates stainless steel pipe, tubes, and fittings at Wisconsin and Kentucky manufacturing facilities.

According to OSHA, at least one worker was exposed to excessive levels of hexavalent chromium, an air contaminant that can result in problematic health issues including cancer, respiratory system issues, and adversely affecting the kidneys, liver, skin and eyes. 

A major source of hexavalent chromium is hot work, such as grinding or welding on stainless steel and chrome-plated metals.  One grinder operator allegedly was exposed to hexavalent chromium 78% higher than permissible levels, according to OSHA.

Another worker was allegedly struck by a piece of moving machinery, resulting in a shattered jawbone according to OSHA.

OSHA also found violations related to unauthorized forklift modifications, the use of damaged cranes, failure to inspect hydraulic jacks, and combustible materials were allegedly permitted to be stored within 35 feet of welding and hot work.

Felker Brothers Corporation has 15 business days from receipt of the citation 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.

Robert Box is the owner of Safety First Consulting and is a contributor of SM Corridor News. Box helps businesses identify OSHA compliance issues in their workplaces, manage their safety programs and become accountable for the results. In addition to offering custom written safety programs for companies, Safety First Consulting provides required safety training, industrial hygiene sampling, noise sampling and workplace inspections. You can read more from Robert Box under Business.